Iowa

Iowa

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Wow, It's Been A While!

I did not realize that it had been almost two months since my last post. So, here we go!

Road Trip: Midwest, Farm, Beach. Delayed flights, running through the airport, Monkeyboy getting stuck on one level, we on another. Bean to the rescue. Racing, racing, racing through the airport. I think the next time we will not fly!

The farm was great, but the beach was the best! The water was warm, the hotel was wonderful and a great time was had by all. Pretty sure that the beach will be our destination for next year.

School has started, dance has started, hockey has started. Back at Phipps and working lots of hours right now. Lots of weddings there. And the weather has finally cooled down.

Last weekend was a Pirate's game. Monkeyboy wore his Diamondback shirt since we are playing them. He has a favorite player on their team...don't ask me who it is. I have no memory for those kind of things.

I am still at the track most mornings. It is incredible to see the sunrise and to watch the clouds moving. The same group can be found most mornings when I go before work. Some run, some walk, some do the steps and some just watch their partners. When I am not working, I go a little later, and then I see the kids at the school in gym class. Interesting to see the different groups of kids. You have the kids who are obviously the athletic ones. Then there are the kids that talk a lot and giggle as they do the track. There is a group kids who do nothing but long jumps, and their teacher is incredible. He encourages them, they cheer for one another and they really try to do better. I admire teachers who have that kind of enthusiasm and dedication. Much more than the gym teacher who stands by the edge of the track with their clipboard texting on their cell phone.

I love listening to the exchanges on the radio at work. Code for Troy coming to the conservatory is "The eagle has landed". His wife is on our board and they sometimes comes. Everyone looks forward to that! There are other codes, which are sometimes humorous. One is code purple, which means an animal (usually a rat or a dead fish...something like that) is in distress or on the premises. Several weeks ago T. in events yelled over the radio that there was a code purple. Turned out that there were ants in the garden during a wedding. I don't think that warrants a code purple, but she did. Freaked because she thought that the ants might go up the bride's dress. The following week, someone in events said there was an anthill in the garden and a wedding was going to start. S., our maintenance man, said...on the radio...that he would come out and stomp on them. That went over big. T. got on the radio and began to freak that you don't just stomp on them. S. went through the serpentine room mumbling to himself. I think that he did just stomp on them, but I'm not sure.

Monkeyboy had his birthday party (one of two) tonight. He got many gifts, mostly sports stuff. Also the ipod touch. Bird is still trying to figure that one out.

Bean got her ballet pointe shoes and has started classes. She got two parts in Phantom of the Opera and the one that she is most excited about is the understudy for the pointe part. GO BEAN.

I promise I will try to post more often. And thanks for the concern, Jen.

19 comments:

Lori said...

It is so good to see you back Mia. I was worried about you! Your vacation sounds wonderful. So, Bean is starting pointe! I had four years and I loved it. She will too.

Cathy said...

Wow, as much as a loser as I am, I check this blog every night before I go to bed....and here she is, she's back! I love the new pictures, how exciting for Bean. And the one at the beach is wonderful, makes me wish I were there. Funny stories about the radio. Why would you not stomp on the ants?

Shelly said...

What a pretty picture of Bean in her shoes! Thanks for posting, Mia, we missed you.

Tim said...

she is here because I was the cheerleader yesterday and the Steelers won.

Elizabeth said...

sounds like T. needs to chill out! Love the picture of the beach and the one of the kids looking out into the ocean. Sounds like a great vacation, Mia, and it's good to see your post.

Jen said...

I love the beach, and that looks so inviting. Just give us one more week of summer...oh, wait, I can't go anywhere, the kids are in school! Darn.

Jessica said...

Yes, we all wanted cooler weather, now seeing those pictures, I miss summer. Guess we always want what we don't have. School in session, homework, sports...it's autumn!

Allie (cat) said...

I love the pictures. And the music is perfect for them. Makes me want summer again. Wait, maybe not! Check with me in January. So glad you are back, Mia. Didn't know if we lost you on the trip.

Ben said...

Tim, I appreciate you cheering, it really helped. Batch was great and the defense could not be beat. Mia, it's good to see you back, I was ready to come to Phipps and tell you to post, except I wouldn't know who to tell! And I respect your anonymity.

SocialWorker2 said...

Sometimes we just need a break and don't realize how long that break extends. Glad to see you back Mia. Your vacation sounds like a good way to regroup and relax. The pictures are great. Welcome back.

SassySam said...

So true, SW2. So, when can I get a break? Driving kids everywhere, sports are killing me! How do parents do it with four or five kids? I need some "me" time. My mom keeps saying that when they go off to college I'll have plenty of "me" time and I'll miss the hustle and bustle. I love the picture of the kids on the edge of the water. Trepidation. Nice pics, as usual, Mia.

Bill said...

The game was terrific on Sunday, and if it is Tim's cheering that did it...thank you Tim. It would be nice if they sat Ben out for a few games when he came back and let Charlie play, but they won't do that. It might have an impact on Ben.

Tigger said...

Well, we are all back again. Nice to see everyone. Rainy and cool here, summer is officially over. Glad you had a happy and safe trip Mia. And it's good to see a new post.

Twigs said...

I think they should make Ben wait when he comes back. He is an idiot. But they won't, because he is paid too much to sit him out. It was a good game on Sunday. Welcome back, Mia.

Mark said...

They will never sit Ben out. He will play as soon as he is eligible. It will be interesting to see how the fans respond if he doesn't do well.

Linda said...

Welcome back! I really missed your blog. You are a talented writer.
Sounds like you had some wonderful vacas!!

ginger said...

Welcome back, Mia. Watched for this almost every day and of course, I missed it when you finally blogged (is that a verb?)

Yes, Fall is here and we are watching leaves fall like rain. So we rake now and shovel later.

Looks like you had a great trip as always and the kids are going to remember these times forever.

Anonymous said...

A beautiful set of pictures, thanks for sharing them.

Noelle said...

I saw the picture of the girl on pointe and it reminded me of my days taking ballet. I want to read all of your old posts, this seems to be a great blog with beautiful pictures.