One Point at a Time

Every week of the school year I usually say around Friday, 'this has been a long week'.  But SERIOUSLY this one had me on a crazy emotional rollercoaster!  I haven't left the house since Friday PM (except to grocery shop in my PJS).   Lucky Darren was perfectly content handling all meal times.

We started strong with a Carlee Style room makeover.  As Carlee says 'this isn't my room anymore, it belongs to Piggy and Oreo'.  Carlee's guinea pigs (and their stuff) had taken OVER her room.  We thought it was time for a change.

(And this child wants a rabbit and puppy to add to our farm!?! #noway) 

before: desk, closet, and bed dump

We decided we needed to take out the large white desk and replace with a vanity.  Most homework is done at the downstairs desk and it was taking up so much space.  It took many hours to clean out closet, desk, and under bed area.   (It's so hard for Carlee to let stuff go, but she did it.)   

We put in a new vanity and a new little rug. 

Love the finished product.

Tween Living

The piggy cages are off to the side (and not in the center of the room).  Carlee is a very responsible pet owner and continues to clean, feed, and water the pigs daily.  The only time she didn't want to do it was when she was sick (and then I helped). 

I love the vanity her dad picked out and bought.  He even put some lights on it!  #girldad

Have you ever met an 11 year old with Ponds night cream?

Next - we had not one but TWO field trips from 8 to 5pm this week. 

I'm not complaining.  After 2020, to be able to go on trips again is awesome.

The problem is I'm 44 trying to keep up with 10-14 year olds in open space. 

I'm not joking when I say I put on my compression socks and orthopedic inserts for these trips.

I'm proud of myself because I did IT (and had a blast with NO injury)! 

Monday Morning Zoo Trip with my teaching Gal Pals

It wasn't long before I was separated from all humans.  My boy group took me through the entire lands of North America and Africa (no one could keep up)! 

I said 'guys this is like speed racing except zoo version'.  

I finally slowed them down at the Dippin Dots.

If you want to laugh- hang out with some boys.

They keep the jokes going. 

At the end of the week I joined Carlee on her field trip to the Science Museum.  All I could think is-  'did I use to teach elementary school!?!'    So much energy (but also so precious).   

It's good to be around kids who get excited by things that are not phones.

I'm so thankful to be able to go on a field trip with my Carlee Q.  I think it's the first trip I've ever attended with her class since Kindergarten. 

We were able to stay a bit later and enjoy some of the exhibits together.  I got a bit lost coming back looking for a Steak and Shake, and we nearly didn't make it to our second dance class.  ( I needed a SHAKE!)

This week also brought a late afternoon Board of Education Meeting where Carlee was recognized for being in the Newspaper Club.  She worked every Friday during lunch to help put together "Trends and Styles" with her buddies.  In this case, I'm really glad her friends talked her into taking part in this club.  It was a great thing! 

Go Car

This is one of her sample articles explaining "trends" of 2023.

We were mentally preparing for what we thought would be three tennis matches added into this crazed week. 

Sadly things took a turn for Connor after Monday.  

Connor came in from his match (3 hours away- one way) and begin to throw up.  We thought it was food poisoning but then the high temperature arrived with more sickness. 

This poor child rarely gets sick, and yet got sick right before the biggest match of his life- the one that would determine if our tennis team would go all the way to the state championship.

I love our tight knit team!!! 

The morning of the match,  

we knew Connor would beat himself up if he lost feeling weak (not to mention getting worse and spreading sickness before states).  He protested that Michael Jordan 'played with the flu' but we told him he had a ways to go at that NBA level.  We had to make the call- no school and no tennis. 

No kid has ever handled hard news with more grace and kindness.  He was so deeply disappointed but responded with goodness. He never once showed anger or frustration at his parents.  

Did I mention that in the midst of all the drama- a storm took out our power for over +24 hours.  No air condition, no lights, and no internet while Connor was SICK.  

(Yep, currently looking at generators.)

Bringing our A-Game at Gardner Webb University

That afternoon, Darren went to root on our team while I stayed back with the kids.  We ate outside on the grill where it was cooler and tried our best not to check our phones every minute with updates (while we charged them by our cars).   We prayed and prayed over our team.  We would get nervous and pray more.   

I took a picture because it was a lovely moment where we were making each other laugh despite all that was going on.

The Sechrist Fam can always laugh.

The sad news came in about 4 hours later that we had lost by ONE set.  To watch your baby boy struggle with such disappointment while he could not even be with his teammates/coach was killer.  I mean killer.  I'm still hurt for him.

I've known many of these kids since K-2 days

The thing is I adore our Men's Tennis Team.  I adore the coach and his family.  I adore the families who I have known for years.  

