I Couldn't Think of A Better Way

When trying to decide how to celebrate both Father's Day and my 12th wedding anniversary, I found the activity easy to decide on. I mean, really, this activity dominates the thoughts of the majority of our house, it is fun, and I rarely participate in it. Of course- we went golfing.

All five of us Doucettes trooped over to our favorite golf course in Waunakee for an evening of hitting the links together. I should have been more embarrassed than I was during then night. The only person I could consistently outdrive stands a whopping three feet tall and answers to "Hey Dude!" Even he was able to outdrive me when I made some errors.

But being embarrassed was not my purpose that night, I just wanted to relax and watch all the boys be in their element. And they were.

They hit great shots.

They goofed around.

They showed their joy at success.

And yes, of course, they showed frustration-- I didn't take pictures of that.

I enjoyed the evening, and I think the boys also were thrilled to share their passion with me. I can't think of a better way to spend a day.

Why do People Suck?

People Suck. It's a fact. Sometimes, some people suck. Do you remember the first time you had this realization? It seems we all live in this nice bubble, thinking everyone is nice until -- BAM!-- something happens that changes this for you. For Andrew, this event happened last Friday.

All three boys take swimming lessons at our local high school. The lessons run every day for two weeks straight. Every day I send the boys into the locker room to get dressed and ready, and then they return again to the locker room on their own. (Absolutely, this is one of the perks of having boys. I just sit and read my book and wait.)

Last Friday, I was standing by the locker room, reading my book and waiting, when Andrew yelled out to me that he couldn't find his clothes; they weren't where he left them in locker 74. I began to ask if he was sure about the locker number, but then I remembered -- this is Andrew we are talking about. He doesn't forget a number.

I could hear the boys opening and slamming lockers all around, looking for Andrew's shoes and shirt. Eventually, they locate his shoes on top of the lockers where Andrew most obviously did not place them because he couldn't even reach them. I had to send in the salvation, my father in law, to retrieve the shoes from the high placement. But his shirt was still lost.

At this point Andrew's eyes fill with tears as he feels terrible that someone has played a trick on him. We troop out and tell both the lifeguard and the pool manager, and both admit that sometimes "Kids are cruel." Andrew just couldn't grasp that. Why would someone, who probably didn't even know him, decide to take his shoes and toss them up high? Why would they take his tee shirt?

Eventually, they found his shirt in a random locker far from where he put it. Relieved, Andrew put his shirt on and we shuffled out of the school. Today, they plan to leave all their belongings with me for the lessons.

I hate that these types of lessons are starting. I like the little bubble we live in where the meanest thing that happens come from your brothers. When something cruel happens from other people, we take it even more personally. Andrew, unfortunately, now understands that sometimes, people just suck.

Friday Photo Fiesta: FORE!

Growing up as a nongolfer in a family of avid golfers wasn't easy. It seemed that every time we gathered, people were headed off to golf. It sounded like fun in theory, but I just never picked up the sport.

Two years ago for my anniversary, Chris bought me my first set of golf clubs. In the last two years, I played golf minimally, enough that I could use my hands to count the times. Yet, a few weeks ago, when the whole family played, I was lucky enough-- yes, it was pure luck-- to get my first birdie! So, I was bit with the golf bug.

As I am on break from school now, a group of friends and I decided to go hit the links and play at a cute Par 3 course by my house. It was fun. We laughed. We chipped, kind of. We putted. Ultimately, each of us hit at least a few "golf shots." And, we relaxed. It was wonderful.


If you have never golfed, one thing I can share about a golf course is that it is such a peaceful place to be. You can hear birds chirping, and you are looking at some of the most beautiful landscapes out there. Everything is green and lush, which adds to your tranquility. (However, the placidity can be interrupted by utter frustration at your golf abilities at times. )


To be even better, I was able to share this awesome day with two
awesome ladies for a perfect afternoon in the sun.
However, if you meet me on the golf course, make sure to listen for "FORE!"

My first Blogiversary

What's a blogiversary? Perhaps, it is a made up word indicating my first official year of blogging! I knew my date for starting the blog was creeping up on me, but yesterday I checked and realized that yesterday was the official day that I began blogging one year ago.

Curiosity got the best of me, so I went and looked at my first post. I nostalgically perused the contents and had a chuckle about my earlier intentions:

1. I wanted to begin blogging because my sister Tif was blogging, and I loved hearing about her life. This is still true. Reading Tif's blog is part of my routine every time I log onto the computer. It is the little things in life that make everything fun, and Tif depicts those. I have also been blessed in the last year to have my brother Jeff begin his own blog as well. In the last 12 months, Jeff has gotten married, had a baby, and is going to have another baby by Christmas! Keeping up with Jeff on the blog has been priceless. Hey Tim, hop on board!

