Ahhhh, Summer.

is in full swing here in Maine. 

The boys and I have been exploring the state (<-- link to my new, more PC blog about Maine...less Penises, more trees) and enjoying the weather.

Did you know we moved a few months ago?

From this...

to this...

The city baby!! Woot!

There's a park and pool on our street.  The kids WALK to school (it's only a few houses up) and...

wait for it...

I can get them off to school and be inside Target by 8:22am.

This is heaven, y'all!

We are doing alot this summer, but are also having a lot of "home" days. And by home, I mean pool ;)

There are lifeguards, who the boys have charmed...

Off-duty LG pulling them around

Another playing frisbee with them

 As much as we enjoy the pool, I gotta say...I'm completely shocked by the ignorance of some parents who take their kids there. The rules are simple: no diving, no food or drink, and noone under the age of 12 may swim without a parent with them.  There are 2 lifeguards on duty, clean bathrooms/facilities, and it's FREE!!

Yes, there's a fence, and people who know CPR...

But it's not a freakin' DAY CARE, people!  

I actually said that to someone one day, after a visibly inhibited father left his 6yr old there for 1.5 hours.  When he got back, the lifeguards confronted him (as harshly as timid teenage girls can), and he replied, "Oh, I'm sorry, I thought he was safe here with you."  He IS safe here, they are LIFEGUARDS, but it's not a daycare, dude.

I've seen multiple people get their kids in the water, then go to their car for a smoke...or to play bball on the court, or walk a few blocks (way out of sight) down to a fastfood restaurant.  WTH people. 

Don't get me wrong. I LOVE to people watch, and this is a prime location to do so (note: do not leave home without sunglasses!)

We go quite frequently, and there are some other "regulars." If you ask the lifeguards, we are probably considered regulars ourselves. There's the single mom with cute girls who are always so surprised to *gasp* get WET from splashing kids in the pool.  The rotten boy who can't share the toy he's got, but oooh, can he have what you have?  (Answer: Nope.)  One of my least favorites, is the dude with the BAD haircut who wears his wife's shorts (they've GOTTA be hers...there is NO room for his, um...junk). And quite frequently, I'm annoyed by this one dad who is quite mean to his kids.  Not that I don't harp on my own to stop acting up (Do you KNOW how many times I yell, "Hands OFF!" omw. Too many).

Recently, though, mean dad was not-so-mean dad, playing with his kids...singing silly songs, dancing to the radio, playing pocket pool  with them.  He was incredibly thirsty that day, too.  Here's a tip.  If you want to try to pass off some hard alcohol in a child's size McD's cup...a) use the cover and straw and b) just go ahead and spring for the LARGE cup, cuz when you and your backpack disappear to change in the bathroom, and your small, coverless cup comes back miraculously full...well...it doesn't take a lifeguard  rocket scientist to figure out what's going on, there buddy.

It's hard to decide what to do when you witness something like that.  Well, it wouldn't have been THAT hard if I had seen him DRIVE up with those kids, but I knew he walked here with them from another neighborhood (hence the thirst, ha). So I didn't (but definitely would) have to step in before he got behind the wheel.  He called his wife for a ride home.  I made sure the lifeguards saw the magic full cup trick (they had), and haven't seen him there since.   

Would you have done anything differently?  Or just ditched your own kids there and walked to the bar for a drink.  All your friends are doing it. ;) There's always tomorrow...

*kidding*  

Me + D.C. - 6 penises x 3 days = Mom Congress 2012

Poor Mom Congress.  I bet they never thought they'd be used in the same equation as penises (I still want to say peni), yet here we are.  Here I am. 5 days until my (first! ever!) flight to D.C.  I'm feeling a bit unsuited to be surrounded by such amazing moms.  These ladies are hard core!  Foundation this, organization that.  *gulp*

I'm honored to represent Maine Moms.  I take this job seriously.  Because yes, being mom is a job.  On forms when it asks for occupation, I always write "Mom." with the period included lol  My facebook occupation reads:
            I work 24/7 for no pay, taking orders from tiny clients.
                · Jan 2001 to present · Unity, Maine
               Zookeeper, Grief Counselor, Stylist, Physician's Assistant, Judge, Short-order Cook, 
               Cheerleader, Psychic, Xray Vision Specialist, Chauffeur, Recreation Director, 
               Decision Maker, Storyteller, Janitor, Hygenist, Psychologist, Teacher, Mediator, 
               Laundress, Detective, Maid, Referee, Manager of Miracles, Life Coach, MOM.

Volunteer.  How could I forget volunteer? It's what we do.  Well, it's what I do.  Past Mom Congress delegates have started non-profits, entire movements, websites, lobby for education.  And what do I do?  I volunteer.  I feel very much like Baby on Dirty Dancing............."I carried a watermelon."

No movements, no websites. Heck, most teachers can't access this blog from their school based on the title alone! lmao  I'm excited to meet these amazing moms, to gather up as much information from the education experts, and to share it with whomever doesn't have a high filter on their internet is interested.

This year's Mom Congress theme is "Teach Me Something New" and is dedicated to fostering the crucially important relationship between parents and teachers.

Communication is key.  I hope to learn a lot and utilize even more.  I need all the help I can get, as we just moved to a new city last month.  I've gone from being "the mom in the know" in our old district, to the mom who knows nothing and no one :)  I've attended one PTO meeting.  I thought in a larger district...in the capital city...there would be lots of parents there.  There were 2 saints moms.  And the principal (she's great, btw! Totally dedicated and fun-nay!  I'm gonna like it here...once I find where/how I can fit in/help).