The boys were so supportive of Connor.  We know they fought, and it was a bitter disappointment.  To make matters worse, we were against a team who were crude and rude (and I mean RUDE).  I will leave it at that before this blog post turns into me telling telling off a bunch of people who were mean to our sweet boys.  (Not that I would harbor resentment.  🤣)

This season has been great.  Connor is mainly a singles player but I enjoyed watching him try on doubles with differ partners.   He once told me he was terrible at doubles but not true.  He played some great matches trying doubles. 

.

 

Connor stepped up this year as an older member of the team.  He worked every Saturday and Sunday night at the grocery store, he went to school full time, he did an internship with me, and took kids home who needed it after games.   Out of 19 matches he lost 3 this year.

I'm so thankful Connor was a part of something so cool!  

In case you didn't know- we love this boy and could NOT be more proud of him.  

Some weeks bring pure craziness, but God sure has blessed me with this crew.  

I love My FAM!

Team Sechrist all the Way

Family is Super(Hero)

The work week ended on a sour note.
I decided take solace with my family
(perhaps I should have went with Plan B).
We first went to our favorite place to eat.
I split a delicious shrimp taco with Connor, 
who was mad because it had tomato in it.
Darren ordered all of us water, 
and I was mad because I wanted needed the full SWEET tea experience (cheapo).
Carlee's cheese quesadilla was hot, 
she was mad it was hot.
I cooled it, 
she was mad because of the way I cooled it.
I stress ate chips.
Darren asked me if I was 'packing it in?' I think he said a movie quote and normally we would laugh BUT tonight....
I suddenly became PRO gun.
Next, Connor suggested we shop.
Connor had money, and he could not wait to spend it, SAVE is not in his vocab.
Oh look, another wrestler to go with the other 100
(and he owes me $3.00).
Thank you for joining other Americans in debt Connor.  I feel like a great parent.
Carlee spent 45 minutes between choosing a Barbie we couldn't afford (this isn't a CHOICE dear so quit choosing it), Superhero Barbie, and a Barbie with a flower bathing suit (I bet this Barbie doesn't eat chips).
I'm totally inventing a Barbie that eats chips, wears Xtra large yoga pants, has her hair in a bun, and quotes Mystery Science Theater 3000.  I think it will be a total hit.
Darren gave her five seconds or nothing, we are leaving in five seconds.........
I gave her 10 minutes and a pep talk of why Superhero Barbie with glitter stars is The BOMB (the bomb in a good way, like cool... no it doesn't come with a bomb... no..... no explosion.. she stops explosion....never mind...)
At the register, I threw in a $5.00 trash tabloid magazine.
Darren took it out, put it on the rack, and said that was "too much for a magazine".
I did the wife thing.... 'ok, fine'.  
(Where is that gun?)
On our way home, I did the other wife thing in the car where you say what you really feel.   I express in a haughty voice "I have had a very long day, a very, very, very long day and I can get a trash magazine if I want to get a trash tabloid magazine! I loaded the dishwasher twice after working a 45 hour workweek, I spent 40 minutes Googling fraction homework this week,  I dressed Princess Elsa in an outfit that doesn't even fit. I made elastic pants look professional.  I make things happen people!!!"   etc. etc. etc.
Darren tried to reason... "but is $5.00 really worth....couldn't you subscribe for less...."
"YES!  YES!  If my judgement deems it appropriate to get a magazine that I don't have to wait by the mailbox for, give me my tabloid!  I deserve it! and WHY won't this Hero Barbie open up.  What kind of Japanese packaging is this...."
Yes, Carlee I can hear you screaming.
Connor don't say Shut Up.  Seriously, if you don't shut up saying shut up, I am going to shut you UP.
We all ended the night in exhaustion.  I simmered over my tabloid magazine that could have been (how am I to know how Brittany lost all that baby weight?  You mean Ben and Jen are getting back together?), my no good day, and Superhero Barbie's very non-feminist short skirt with Gogo boots (can you fight crime in that outfit? really? what message am I sending to my child?).

Thankfully, the next day was a new day.  We spent some time outside, I got some chores done, it was all good.  
Then after Darren worked all day, he brought home a gift:

HOW SWEET!!!

(ok, so I don't have the heart to say this isn't the trash magazine I picked out but no matter.... trash is trash.)  I'm surely lucky to have such a grand husband who is willing to go the extra mile.  I know it hurt to spend that much $$$ on my trashy tabloid magazine needs and he let me know I am so appreciated here.


I feel better than Super Barbie:

The moral of the story:  don't let tabloid fodder conquer and divide, don't feel pressure to be a hero in Gogo boots and a short skirt, and understand that family is where the true crime fighting happens.

