Extra, Extra!

My latest article in the Foreign Service Journal.  Please browse through the entire edition;  I have several friends who had their writings published this month and their works are not to be missed.  Congrats to all!

{this moment}

{this moment} – A Friday ritual. One photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see. 

Idea courtesy of Soulemama.  

I pulled the “A” card….

and he hasn't even left the country.  Early, but we needed to use it.  You see, Cait has had a bit of trouble with Algebra.  She is working with a tutor and trying to fit in after school sessions, but it is still not her forte.

Peter and I are not particularly surprised because neither one of us really enjoyed it.  I know my own experience can be described as nothing short of hellish.  I had an Algebra teacher who was far more interested in spending class time discussing her kids and family issues, than, say, Algebra.  She had no use for those of us who needed a bit of extra help and sadly, I couldn't switch classes as it would mess with my other honors classes.  Thus, I was stuck with the first (and last) teacher who ever told me that I had a stupid question.  

Yes.  Not even privately, but in front of the entire class.  Needless to say, she didn't not win any bonus points with me for that.  Before anyone jumps in with, "Well, that's what you get for attending public school," let me assure you that this happened at a small, private, all girls high school. So much for extra attention and nurturing, right?  No guesses as to why I switched to the nearby public high school the next year.  My grades shot up, I was no longer bored and a far more delightful international blend of students nor would a teacher at that school conceive of calling a question "stupid."

So, given that my own history with Algebra was less than stellar, I simply wanted Cait to get through the year.  However, it was clear that even with extra help, she was still struggling a bit.  There is no shame in that, and even less so when we figured out that we already had a solution.  

A friend had mentioned years ago that when a student took a high school class in 8th grade, such as Algebra and the child did not do as well as he or she hoped, the class could be repeated in Freshman year of high school.  There is no need for summer school, and no worries about the GPA.  The 8th grade score is expunged and the child starts with a clean slate.  Our only difficulty:  reaching the teacher to confirm this information.

Teachers like email these days and so do we.  It is quicker, easier, and gives a written record.  However, we were having trouble getting information back from the teacher on specific issues.  Peter finally went a slightly different route, cc:ed the counselor (as we needed her input on the matter) and voila, an answer was had.  Unfortunately, the response indicated it wasn't clear she understood our questions.  I wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt, but decided, especially given that the counselor had been cc:ed that it was time to pull the A-card (you know, Peter's future home country for the next year…).  I knew it was also likely that she didn't realize that we were fine with Cait repeating Algebra, as that had been left out of Peter's message.

I replied all and explained that Cait was being tutored, that we are encouraging after school sessions and that our main concern is planning.  Would she need summer school or could she not just re-take it next year as we had already planned?  I made mention of not wanting to pester anyone, but what with "her father headed 'over there' for a year beginning in May, we just want to get this settled."

We had a most excellent answer in our email inboxes this morning.  Not only did the counselor respond immediately, but said our assumptions were correct and Cait need only retake the course next year.  Her old grade would be expunged, her GPA would remain unaffected and she would have a good base for next year's class.  She then followed that up with a request that Peter "be safe in you-know-where."

Now, I don't know that my mention of his future assignment was the key, but I figured it couldn't hurt.  After all, we weren't asking for the world, just confirmation that we are headed in the right direction.  And are we worried/freaked/embarassed about Cait's Algebra issues this year?

Not in the slightest.  She is incredibly talented in so many ways and Algebra simply isn't her thing.   Why push her to take harder courses when she clearly could just use a bit more help in this subject? Given my own issues with the same course (ironically, Geometry and Algebra II were much easier for me…), I have no desire to push her when it's not necessary.  Call me a lazy mom, but I'm far more concerned with her needs than with my need to brag that she took Calculus at age 10.   And, now it's time to put the A-card away….well, at least for now.

Running low?

Desperate for Do-Si-Dos?  Salivating for Savannah Smiles?  Yearning for just one more box of Thin Mints?

It's your lucky day!  As it turns out, our troop has 44 boxes of cookies leftover from booth sales that need to be sold.  Yes, we can purchase them for ourselves (and will if they don't sell), but thought we would give you one last chance in case you need one more box…if so, you know the routine!  Comment here, send a DM on Facebook and/or send an email to Kelsey or me.  This is the last chance until next year, just in case you want to stock up…did I mention they freeze well?

In a related note, thank you for the thank you gifts!  In addition to the blog mentions and cards, we also are the lucky recipients of three pashminas.  Thank you SO much to our friends in Oman!  Kelsey adores them and I think I will end up borrowing from her instead of the other way around!

NOTE:  We have at least 3 boxes (total) of each type of cookie.  Please let us know how many you desire and we will confirm availability.

Aww…

Yes, too much texting can be evil, I suppose.  However, sometimes there are text messages that just make one's evening.  While I adore hand-written notes, it's also nice to have conversations like this one handy for days that I need a little pick-me-up and don't happen to have a scrapbook or journal handy.

{this moment} : “Getting the Mail”

{this moment} – A Friday ritual. One photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see. 

Idea courtesy of Soulemama.  

In a few minutes,

this little nugget will be 10 years old.  At this time 10 years ago, Peter was running downstairs to grab a quick bite to eat, thinking that I would be in labor for a bit longer.  Not a few moments after he arrived at the Friendly's (count on the hospital to have a healthy eatery on site…not!), he received a phone call.  He was told if he wanted to be present at the birth of his second daughter, he might want to skip those clam strips and hot-foot it back upstairs.

