Friday, September 30, 2011
A surprise portrait
I love it when I find surprises like this one on my pillow from Camryn. Somehow, they make the desperate, angst-filled tantrums kind of worth it. Plus, it totally looks just like me! ;)
A note from the teacher...
At work today, I checked my staff mailbox, only to find an inner-district mail envelope. Unless I'm expecting a specific document from someone in another building, I'm usually not a big fan of receiving these, as they often don't contain good news...
In any case, I was surprised to open it and find two pieces of paper, paperclipped together. The top page was a note from Camryn's teacher:
Not quite sure exactly what she was referring to, my attention shifted to the second page. It was clearly a piece of Camryn's writing, with an accompanying illustration. And then......I saw it. The hysterical, hilarious mistake. The one that kept me rolling all afternoon long. And though it's true, that she needs some new tights for dance, I'm pretty sure this isn't quite what she meant. God, I love that girl.
In any case, I was surprised to open it and find two pieces of paper, paperclipped together. The top page was a note from Camryn's teacher:
Not quite sure exactly what she was referring to, my attention shifted to the second page. It was clearly a piece of Camryn's writing, with an accompanying illustration. And then......I saw it. The hysterical, hilarious mistake. The one that kept me rolling all afternoon long. And though it's true, that she needs some new tights for dance, I'm pretty sure this isn't quite what she meant. God, I love that girl.
SHS Homecoming Parade
Although it took some clever scheduling, the girls and I managed to make it to the Sherwood HS Homecoming parade after school today. Both girls really wanted to see "the princesses," and when they discovered that Brian would be driving one of the trucks carrying said royalty, well, there was just no questioning whether or not we would attend...
Waiting for the princesses...
Go Bowmen!
There's Daddy!
Can you believe they have an equestrian team???
Waiting for the princesses...
Go Bowmen!
There's Daddy!
Can you believe they have an equestrian team???Jog-a-thon 2011: It's Hip to be Fit!
September: The Lost Month
Although my absence in the blogosphere might lead you to believe otherwise, we have in fact, not fallen off the face of the earth. It's just that time of year again. September. Also known as "The Lost Month." Somehow, year after year, as we guide ourselves back into the rhythm of a new school year, our family loses track of an entire month. School/work manages to commandeer all of our free time, and before we know it, it's October! We are looking forward to resurfacing in society here soon, but for now, enjoy some pics and stories that show a little about what we've been up to.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
The night that could have been
It is really hard for me to write this post. The disappointment I feel for my daughter is still palpable, and when I think about it for too long, I feel a knot form in my stomach. For as much as Camryn had looked forward to this special night, and for as well as it began, I am so incredibly disappointed about the way it ended. (Maybe I should back up a few months...)
Last spring, we found out that Camryn's idol, Taylor Swift, would be performing in Portland on her tour this summer. Knowing how much Camryn is absolutely in love with her, Brian and I weighed the pros and cons of spending such a significant chunk of money on concert tickets for a six year old. In the end, we bit the bullet, and with the help of a friend who works at the Rose Garden, purchased two PRIMO seats for the concert of a lifetime.
Fast forward a few months, and as the school year approached, we realized that the district had adjusted the school calendar in such a way that the concert would actually be happening on the evening of the first day of school. Not exactly ideal timing for any of us, but figuring it was a once in a lifetime special evening, we accepted the fact that we'd fight the battle of exhaustion on the second day of school.
As the date approached, Camryn told everyone she encountered about her special outing. Her excitement built by the day, and when the first day of school rolled around, she pronounced it more than once, "The Best Day Ever!" She returned home from her first day of first grade tired, but happy, and excited to head to the concert.
To make the event even more memorable, we carpooled with our friends, decorated our "ride," accessorized with feather boas that might catch TSwift's attention, and hit Red Robin for dinner. It was there that Camryn ate a special, (although not-so-healthy) meal, topped off by a soda (only her third in her entire 6.5 years.) Afterwards, we sat in I-5 traffic for an hour, trying to make our way to the Rose Garden. By the time we arrived in our seats, it was already 8:00 p.m. and TS wouldn't even take the stage for another 30 minutes.
