Memorial Day Weekend

I can genuinely say that we had a great Memorial Day weekend. The end of May in eastern NC is usually not so pleasant. It can be really humid, and often is as much as 90 degrees. This Memorial Day, though, it was just around 80 or so and there was little to no humidity. The air was breezy and it just felt like the perfect early summer day. If we had more weather like this, I would never want to move from NC.
Our weekend (unfortunately) started early. After the whole school fiasco on Thursday, I did not send the children in on Friday. They stayed home and relaxed. They were really grateful to have a day off after all the drama.



Saturday, of course, was the recital, so we didn't do a whole lot else besides our normal Saturday chores. The children were all excited because Renee (Nana with the Boo-Boo, as she is known in our house) spent the night with us. After church on Sunday, and naps, the children played under their rocket sprinkler, then we took them fishing at Lawson's Creek. It was absolutely gorgeous. Perfect weather for being outdoors. We didn't buy bait or anything, just let the kids use the fake lures they had in their tackle boxes - we are not exactly expert fisherman, by the way - so they didn't really get any bites. We saw plenty of fish jumping, though. We had a really great time, even Drake, who didn't try even once to jump into the water.





Drake occupied himself with his juice cup, and later, a water bottle while Skylar and Bart fished.








Eventually, the boys got a little restless, so I took them on a little walk. Bart was convinced we were going to see a bear once we got out of sight of everyone else and into the woods. Even though we were on a wooden and fenced path, I couldn't rule out the possibility. There are bears in New Bern. So we headed back.



We didn't actually catch anything, but the time together was worth it. We were all getting pretty hungry, so we left to rustle up some dinner. On the way out, we saw a mother duck and her adorable, fuzzy little ducklings. It's exactly how I feel some days, with my brood of children surrounding me.



After we ate dinner, we headed over to one of the fields at BDQ Elementary. Even though, I knew it had all been made up, I couldn't help but feel a little nervous as we stood outside near the woods there at dusk. What if, just what if, there really had been some nut with a gun out by the woods?
It was so beautiful and peaceful, though, that I couldn't help but let go of my apprehensions. George brought along one of his planes and flew it. The children went to dig in the shark tooth pile, and we even caught sight of an adult fox. It was running too fast and was a little too far away for me to capture it on film, though I tried. I did succeed in getting a shot of the pink sunset
in the background.




Monday was Memorial Day. We spent the morning catching up on some chores. In the afternoon, we went to a cook-out at the home of our friends, the Airharts. They go to church with us and are pretty new to the area. Our other two good sets of friends, the Nicolaysens and the Weekes, were there, also. Altogether, there were eight adults and nine children. Both Melissa Airhart and I are expecting. She is due almost two months earlier than me, I think, and is having a little boy.
The children had a great time running through their back yard, splashing in the wading pool, and playing under our rocket sprinkler. Melissa had hidden little farm animals in the back yard for the kids to find and trade in for a prize. I brought my camera to take pictures, but the batteries died on the way over. I was pretty annoyed about that.
We ate way too much food. I totally pigged out on brisket, salads, watermelon, cupcakes, and the yummiest lemonade. I was so full, in fact, that I had the absolute worst reflux ever later that night. It was so bad, I could not get to sleep until 2:30 am, even though I was falling asleep sitting up. Every time I tried to lie down, I felt so bad, I had to get back up. I took Zantac and Tums, but nothing seemed to help. I was so tired and out of it the next day, I totally forgot about a Young Women's presidency meeting at 10:30. I felt lousy that I had forgotten, but I was really wiped out. I met Vanessa and her kids at Target, where we browsed for stuff for Melissa's upcoming baby shower. Vanessa loves doing parties probably about as much as I do, and she has really cute ideas.
That evening was Bart's last karate class until August. For whatever reason, Craven Parks and Rec isn't going to be able to use the gym at HJ MacDonald Middle School in June or July, so the kids will have to wait most of the summer to start back. Bart's instructor invited him to come to Ayden, where he teaches another class, on Monday nights during the summer so he can practice. Bart was promoted with another stripe on his white belt (George asked him if he was going to end up being a 45-year-old white belt), after being promoted the week before, too. He's working really hard, but he's going to have to push just a bit more if he wants to get his yellow belt.

