RAMbler Blog

Sigh. I swear it was just last week that it was Memorial Day weekend and I was hauling my MIF tshirt collection out trying to decide which ones I was going to wear this year. And now I’m hauling uniform shorts out of drawers and forcing them on a very resistant 9- year old only to find out that he had a growth spurt and the stockpile of shorts I had was all for not. Fortunately, the shoe store still had his Merrell’s in stock and we were able to grab the last pairs of shorts in his size at our second stop. A swing by Jerry’s as a reward to him for having a good attitude and a reward to me for the very same reason and we’re home. Mission Accomplished.

The one thing I did at the end of school year before mentally checking out for the summer payed off- I had printed out last year’s school supply list and when he came home with a backpack of school supply leftovers I highlighted what we now had and stashed them away in his backpack ready to go for the next school year. The school supply list may have some changes year to year but it’s usually pretty consistent so this small step saves me a lot of time and money every year.

I’d like to say I was one of those supermoms who meal preps every Sunday for the entire week but I spend my Sunday afternoons either at soccer practice or curled up on the couch with my dogs in bitter denial of the inevitable Mondays. What I do (maybe once a month), however, especially because my kids’ schedules require the planning skills of a D-day invasion, is make enormous quantities of spaghetti sauce, gumbo and crawfish etouffee to freeze in family dinner size portions so that on busy nights all I have to do is throw one out in the morning to defrost and then come home to reheat while making pasta or rice. I also keep the freezer stocked with pork tenderloins to be baked while we do homework or are preparing to go to practice. Brinner- Breakfast for Dinner- is a very popular quick, easy and cheap option. And my devotion to a baked chicken from Costco could be expressed in interpretive dance.

No matter how organized I make the practical side of the start of a new school year, I’m never emotionally ready.  I love having all my little birds in my nest and with one in college, one a senior in high school and one beginning fourth grade I greedily grasp onto each moment I get with them knowing how fleeting this time is. So we’ll probably hit Jerry’s again. And maybe Gus’ and Gibson’s as well. Take the pups to Shelby Farms to watch the sun set on the lake or even just float in the pool and daydream together about next summer.

The students of Holy Rosary School celebrated Read Across America Week from February 25-March 1. This nationwide event celebrates Dr. Seuss and the joy of reading. On Monday, many of the students and teachers came to school dressed as their favorite literary character. On Tuesday we paid tribute to one of Dr. Seuss’ lesser known books, My Many Colored Days. Students were allowed to wear one colorful accessory with their uniform. The cafeteria served a very colorful and delicious lunch.  In the book, Wacky Wednesday, wacky things occur on every page. On Wednesday, the students were encouraged to come to school dressed wacky. Many students had a great time wearing their clothes backwards, wearing pants on their head and we even had a brother and sister who swapped uniforms. That one made me do a double take! Once again the ladies in the cafeteria joined in the fun serving hamburgers on hotdog buns, different shaped fries all mixed together and salad with popcorn instead of dressing! The main hall had many wacky things going on. There was a fireplace with Santa, Christmas music playing, a milk jug pouring ‘milk’ into a cup, one teacher was turned into a butterfly and another teacher was turned into Captain Underpants! Twice during the day, the students were interrupted by an announcement over the intercom instructing them to put down their pencils and get up and boogie. These music dance breaks were a great hit with the students. Thursday was our Library Fun Night and used book sale. I was dressed as Miss Viola Swamp, Coach Olswing was a Creepy Carrot, Mrs. Paduck was dressed as Peppa Pig and Mrs. Gardino was Cookie Monster. We all spent the first part of the afternoon reading our stories to the children. There were games for the children such as Ring the Gack, tic-tac-toe with green eggs and ham instead of X’s and O’s and a Fox in Socks game where students competed to see who could match the most pairs of socks. There were so many wonderful books that were donated for the sale. I would like to thank everyone who donated books. So many people got some really great books at awesome prices. Friday was Fox in Socks day. Students could wear crazy socks with their uniform. Throughout the week we had DEAR time. When the students heard a bell ring over the intercom they knew it was time to Drop Everything And Read. This year the search for Who-ville was a fun addition. It’s hard to explain how crazy the search was, so ask your child about the literary clues that led them to Who-ville. Students that found the ever moving Who-ville were given a Truffula Tree pen donated by the Mothers’ Club. The week was great fun for everyone.