But being at the PTO meeting isn't the only way to volunteer. Perhaps more parents are involved in the classroom, or feel they put in their time by selling fundraising stuff (which clearly, is an important part as more school budgets are cut).  Or maybe dad/mom coaches one of the sport teams--that's definitely a time consuming job!!  And I can't even imagine where the working moms and dads find the extra time to put in an hour here or there (kudos to you!!).

All of the above are great ways to be involved.  And you know who notices the most?  Your kids.  And studies show students with parents who take an active role in their schooling tend to perform better academically and socially.  Do what works for you.  The kids'll be proud of you, and so will I.

And, nervous.  I'll still be nervous.

First! ever! flight.

*hyperventilates*

Please pass the paper bag.


Comment below, please!! :  How is communication at your child's school?  Do you have a good relationship with his/her teacher?  Why or why not?  How do you communicate?  email?  journal?  phone?  Any tips for moms with kids going into kindergarten?  or you know...me?  
Thanks!

Ayla

My heart is heavy. Everyday for the past two weeks, since this little girl  went missing from her father's home (15 min from here), I've eagerly checked the online news several times a day hoping upon hope that I'd read the words "Ayla's been FOUND!" But as time passes, and her father remains in hiding, while her mother whores herself out to every media outlet that waves a free plane ticket in her face, the feeling that a happy ending will occur is fading.

We watched as K-9 units and rescue teams searched the blocks near the high traffic area where Ayla Rey,nolds lives. Hugged our little ones tighter as the dedicated men and women hard at work tirelessly looking for Ayla, drained the rivers overnight, to search the riverbeds the next morning for clues, with help from airplanes.

Of course, when things like this happen across the country, you check up on it periodically...like the case of Caylee Anth,ony. I watched and was apalled by how that all went down. My heart aches for all the sweet babies who go missing or worse. But when it happens in your own back yard, so to speak, it shakes you. Wondering if your own children played alongside this one at McD's or the nearby playground we frequented this fall.

Last night, I was restless. And found myself thinking of Ayla once again. I watch far too many episodes of Criminal Minds, SVU, NCIS, etc., but what they have shown me is that a lot of times, the one clue that breaks the whole case open makes you want to slap yourself on the forehead, cuz it was that simple and was overlooked the whole time. I thought well, if this is a case of parental kidnapping (there is a custody battle ensuing and Ayla has a broken arm), then whoever took her hopefully loves her enough to put her in a carseat. Ooooh, or maybe, the parent slipped up and gave them her OWN carseat! Or are on surveillance leaving one of the few department stores in the area, carrying a carseat. I forwarded my thought to the PD and could only hope for the best again today.

But today, the best didn't come. Tonight, they've changed the status of Ayla's case from missing person to a criminal case, involving foul play.

The definitions I found...FOUL PLAY: violence, especially MURDER. Unfair or dishonest behavior (especially involving murder). Synonyms: blood, homocide, murder, rubout, slaying.

Shit.

Please let this sweetheart be okay.

(I cant get a pic to post from my tablet, but if I could it would've been the one of her sweet smile and chubby wrists *swoon*)

WW: All I want for Christmas...

If you give a mouse Mom a bagel...

I've been trying to kill catch a mouse.

Little bastard guy keeps setting off the trap and getting away with the loot. 

Before setting the trap last night, I was hungry, so I stuck a bagel in the toaster (we'll blame the time change on this would-be midnight snack). 

Then I got to work on setting the mouse trap...after all, I had the peanut butter out for my bagel anyway. 

So, I smeared the trap up, surprisingly got it to stay set on my first try (lots of practice last night...bastard...grumble), but I wanted it closer to the dishwasher, cuz I think my wittle fwiend is under there laughing at me hanging out. 

I was using a spoon to slide the set trap gently across the floor (I think I was holding my breath, even), when 

SNAP!!!

My bagel popped up.

And I peed my pants. 

The end.

SOC

I can't believe how much toilet paper we go through. There are 6 pen!ses and ONE vajayjay in this house...and I'm always scraping the roll. What the sh.. Oh... riiiight.

I wrote 2 emails this past week having to apologize to 2 teachers for my oldest's disrespectful and disruptive chatter...which means, I should probably forward it to his 4 other teachers. But the detention he served, our "talk", taking his phone away and changing his FB password for 2 weeks should hopefully do the trick...how come "good parenting" never leaves me feeling good??

There's a mouse in the house. Fascinating, eh? The little (or...I'm beginning to think...not-so-little) effer set off the same trap last night and got away with the loot! Maybe he was watching that hamster spy movie with us last week.

I can't believe it's "the holiday season" already. Booooooooo. If you're looking for ideas for me, I like diamonds...and toilet paper.

By Fadra:  This was my 5 minute Stream of Consciousness Sunday post. It’s five minutes of your time and a brain dump. Want to try it? Here are the rules…

• Set a timer and write for 5 minutes only.
• Write an intro to the post if you want but don’t edit the post. No proofreading or spellchecking. This is writing in the raw.
• Publish it somewhere. Anywhere. The back door to your blog if you want. But make it accessible.
• Add the Stream of Consciousness Sunday badge to your post.
• Link up your post here. .
• Visit your fellow bloggers and show some love.

Trick-or-Tweeeeeeeet!

My 5 Angry Birds. The black and blue costumes I had to make...with a little TLC...and lots of hot glue!