Skylar's Dance Recital

Friday the 22nd was Skylar's dance recital dress rehearsal at Grover C. Fields Middle School. It was our first year having a lot of dances to dress for. Skylar danced in 5 numbers this year: ballet, 2 tap numbers, jazz, and lyrical. I had volunteered to be a backstage mom, so I was on my feet (doing a lot of running) the whole time. With my big, pregnant stomach, I imagine I was pretty humorous running around. Skylar did beautifully, and went to spend the night with her friend, Hannah, who is in all of her dances with her.
Saturday was the actual recital, which began at 7pm. My mom, George's parents, Mindy, and Leslie-Grace came over for a cook-out around 3pm or so. George grilled burgers and hot dogs which were really tasty. After we ate, Skylar had to get ready and we had to rush on over to the middle school. There was a lot more running involved, and a ton of costume changes, but a lot of fun, too. Skylar's ballet production number was really good. It involved tambourines, I was really impressed with the work that went into it. I think George was even impressed, and he is notoriously merciless when it comes to dance recitals. The favorite of the night was probably one of Skylar's tap numbers, Revenge of the Nerds. All the girls really let loose and hammed it up for that dance. You could tell they were having a ball, and they were hilarious. At the end, Skylar almost got closed out of the curtain, by mistake, but it just added to the performance. The girls had the most fun designing their nerd costumes and acting "nerdy". It was like Halloween; they got to dress up and pretend to be something that is not usually "acceptable".
Skylar was exhausted by the end of the whole thing. Her feet hurt, and we didn't get home until 10:30. We were both pretty hungry, so we ate again before bed. Here is the only picture (and a really bad one) that George bothered to take at the recital, even after I reminded him that I really wanted him to take pictures. Sure, I have Skylar's formal dance portraits, but I really wanted some action shots. So, I guess he can say that he technically took a picture, although it's a really stinky one. In the background, you can - almost- see Skylar's ballet production number. I'll just have to scan and post her formal portraits later.

Sunday morning, Skylar was so tired that George stayed home from church with her and Drake. I took Bart and Renee to church - late. Still, we made it, so that's what counts, I hope.

Just a hoax?

Regarding last Thursday's school scare, the police were never able to find any sign of a gunman in the woods or on school grounds or really any evidence to confirm there was one at all. There was never a formal statement issued, but the rumor is that the story was started by a second-grader (whose name I am not going to mention because it hasn't been officially confirmed). Apparently, when the police were able to get the boy alone, he admitted that he had not really seen a gunman near the woods. However, something similar was reported a few months ago (I'm not sure who reported it, but I think it was still someone in second grade, possibly the same class), but there was no lockdown or police response then. I'm not really sure what the truth is, but the children are safe, thank goodness, and the school responded well to the entire thing. However, tragically, the driver of the Lexus (who was hit by the officer responding to the emergency at BDQ) died. If it was all one big hoax, or some game of pretend blown way out of proportion, it is horrible that someone died as a result of it. What a mess. I am so glad the children only have a few more days of school.

What is wrong????

Today was probably number one on my scary days as a mom list, right up there with having to take my 3-week old baby (Bart) into the emergency room with a high fever and then watch as he was strapped down for a spinal tap and endless x-rays. He ended up having the flu, by the way. But while we were in the hospital that long night, the TV in the room was playing back-to-back Stuart Little, which I cannot watch to this day. But I digress...
Apparently, some kids sighted an armed man on campus today at Skylar & Bart's elementary school. The school went into complete lock-down mode, what is called a "Code 300". All the children and teachers in the building took cover and the 91 children outside during the incident were evacuated through the woods. The last I'd heard, the police called for a bus to pick those children up and take them to a nearby church. Meanwhile the rest of the school was locked inside. All this happened around 11am. The school was supposed to release today at 1pm, but the children didn't get home until 2:30.
I didn't know that anything was happening until Christy, the mom of one of Skylar's friends called to tell me. I was totally freaked, but I was surprised at how calm I was able to remain. I was frustrated that there was nothing any of us parents could do but sit and wait. Irrational though it might be, your first instinct is to go get your kids and bring them home. Christy continued to call me and keep me updated. I passed on the info to my friend, Kelly, whose boys also go to Ben D. Quinn. Her two boys ended up both being among those kids evacuated to the church. Christy called to let me know that the school was finally letting the children go home, that the area was as secure as it could be, but no suspect was found. We were all weirded out to learn that something similar had happened at Brinson Elementary, across the river, just yesterday afternoon. There wasn't (as far as I know) an actual gunman sighted, but someone had tried to get into the school, which immediately went into lock-down mode. There just isn't a lot of information right now. The kids ARE NOT going to school tomorrow, because I just don't know what's going on frankly. That there aren't any leads at this time on the alleged armed person is disturbing. That there was a sighting several months ago of an armed person on campus by several children (there was no Code 300 called that time and not everyone even knew about the sighting) is even more disturbing. What is going on?
To complicate matters, a police car which was responding to the emergency at BDQ - with his lights and sirens on, mind you - T-boned a Lexus SUV at an intersection near the school. The driver of the Lexus had to be cut out of the car. What a day...
I wanted to go pick the children up, but by the time I found out they were releasing them, they had already started putting them on buses and sending them home. When Skylar and Bart got home, Skylar was more afraid than Bart had been. It was more like an adventure for him. He said he had found "clues" and a "secret passage" at the school. Skylar had spent two hours in the girls' bathroom while the school was locked down, at least an hour of which she stood on the toilet seat in one of the stalls. Apparently, they've been taught that during a Code 300, if they are in or near a bathroom, they're to lock themselves in a stall and stand on the toilet seat, and that if anyone opens the door, to climb over the wall or under to the next stall. Scary. Skylar said there were other kids (including boys) and teachers with her in the bathroom. Eventually, once the police were inside the building, they were allowed to go into a classroom. Skylar said she cried, and that this brat girl who keeps making fun of her, made fun of her while she was crying, so she kicked the girl. George was kind of mad that Skylar did that, but I told her good for her. I don't want to encourage violence or kids fighting, but Skylar has to stand up for herself sometimes. She has put up with a lot this year (and last year, too) in regard to people who have taken a disliking to her and have decided to just be plain mean to her on a regular basis. There are plenty of really nice kids at school, but there are also a handful who are just spoiled little snots who need their ipods and cell phones taken away for good and who need to actually be made to do chores and think about other people for a change. Ranting? Yep, I sure am. Don't even get me started.
But anyway...I was just really thankful that the children came home safely. We laid low for the rest of the afternoon, had a snack, played Cars Uno. Skylar won three times, Bart and I each won once. When George got home, we went to get dinner at Waffle House. I didn't feel like cooking and hadn't taken anything out of the freezer for dinner. We tried to make it a pretty normal night as far as bedtime routines go, but we had to keep re-capping everything for people who had heard on the news what happened and were concerned. I think I was on the phone for a total of several hours today.
Now I'm just exhausted. I know Skylar and Bart must be. Drake could sense the stress and had a hard time falling asleep. Great way to start off the Memorial Day holidays, huh? Skylar has her dance dress rehearsal tomorrow evening, and the following evening is the actual recital. No time to stop here. She was supposed to have a Girl Scout meeting at the River Bend Country Club at 3pm today, but since they didn't get home until 2:30, we didn't go.
So, my question is: if there was really someone with a gun, what on earth were they doing or thinking? What is wrong with the world that someone would get a kick out of scaring a bunch of little kids? I'm just sick at heart. I don't want to send my kids back to school. However, I am thankful that BDQ was so prepared and efficient with their emergency drill. They were able to keep all the children safe and that's what's important. In the meantime, I'll be keeping them close until I get some more information.