#Blessings

The Fam

Carlee

-You are beautiful.

-You have the kind of smile that takes over your face.  It reminds me of sunshine.

-You have stubborn hair.  I like that your hair never looks combed.  It gives you a very Junie B. Jones vibe.

-You amaze me with your thoughtfulness and how cautious you are about everything (I wish I could be like that).

-You wear a bathing suit and tumble around the room every day.

-You play Barbies for hours in your room.  I adore listening to your sweet voice as ‘the girls’ get ready for a party and a drive to lunch.

-I see fashion in your future.  ‘It don’t matches.  I like ‘parkly (sparkly) shirts’ are a daily part of your vocabulary.  Getting ready is a nightmare in the morning, unless we pre-select your shoes, your underwear, your socks, your hairbands, and your outfit.

-You remind me of your daddy a lot.

-But THEN, your laugh is so loud and comes from your belly and I see a fire when you are opposed to something.…. and you are a bit like me after all.

-You are mama’s girl right now.

-You finally gave me the Valentine’s day experience I have been waiting.  You carefully pick out the design, special to each child.  You just don’t hand me a box of wrestling cards and say ‘fill them out for me’ (I’m talking to you Connor).

-You surprised me this year by asking for a birthday party at church and everyday since you have said ‘I so ‘cited about my party.’

-Every morning for school I let you put on my makeup with me as I’m getting ready.  As long as you look like a clown, I’m fine.   But Friday you put on the lipstick just perfect and that made me nervous. 

-You love to cook with me.  You ask every day to cook.

-You hate to clean.  You tell me ‘it tooooo hard’.

-Your Loves in Life:  

Connor, iPad, Books, Baths, Church, Mrs. D., and Nail Polish (not in the order)

Connor

-You are one handsome fellow!

-You are my sensitive twin. You take things deeply to heart.  This is harder for a boy.

-Catching you out in the snow with nothing but shorts on!!!! (We have cemented our Cray Cray Neighbor Award.)

-You are a mover and shaker and creator, I’ve accepted the school model makes you miserable.  It’s just our job right now and you are doing good at getting through that job. We will continue our Mini Van Prayers and write a book about it one day.

-Listening to you pray makes me proud.  

-Watching you with your sister make me even more proud.

-Too scared to watch ‘The Goosebumps’ movie but begged to watch The People Vs. OJ Simpson.  After I let you watch the parts I previewed, you had interesting questions:

-Why would someone with so much fame want to kill?

-Why would lawyers defend someone who could not pass a lie detector?

-Why would OJ attend the funeral after he had been arrested? Isn’t that disrespectful?

(I love how you talk through movies like me.)

-Our likeness, makes us clash these days.  Lucky dad is there to save you because you want the last word and I demand it!

-Your sense of humor is IDENTICAL to your father.

always joking around!

-Middle School Scares Me (and your dad)

-Asking me to please not dent the van anymore and reminding me that you will drive like me one day because we both don’t have common sense.  (thanks for that)

-In after school, you made a new friend in fifth grade.  When you asked him why he goes to therapy he told you he was autistic.  Then you asked him if he understood emotions, sarcasm, and social things?   He said ‘Yes, of course!’  To which you said, 'I think your not autistic anymore'.  

-It occurred to me this week, your room has become easier to clean this year.  

I realize it’s because the monster trucks, the blocks, the hot wheels, the wrestling men, the rubber snakes, the baseball cards are not coming out anymore.  (If you want to pull them out a few more times for me to clean up, it will be ok.)

-I’m pleased you rarely play your video game system during the week.

-The time you BIT and dented your controller because you were mad and begged me not to tell dad.  Two days later, dad told a story of bitting his controller because he was mad when he was 10 and we burst into laughter as he was telling it.

-Loving Basketball…. and the way you encourage the other players is awesome.

Darren

-Wrestling with the kids and dog.  Then taking some hard hits old man.  Your hanging in there.

-Thank you for car shopping, even though I don’t deserve it.

-Offering grace when we make mistakes.  It goes a long way.

-Coming to work to deliver my forgotten pocket book, wallet, lunch, etc.

-That time you told your customer that I work hard ALL the time.  I felt validated.

-Teaching our kids responsibility.

-Trying hard not to look at the glass half empty when I’m determined you will see it as half full!

-Rescuing the kids when I’ve had a ‘lost it’ moment!

-Turning into a girly man with Carlee.

-Trusting my decision making with Connor.

-Taking good care of your mama.

-Our first group date we laughed for 15 minutes about a joke that no one thought was funny.  The tradition has continued- we laugh at things no one else thinks is funny.  

I really like that about us.