About 8 months old…

He did and our little Kelsey D. was born a few minutes later.  Her birth was the eye of the storm for us that year.  So much was happening* in our lives then and it's still amazing to me that we managed to stay remotely sane.  Perhaps it was the sweet wee one with the deep, dark eyes and the massive amount of curly, black hair.  She has accomplished so much in 10 long (but, oh so short!) years and I can't wait to see what the next decade will bring.  

Kelsey enjoying a post-Elevation Burger Mom & Me lunch at school today.

Happy, happy birthday to our sweet, artistic, creative, gentle and loving firecracker of a nugget!  Hope this year is the best yet, Little Buddy, Junior!

*Three weeks after Kelsey was born, the coup occurred in Venezuela.  I will leave out my personal opinion (the coup was a good thing), but Peter ended up being called back to the Embassy and we were stuck in the States on Authorized Departure.  We finally were able to return to Caracas at the end of May.  My maternal grandmother died at the end of June, we moved back to the States in August and then Peter started on crazy-insane two year stint on the Secretary's Protective Detail (and, yes, took on a third year).  It was all good, though, and now that things are so much calmer…oh, wait…

Two months from today

Peter will be winging his way over several continents and oceans towards his new home.  Somehow with all of the other springtime excitment, I forgot he is leaving so very soon.  We have no pack-out date and haven't even touched on thinking about the consumables shipment.  So, just how do I feel about him going away for a year?

Will you hate me if I say "Whatever?"  Not that I won't miss him, but at this point, the sooner he starts, the sooner he finishes.  Oh, and the sooner we can ramp up our savings and take a few sweet trips (maybe overseas?).  Frankly, right now, I'm more concerned about the proper papers being signed and things being handled properly so that we don't miss out on the benefits of this unaccompanied tour.  Other than that?  Well, we are still so darn busy with…

Yes, Girl Scout Cookies!  Between filling overseas orders and working the cookie booth, things have been a little crazy.  Kelsey worked last week in Old Town (on St. Patrick's Day, so very active) and will be working again* this Saturday!  At last count, Kelsey has sold a whopping 837 boxes (not including her portion of booth sales) and we have shipped to at least 25 countries (some more than once).  From here to Estonia, cookies are being enjoyed everywhere…and some folks have even placed follow-up orders and sent sweet thank you cards!

If you are curious, we will most definitely be mailing out cookies again next year.  Kelsey loved shipping out the boxes and even managed to sell to the postal clerks and the bank tellers.  The postal clerks were particularly impressed and glad to see so many boxes going to those fellow FS friends serving overseas.  Thanks so much to everyone who purchased cookies, Kelsey and her fellow troop members truly appreciate it!

*Oh!  You are local and want to buy cookies from Kelsey?  One more in-person sales opportunity will happen this Saturday.  If you might want to stop by her booth, please email or DM me on FB and I will let you know the pertinent details!

Nature Boy

and I headed into the city yesterday for a brief excursion to the National Arboretum.  While he loves his mission in the woods behind our house (our neighborhood backs to a nature center and park), we thought it was time to expand our horizons a bit more.  

I had been yearning to get back to the National Arboretum for a long time.  So much open  space and it is absolutely perfect for a BG* to run around, even with 3 light sabers.  The drizzly rain did not deter us (remember, my kids like playing in the rain), so off we headed.  

Despite a bit of traffic, we arrived with a good hour to spend.  This was a actually a perfect first trip, as we were really scoping it out for future missions.  We hit the koi pond, the herb garden and the Bonsai gardens.  If you have not seen the Bonsai gardens….amazing.  I fell in love with the red maple and only wished we could wisk it home with us! 

While we were perusing the offerings in the Tropical Conservatory,  Nick saw a small statue in the garden area of one tree, a man kneeling, as though in thought or prayer. He took one look at it and said, "But, where's Baby Jesus?" To be fair, the little statue did resemble Joseph a bit.  You can always count on the Big Guy for the most interesting comments (oh, yes, he is the Big Guy now, since he turned 4!  Woe to the person who calls him LG…).

Perhaps the best part was the herb garden.  Oh, to have an herb garden twice the size of our house.  I was proud of our little bit of rosemary until I saw the patch there.  Nick was thrilled and about to taste it when I had to remind him it wasn't for us.  

"But I eat it off the bush at home!"  Yes, you do, and I love that, but not so sure the Arboretum staff wants folks picking at the herbs.

Due to the drizzle, it was a very quiet day, however, this meant not many other folks around, so very quiet and lots of open space to run in.  We had a short but sweet visit and are already planning a return trip, this time with Kelsey.  We've got to get our fun time in DC in while we can, right? 

A trip like this is also a good reminder of why we live in this area and why we travel so much.   I want my kids to soak in and learn as much about their own country as they do others.  I love that Nicholas gets so excited to see the Washington Monument (and that he sees it so often).  I love that  walking past the White House is something we can do any time we want.  More importantly, one lazy afternoon, we can just decide to go to the National Arboretum without worrying about hotels or airline tickets.  We are close to the city, the bay, the beach and the mountains.  Pretty cool, if I do say so myself…. 

*Big Guy

{this moment}:

{this moment} – A Friday ritual. One photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see. 

Idea courtesy of Soulemama.