Even though our seats were just feet away, and at eye level with the stage, Camryn was fading fast. With a long school day under her belt, and a full belly to boot, I could see the exhaustion in her eyes. I was hoping though, that once Taylor appeared, her adrenaline would see her through. As it turns out, it didn't quite work out that way...
As TSwift belted out her first song, tens of thousands of people in the Rose Garden went NUTS. It was huge, it was dark, it was loud, and it was all too much on top of an exhausted little body, and a tummy bubbling with carbonation and french fries. Instead of smiling, Camryn began to panic. She starting telling me she needed to leave. That she thought she would throw up, and that I must take her home now!
And so we fled to the safety of the bathroom, where we remained for the first half of the concert, with poor Camryn bent over the toilet bowl, convinced that at any moment she was going to lose her dinner. The most disturbing part though, was just how panicked and insistent she was about leaving. Some form of anxiety was taking hold, and no matter how much she loved that girl on the stage, she was not returning to the concert arena.
After about an hour, her tummy finally settled, but by then she was so physically exhausted, she practically melted into my arms when I picked her up. We spent the remainder of the concert cuddled on a concrete bench, waiting for our friends who were laughing, dancing, singing, and high-fiving Taylor Swift! (I haven't even had the heart to tell Camryn that part.)
We finally arrived home at about 11 p.m. for a few hours sleep before waking up the next morning, and heading to school, exhausted, and severely disappointed.
I'm not exactly sure what happened that night to make Taylor's #1 fan flee from the stage, but my guess is that it was a combination of exhaustion, junk food, and the just plain overwhelming experience of attending a concert for the first time, coupled with the fact that she had built this day up in her mind so much, that maybe the reality couldn't compare. I'm not exactly sure. And though we've talked about it, Camryn can't seem to articulate it either. No matter the cause, I am just SO disappointed for her. Never again, will she love TS quite as much as she does at this very moment, and although she wanted to be there, her once in a lifetime opportunity passed right by, as we huddled in a cold white stall, on the other side of the wall from it.
The good news is, that Camryn has somehow rationalized the experience in her own mind. She has made peace with the fact that she saw Taylor Swift, live in the flesh, even if it was for only 5 minutes. She's no longer concerned with what she didn't see or experience. Which leaves me solo on the shaky platform of disappointment. Which I guess means, that those 5 minutes, at a whopping $36 a piece, might just have been worth it after all...
Last spring, we found out that Camryn's idol, Taylor Swift, would be performing in Portland on her tour this summer. Knowing how much Camryn is absolutely in love with her, Brian and I weighed the pros and cons of spending such a significant chunk of money on concert tickets for a six year old. In the end, we bit the bullet, and with the help of a friend who works at the Rose Garden, purchased two PRIMO seats for the concert of a lifetime.
Fast forward a few months, and as the school year approached, we realized that the district had adjusted the school calendar in such a way that the concert would actually be happening on the evening of the first day of school. Not exactly ideal timing for any of us, but figuring it was a once in a lifetime special evening, we accepted the fact that we'd fight the battle of exhaustion on the second day of school.
As the date approached, Camryn told everyone she encountered about her special outing. Her excitement built by the day, and when the first day of school rolled around, she pronounced it more than once, "The Best Day Ever!" She returned home from her first day of first grade tired, but happy, and excited to head to the concert.
To make the event even more memorable, we carpooled with our friends, decorated our "ride," accessorized with feather boas that might catch TSwift's attention, and hit Red Robin for dinner. It was there that Camryn ate a special, (although not-so-healthy) meal, topped off by a soda (only her third in her entire 6.5 years.) Afterwards, we sat in I-5 traffic for an hour, trying to make our way to the Rose Garden. By the time we arrived in our seats, it was already 8:00 p.m. and TS wouldn't even take the stage for another 30 minutes. 
