My new friend, Jessica, has a beautiful blog about how she and her husband became the parents of two children within 287 days. Not only did they go from "0 to 2" but they also had to deal with the challenges of having a premature baby. She is doing a great giveaway to help other premature babies stay warm this Christmas.
Please check out her blog and read about this great organzation that helped her family as well as so many others. You might even win something for yourself too!
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Mommy Has Class
My son attends a wonderful magnet school that has a program called "Three for Me." It is a pledge from parents to give three hours of time to the school each school year and it is mandatory for enrollment. It encourages parents to chaperon field trips, attend PTO meetings, and to volunteer in the classroom. I love this idea and have quickly started to rack up the hours. I have already chaperoned two field trips and have become a member of the PTO. Earlier this week, it was time for me to put on my "room mom hat" and head to Kindergarten.
The aid that was working in Jonathan's class has been reassigned to the after school program, so I thought his teacher could use a little extra help until a replacement has been found. Now, since I have a background in education, I thought I was a pretty good candidate to help out in the classroom. When I showed up for duty, however, I was assigned "busy work."
At first I thought, "but I can do so much more than sort papers." Then I realized that is exactly what Jonathan's teacher needed help with. She doesn't have time to sort papers into each child's folder to be taken home at the end of the day with all the Campbell's soup label reminders and picture retake information. She also doesn't have time to stand on a chair (which those of you who know me well, know that is not my favorite thing to do) and hang cute little pumpkin art projects...she is busy teaching.
It was also in the those moments buried in paperwork that I was able to witness that teaching. It was amazing to see the way his teacher was able to easily transition the students from one activity to another, praise those who were doing well, encourage those who needed it, and to watch all the students engage. I remember smiling while the teacher read a story about bats and how the kids "oohed" and "aahed" at the information being shared. My little scientist was particularly interested and didn't blink during circle time.
It was also an incredible feeling to see my son's face light up at the sight of me and to know that he truly liked it that I was there sharing part of his day with him. In fact, he liked it a little too much and became a little emotional when it was time for me to leave. Of course, that made me emotional as well, so I decided to stick around a few more minutes and join him for lunch. That's when I realized that this whole starting school and spending all day away from me was a big adjustment for him. He hides things so well, but is really quite sensitive--kind of like his mom. I was so glad that I took the time to do this! I think it was more rewarding for me than it was help to Jonathan's teacher, the school, or the other children in the class. And I know that me and my son shared a connection because of it. He knows that I think education is important because I took the time to show that it was important. He also knows I think the world of him!
The aid that was working in Jonathan's class has been reassigned to the after school program, so I thought his teacher could use a little extra help until a replacement has been found. Now, since I have a background in education, I thought I was a pretty good candidate to help out in the classroom. When I showed up for duty, however, I was assigned "busy work."
At first I thought, "but I can do so much more than sort papers." Then I realized that is exactly what Jonathan's teacher needed help with. She doesn't have time to sort papers into each child's folder to be taken home at the end of the day with all the Campbell's soup label reminders and picture retake information. She also doesn't have time to stand on a chair (which those of you who know me well, know that is not my favorite thing to do) and hang cute little pumpkin art projects...she is busy teaching.
It was also in the those moments buried in paperwork that I was able to witness that teaching. It was amazing to see the way his teacher was able to easily transition the students from one activity to another, praise those who were doing well, encourage those who needed it, and to watch all the students engage. I remember smiling while the teacher read a story about bats and how the kids "oohed" and "aahed" at the information being shared. My little scientist was particularly interested and didn't blink during circle time.
It was also an incredible feeling to see my son's face light up at the sight of me and to know that he truly liked it that I was there sharing part of his day with him. In fact, he liked it a little too much and became a little emotional when it was time for me to leave. Of course, that made me emotional as well, so I decided to stick around a few more minutes and join him for lunch. That's when I realized that this whole starting school and spending all day away from me was a big adjustment for him. He hides things so well, but is really quite sensitive--kind of like his mom. I was so glad that I took the time to do this! I think it was more rewarding for me than it was help to Jonathan's teacher, the school, or the other children in the class. And I know that me and my son shared a connection because of it. He knows that I think education is important because I took the time to show that it was important. He also knows I think the world of him!
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Ghostly Gourds
One of my favorite things about fall is the decorating that ensues. Every year my family and I head to the U-pick pumpkin patch and go hog wild on picking pumpkins. The fact that the more you buy, the cheaper they become, really just creates an opportunity for me to go insane on the amount of pumpkins we load into the car every year. Last year we brought home 15, this year it was more like 20. Throw in some hay bales, stalks of corn, and as many gourds as you can shake a stick at and the Watsons are ready to decorate!
After last year's pumpkin picking frenzy, my son and I decided to decorate some of our gourds and turn them into ghosts. I just used some acrylic paint that I had left over from another project and they worked out just fine. We first painted our gourds a white base coat. I like to use foam brushes because they are inexpenisve and I don't have to worry about cleaning them--I can just toss them whenever we are done.
After letting that coat dry, we decided they needed another coat to cover up all of the green.
Did you know that if you use your tongue to help you paint, you get great coverage and a wonderful finish?