Also, my cousin Tommy teased us with one blog indicating he would be a blogger. I haven't had any more updates, but I am anxiously awaiting them. In short, blogging has connected me even more with the family I love. As well as that, I have also loved hearing from those of you who read the blog and get updates on our life when you otherwise would not.

2. My second goal when starting the blog was to incorporate blogging into my Effective Writing class. I actually did that this year. My students truly enjoyed the opportunity to journal with technology. Admittedly, not all were thrilled, but it was a general success.

3. Finally, my third was goal was merely to write. I believe firmly in the idea of practice what you preach, so I have been thrilled to practice writing to better my skills as a writer and play around with some of the concepts I teach.

Also, as I reflected, I looked at my book list that I keep on the side of the blog. I have a running record on my editable blog, and I read 50 books this year! That was exciting to me. Reading is so vital to who I am, and it was fun to view the books I have read last year.

In the past year, I have blogged 190 times! Truly I can't believe I had that much to say. I reflect back and wonder if I offered any pensive pontifications? Doubtful. (Look up the words. . .) Did I offer a greater meaning of life to me or people reading? Probably not. I hope that I have offered a year of laughter and sometimes tears. A year of just getting to know better what we do with our regular day. Simply put- I just want to show us, as we are. Hopefully, I will have many more blogiversaries.

Coach Pitch Tournament

What's not to love about being at the baseball field all weekend, right? I fear that at some point this summer, my blog will cease being about my life and begin to sound more like an ESPN sports report. Truly, baseball dominates nearly every day until the end of July. Last weekend was no exception.

Andrew played baseball on Friday, Brendan had THREE games on Saturday, and B had one more game on Sunday. Phew. (FYI- Ev had T ball last night, too!) Why all the weekend games? This was the annual Coach Pitch Tournament in our hometown.

Typically, many teams from the area participate as well as some teams that travel to come. Usually when the teams travel a distance to come, they bring an "all-star" team with boys running like Hays and hitting like Mays. (I have no idea who they are. . . ) But this year, that didn't happen. This year, our boys looked awesome.
Brendan's team on Saturday played incredible, turning a TRIPLE play in their first game. Yep, you heard me, a triple play! Call ESPN now. Remember now, these boys are between the ages of 5 and 8. In the second game, the boys had one or two double plays, and a kid made a diving catch at short to throw someone out. They looked amazing! Because they won their first two games, they were invited to come back Sunday.
Yet, the third game is where it all went south. The couldn't catch anything. I swear their throws got caught in a time warp heading to first where everything was planned to be about one second too late. They were disheartened.
Sunday was much of the same. Even though they started with a big lead in the first, the boys were eliminated in their first game on Sunday.

Sunday also brought something new from Brendan, however. He is usually my kid that is competitive, but things just "roll off him." He doesn't get upset too badly or pout. My poor B had to pull his hat brim low and walk away from the rest of us for awhile after the game. He just buried his sad little seven year old face in his glove until he felt better. I also had to look away because watching that much emotion on your baby's face is never easy.

In short, the weekend was fun. I got lots of sun! The boys had fun playing with friends. Brendan played great.

Rock and Roll

As a beginning of the summer treat, I bought tickets to see one of my new favorite singers, Eric Hutchinson. You may best know him for his song "Rock and Roll" What an adventure we had!

My friend Jess from work was supposed to go, but she forgot to buy tickets and he was sold out. So, she and her husband decided they would go try to scalp them last night before the concert. I assumed Jess would get an easy sympathy score of tickets because she is eight months pregnant and super cute, yet to our dismay when Chris and I scurried there after the baseball game, Jess and her husband were still standing outside ticketless.

Chris and I decided to go in and begin our party, so we left them standing by a tree looking around for tickets. I had never been to this venue before. It is this awesome place that used to be an actual theater. The coziness and atmosphere were incredible.
Chris and I began relaxing and just waiting for the show. Must to our surprise, I received a text from Jess, long after I thought she had given up, and she got tickets and was coming in! What a trooper.

The opening act was mediocre and will spur many future jokes about Meiko, the singer who opened. Hutchinson did not disappoint. He sounded just as good as CD, if not better. He was also just as geeky in person as he looks in his video, and I loved him for it. We laughed watching these three older (60 somethings) women in front of us totally jamming to the music. I made Jess promise to still be going to concerts with me when we are 60. We also reminisced about college days while stuck in a puddle of beer on the floor.

Truly, it was a wonderful way to start the summer. Now, I just need a nap.