One Cute Baby

Saturday evening after our beach trip, George took Bart to run errands while I bathed Drake and Skylar. After his bath, on the way up to bed, Drake found a pair of yellow plastic sunglasses in our beach bag. He had me put them on him and we had to stop and take a break on the stairs while Skylar photographed him.
He knew just how adorable he looked, too.


When we finally made it upstairs and into the bathroom, Drake insisted on keeping the glasses on while he brushed his teeth. Hey, whatever it takes to make brushing more enjoyable, I always say.




After teeth-brushing, Drake wanted to keep the glasses on for story time...




...and to drink his cup of milk, and snuggle his babies, and even to sleep in them (although we missed getting pictures of him doing these things)! When I put him in his crib, he kept asking me to put them back on him. Every time he would try to lay his head down, it would pop the sunglasses off him. Otherwise, he would have slept in them! Finally, after about twenty times of placing the glasses back on him and having them come right off again, he was content just to tuck them up under his tummy like he does his babies when he sleeps. Drake is one funny little boy. He takes after his father and older brother.

Beach pictures

Here are pictures of the children at the beach on Saturday. We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day.

It was just shy of 80 degrees. The sun was warm, the wind wasn't too strong, and the water was cold until you got used to it. George got out Drake's Thomas kite and tried to fly it, but it was just too cheaply made to fly well. (Thanks a lot, Easter Bunny). Still, it was fun to try. Drake entertained himself by digging and jumping into a large hill of sand. Bart made friends with some other boys and girls around his age who went digging in search of buried treasure, and when that failed to turn up anything, sand crabs. Skylar was determined to catch a fish and rigged up a flimsy little fishing pole made of dried out reeds, sea grass, and a sharp, curved shell. George and I relaxed and enjoyed the kids enjoying themselves. George hates the sand and saltwater at the beach, and I must admit I really don't like getting sand in my bathing suit bottoms, but there is just something so peaceful about the ocean. I absolutely love going. I could sit there on the beach all day long, watching the waves and just listening to all the sounds. If I didn't have to keep an eagle eye on the children, I would take my computer or a notebook and write, write, write...If we had the choice, I would move closer to the ocean, so that I could go every day. I would live in my bathing suit in the summer, and the kids and I would spend all day out collecting shells and looking for starfish and sand crabs. If I were an artist, I would paint the colors that I saw. Once I tried, with pastels, to recapture the colors of ocean and sky, but I just couldn't get it right. I have always been drawn to the beach. There are just some places or things (like Scotland) that speak to your soul and make you come alive on the inside. I think if I could live by the ocean or in Scotland, I would be able to write again. I pray that I will get that chance.