Once it was dry, we dabbed on some eyes with the black paint and allowed it to dry. That's when I sprayed them with a varnish so that the white paint wouldn't turn yellow.
After last year's pumpkin picking frenzy, my son and I decided to decorate some of our gourds and turn them into ghosts. I just used some acrylic paint that I had left over from another project and they worked out just fine. We first painted our gourds a white base coat. I like to use foam brushes because they are inexpenisve and I don't have to worry about cleaning them--I can just toss them whenever we are done.
After letting that coat dry, we decided they needed another coat to cover up all of the green.
Once it was dry, we dabbed on some eyes with the black paint and allowed it to dry. That's when I sprayed them with a varnish so that the white paint wouldn't turn yellow.
This was really easy and a great way to spend an afternoon making memories with my little guy!
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Christmas in October?
Okay, there are Christmas decorations everywhere already. I haven't even bought a Halloween costume for the baby yet! It seems as if the "holidays" are pushed earlier and earlier every year. While I do love the holidays and could probably decorate with Christmas decorations year round, it just seems as Thanksgiving just gets brushed over. I mean, come on! It's a holiday where we do nothing but eat food! Why would we want to over look that?!
It was also announced yesterday that a new country Christmas TV special will be airing this year and a lot of huge country stars are participating. I L-O-V-E it when country stars do Christmas specials! It reminds me of all those great specials Bob Hope used to do and it fills me with nostalgia. "CMA Country Christmas" will air on ABC and feature performances from: Rascal Flatts, Brad Paisley, Sugarland, Darius Rucker, Reba McEntire, Marina McBride, Little Big Town, LeAnn Rimes and Sheryl Crow...not sure why she is being thrown in, but I'll take it.
The artists families are also going to take part in the special and will be taped in front of a live audience. The special will be filmed at Bridgestone Arena on Thursday November 11th, but no details yet on how to get tickets. The CMA Awards are being held the night before in the same venue and will also be aired on ABC. The Christmas special will not air until November 29th.
I can't wait to see the costumes they'll wear on the special---I'm thinking great Santa dresses like those worn in "White Christmas." Hey! Maybe THAT could be the baby's Halloween costume! A cute little Santa suit! If I hand him a turkey to carry, we'll cover all of our bases!
A pumpkin tree? I dig it!
It was also announced yesterday that a new country Christmas TV special will be airing this year and a lot of huge country stars are participating. I L-O-V-E it when country stars do Christmas specials! It reminds me of all those great specials Bob Hope used to do and it fills me with nostalgia. "CMA Country Christmas" will air on ABC and feature performances from: Rascal Flatts, Brad Paisley, Sugarland, Darius Rucker, Reba McEntire, Marina McBride, Little Big Town, LeAnn Rimes and Sheryl Crow...not sure why she is being thrown in, but I'll take it.
The artists families are also going to take part in the special and will be taped in front of a live audience. The special will be filmed at Bridgestone Arena on Thursday November 11th, but no details yet on how to get tickets. The CMA Awards are being held the night before in the same venue and will also be aired on ABC. The Christmas special will not air until November 29th.
I can't wait to see the costumes they'll wear on the special---I'm thinking great Santa dresses like those worn in "White Christmas." Hey! Maybe THAT could be the baby's Halloween costume! A cute little Santa suit! If I hand him a turkey to carry, we'll cover all of our bases!
A pumpkin tree? I dig it!Friday, October 15, 2010
Welcome Fall!
My sweet little baby is growing so fast! I snapped this photo of him yesterday and I just had to share it. He loves crawling over to the door to look outside. Lately he has been fascinated by all of the leaves falling from the trees and making such a ruckus. It doesn't matter how many times I tell him no and move him away, he ends up right back here.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Throwback Thursday!
It was 1997 when my love affair started. Really, it was the year I married my husband. It was also the year I heard about a band called "The Ranch" with a really cute lead singer named Keith Urban. What do you say we take a little walk in the country?
I continue to play this song off the CD that was sent to the radio station I was working at the time this song was released. It has the words "YES!" written all over it in Sharpie. Sometimes us radio folks do know a thing or two! I love it!
I continue to play this song off the CD that was sent to the radio station I was working at the time this song was released. It has the words "YES!" written all over it in Sharpie. Sometimes us radio folks do know a thing or two! I love it!
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
My Backup Plan!
This is my official declaration and plea--I want to be a backup singer! Not just any one's backup singer, but a famous country music star's backup singer.
This all started when I went to see Taylor Swift and Keith Urban in concert. I could go on and on about my love affair with Keith Urban right, now, but I would be getting off point, so I'll get back to Taylor Swift. I was fascinated by the way she tossed her hair around stage, pointed at the audience, and ran around like she was just a teenager in her room holding a hairbrush rather than a microphone and singing in front of thousands of people! I remember how I used to do exactly that in my younger days. Then, I spotted her....
I spotted the cute, slightly older than Taylor, backup singer. She stood there, singing all the right harmonies and looking as stylish as could be. AND, she got to be on stage with Taylor every night! I thought, "I can do that!"