School's Out for Summer

Remember those iconic lyrics that Alice Cooper blasted into our ears? This song always makes me smile for a number of reasons. My brother Jeff, who is also a teacher, always sings that song to Tim and Tif at the end of the school year to rub it in that he is done working for the summer, and they are not. Also, it reminds me that I am also blessed with such an awesome career as well.

Yet, this year I met the end of the school year, not with immediate relief, but with a little hesitation and nostalgia.

I am sure those of you non-teachers reading may not understand what could be sad about not having to report to work for over two months. But think of this, for most of the week, I spend more waking hours with my co-workers and students than my own kids! (Totally scary thought. .. ) Inevitably, missing that consistent interaction with all of those people is a little unnerving.

It also reminds me that I am so fortunate to so completely love my job. I can not relate to people who talk about their job as "just a job-- a place to make money." I truly don't feel like that. I love my job! I love going to work, and I love teaching the students. I am blessed with an amazing group of talented co-workers who I relish teaching with. And, when it isn't too overwhelming, I actually like grading at times, too.

So, with all of these things I love coming to a close, I got a bit weepy. I spent my last day at school avoiding saying, "Bye" to people. I tried to give half-hearted "See you soon's" in an effort to mask my despair. I managed to leave the building only having shed minimal tears, but I felt a little "off" the rest of the day.

But yesterday, I recovered. I slept in. (In my house, that means I slept until 6:30! When promptly at 6:30, three boys crowded into bed with me. ) I watched Evan celebrate when he realized that he had all summer with mom. I took a bike ride alone with Evan to the library. I watched Andrew and Brendan come home after a short last half day of school. They were psyched about being able to play outside now. And I realized, this is the good stuff. This is also something I love.

I am so very lucky. School's Out for Summer!

Can't it always be Monday?

. . . This was the question posed to me by my outspoken four year old. Monday? What is so special about Monday?

As I asked that simple question, he enthusiastically quipped, "It's tee ball day!"

Yes, Monday.

I can understand his zeal for the day now. Imagine being the youngest of three active boys. Your "behind" clocks serious hours on pine wood bleachers and beautiful fold up blue chairs watching one of the bazillion sports that your brothers play. This is Evan's plight. But, on Mondays, it is all Evan! He gets to play tee ball.

Two Mondays ago was his very first game. He woke up and quickly donned his T-shirt to show off to his school friends all day. He scarfed dinner at home, and he put his shoes on in record time. The game itself was riotous. Evan was enthusiastic-- to say the least. He danced around the field and chatted with his new buddies.
He decided that when batting he needed to turn his hat around backwards because that is how baseball players wear their hats!
In the field he actually paid attention and worked to field the ball. In one moment of true hilarity, Evan was in the field and pointed to the other team and then pointed to the ground as if to exclaim "You're going down!" He is one of a kind!

Unfortunately, this week tee ball was cancelled due to wet weather, but luckily for Ev, every week has a Monday. Even though every day can't be Monday, he can still be a tee ball extraordinaire once a week.

School Picnic

When I was a little girl, I remember our school having an annual carnival that I always looked forward to. We could get yummy treats, play games, and even enter the haunted house if we were bold enough. It was fun for me to watch the boys begin to create their own similar memories this year.

Andrew and Brendan's school sponsors an end-of-the-year picnic every year. And this year, the PTO decided to forgo having an expensive speaker and just have carnival-like activities.

It worked.

The boys zealously attacked the complimentary snow-cone machine for their first very snow cone. (At least it was the first that I could remember.) The slurped, chomped, and chiseled away and fell in love with the icy treat.
Evan immediately was drawn to the bouncy house where he was able to jump and shout and just generally be a wild man!
Brendan decided to broadcast his brawn by participating in the tug-of-war contest. His team won but they sacrificed their youngest player. (See the poor little guy getting trampled like a mouse under buffalo?)
The main event was the dunk tank where the students were able to dunk their favorite teachers. The teachers were excellent sports because purportedly the water was freezing. . . Yikes.

Between all the fun, we scarfed down food and raced off to our next activity of the night. However, I am glad that we were able to start building these memories with the boys.

Where am I?

As I look at my blog and realize that it has been a full seven days since I have posted, I feel regretful. Sorry!

This is just yet another one of the many signs that the end of the school year is upon us. I am swamped. Maybe I should capitalize those letters. I am SWAMPED. Work is piling in and I just keep plowing through.

There is light, however. Today was my last student day. Yes, no more lesson plans for three months! I have two more days of finals, and my last day of work before summer is next Wednesday.

I promise to stop the Houdini act after my school days are over. I have so much news to report and share. I have been documenting with my camera in the meantime.

Don't give up on me yet. I promise to be more faithful than Elvis and Tu Pac and return within the week. Ciao!