Even though our seats were just feet away, and at eye level with the stage, Camryn was fading fast. With a long school day under her belt, and a full belly to boot, I could see the exhaustion in her eyes. I was hoping though, that once Taylor appeared, her adrenaline would see her through. As it turns out, it didn't quite work out that way...
As TSwift belted out her first song, tens of thousands of people in the Rose Garden went NUTS. It was huge, it was dark, it was loud, and it was all too much on top of an exhausted little body, and a tummy bubbling with carbonation and french fries. Instead of smiling, Camryn began to panic. She starting telling me she needed to leave. That she thought she would throw up, and that I must take her home now!
And so we fled to the safety of the bathroom, where we remained for the first half of the concert, with poor Camryn bent over the toilet bowl, convinced that at any moment she was going to lose her dinner. The most disturbing part though, was just how panicked and insistent she was about leaving. Some form of anxiety was taking hold, and no matter how much she loved that girl on the stage, she was not returning to the concert arena.
After about an hour, her tummy finally settled, but by then she was so physically exhausted, she practically melted into my arms when I picked her up. We spent the remainder of the concert cuddled on a concrete bench, waiting for our friends who were laughing, dancing, singing, and high-fiving Taylor Swift! (I haven't even had the heart to tell Camryn that part.)
We finally arrived home at about 11 p.m. for a few hours sleep before waking up the next morning, and heading to school, exhausted, and severely disappointed.
I'm not exactly sure what happened that night to make Taylor's #1 fan flee from the stage, but my guess is that it was a combination of exhaustion, junk food, and the just plain overwhelming experience of attending a concert for the first time, coupled with the fact that she had built this day up in her mind so much, that maybe the reality couldn't compare. I'm not exactly sure. And though we've talked about it, Camryn can't seem to articulate it either. No matter the cause, I am just SO disappointed for her. Never again, will she love TS quite as much as she does at this very moment, and although she wanted to be there, her once in a lifetime opportunity passed right by, as we huddled in a cold white stall, on the other side of the wall from it.
The good news is, that Camryn has somehow rationalized the experience in her own mind. She has made peace with the fact that she saw Taylor Swift, live in the flesh, even if it was for only 5 minutes. She's no longer concerned with what she didn't see or experience. Which leaves me solo on the shaky platform of disappointment. Which I guess means, that those 5 minutes, at a whopping $36 a piece, might just have been worth it after all...
Friday, September 2, 2011
1st Grade Meet & Greet
This week, we found out that Camryn's first grade teacher is Mrs. Cox!!! She was so excited, that she literally jumped up and down as she screamed with delight. :)
Thursday afternoon we went to the first grade "meet and greet," where she got to choose her desk, and unpack her supplies. Of course, she chose the seat right next to Emma. I wonder how long it will take Mrs. Cox to catch on and move them away from each other? I'm guessing not too long... :) Look out, first grade! Here comes Camryn!
Thursday afternoon we went to the first grade "meet and greet," where she got to choose her desk, and unpack her supplies. Of course, she chose the seat right next to Emma. I wonder how long it will take Mrs. Cox to catch on and move them away from each other? I'm guessing not too long... :) Look out, first grade! Here comes Camryn!
Adam & Lisa's wedding
Congrats to my cousin Adam and his new bride Lisa. Thanks for letting us celebrate with you!
Fab Four Family Beach Trip '11
For the second year in a row, the girls and I hit the beach with my teaching team and their families. Unfortunately, Brian had obligations related to his new job, and couldn't join us, but we didn't let that stop us.
The kids had a great time running, playing, searching, digging, and exploring together. Just like their parents, they seem to just pick up right where they left off whenever they see each other. It usually takes them all of 4 seconds to give hugs, and then they are off...planning, scheming, and playing. So fun!
Thanks again, Les and Johnny, for hosting the Fab Four and all of our chaos!
The kids had a great time running, playing, searching, digging, and exploring together. Just like their parents, they seem to just pick up right where they left off whenever they see each other. It usually takes them all of 4 seconds to give hugs, and then they are off...planning, scheming, and playing. So fun!
Thanks again, Les and Johnny, for hosting the Fab Four and all of our chaos!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)