Not that I want to do it every night, mind you. I just want to be able to do it once! One song, one time, one very famous star. I have so many favorites that it doesn't matter who wants to take me on. Besides, I can't really be choosy.
Now, anyone who knows me knows that I went into country radio because I knew I would never make it as country music singer, so I took what I could get--at least I'd still be heard on the radio! Believe, me I tried to sing...much to the dismay of everyone around me, but particularly my mother. I tried out for choir in 5th grade and got in--only to be kicked out during 6th grade because the new choir teacher didn't think I was as good as the previous teacher thought. Now, that squashed me for awhile, but didn't stop me from belting out everything I heard on the radio, no matter where that radio happened to be. It particularly annoyed my family in the backseat of the car. It also annoyed by friends when I forced them to play "Star Search." Could you imagine if "American Idol" was popular when I was a kid? I would have been one of those sorry soles thinking she could sing and crying her eyes out and having security called when Simon let me in on the truth!
By the time I was in high school, I regained my courage and tried out for the school talent show my sophomore year--with my guitar in hand. The guitar I didn't know how to play. Yep, I marched up there like I knew what I was doing and waited for my track of Lee Greenwood's " I Owe You" to cue up. I belted it out and hit some random strings on my guitar. How hard could it be? I didn't need lessons. Uh. yeah. Needless to say, I didn't make the show.
My junior year, I decided to try out for Master of Ceremonies and skipped the signing. I was ecstatic to land the job! I remember jumping up and down in the lunch line when a friend of mine told me she saw the cast posting in the hallway on her way to lunch. I went on to do a few more plays and took only talking parts in the musicals. But by the time my senior year was upon me, I longed to try again.
So this time I admitted to myself that I was not a guitar player and picked a classic country song to try out with. I made the show and by the time the show's run was over, everyone in the school was singing "Rose Garden." I felt a little redeemed and even picked up a couple of awards for my acts in the show. I never tried to kid myself again, however, even though the dream of being a country singer is still alive.
Whose to say I'm too old, too fat, or too bad to try for a dream? I'm taking a shot! I want to sing backup! I just need an offer...
Rest in peace Mr. Mark Madison. You were truly an inspiration to me and the reason why I do what I do for a living! What memories you have given me! I know that angels are singing for you now!
This all started when I went to see Taylor Swift and Keith Urban in concert. I could go on and on about my love affair with Keith Urban right, now, but I would be getting off point, so I'll get back to Taylor Swift. I was fascinated by the way she tossed her hair around stage, pointed at the audience, and ran around like she was just a teenager in her room holding a hairbrush rather than a microphone and singing in front of thousands of people! I remember how I used to do exactly that in my younger days. Then, I spotted her....
I spotted the cute, slightly older than Taylor, backup singer. She stood there, singing all the right harmonies and looking as stylish as could be. AND, she got to be on stage with Taylor every night! I thought, "I can do that!"
Not that I want to do it every night, mind you. I just want to be able to do it once! One song, one time, one very famous star. I have so many favorites that it doesn't matter who wants to take me on. Besides, I can't really be choosy.
Now, anyone who knows me knows that I went into country radio because I knew I would never make it as country music singer, so I took what I could get--at least I'd still be heard on the radio! Believe, me I tried to sing...much to the dismay of everyone around me, but particularly my mother. I tried out for choir in 5th grade and got in--only to be kicked out during 6th grade because the new choir teacher didn't think I was as good as the previous teacher thought. Now, that squashed me for awhile, but didn't stop me from belting out everything I heard on the radio, no matter where that radio happened to be. It particularly annoyed my family in the backseat of the car. It also annoyed by friends when I forced them to play "Star Search." Could you imagine if "American Idol" was popular when I was a kid? I would have been one of those sorry soles thinking she could sing and crying her eyes out and having security called when Simon let me in on the truth!
By the time I was in high school, I regained my courage and tried out for the school talent show my sophomore year--with my guitar in hand. The guitar I didn't know how to play. Yep, I marched up there like I knew what I was doing and waited for my track of Lee Greenwood's " I Owe You" to cue up. I belted it out and hit some random strings on my guitar. How hard could it be? I didn't need lessons. Uh. yeah. Needless to say, I didn't make the show.
My junior year, I decided to try out for Master of Ceremonies and skipped the signing. I was ecstatic to land the job! I remember jumping up and down in the lunch line when a friend of mine told me she saw the cast posting in the hallway on her way to lunch. I went on to do a few more plays and took only talking parts in the musicals. But by the time my senior year was upon me, I longed to try again.
So this time I admitted to myself that I was not a guitar player and picked a classic country song to try out with. I made the show and by the time the show's run was over, everyone in the school was singing "Rose Garden." I felt a little redeemed and even picked up a couple of awards for my acts in the show. I never tried to kid myself again, however, even though the dream of being a country singer is still alive.
Whose to say I'm too old, too fat, or too bad to try for a dream? I'm taking a shot! I want to sing backup! I just need an offer...
Rest in peace Mr. Mark Madison. You were truly an inspiration to me and the reason why I do what I do for a living! What memories you have given me! I know that angels are singing for you now!
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