A Night in the Dells!

I think I've started the last few blog posts with something about how busy I've been lately. Well, that's still true, but the last couple of days (although exhausting), have been so much fun! Yesterday, after a visit to the doctor to address the crazy hair dye allergy, Charley and I went to the Wisconsin Dells with the gymnastics team I've been working with. My boss, Barb, picked us up, and we started on a road trip. We had two groups of girls competing yesterday, so we didn't have a lot of time once we got there, before Barb had to get to the gym and get the group warmed up. Charley and I didn't go to the first session, because she hadn't napped on the drive, and I was fairly certain she wouldn't survive ANY gymnastics, if she didn't have a break. So we spent some time at the hotel, running around, and getting some rest, before going to the later session at the gym. After eating a real meal, playing in the arcade for awhile, and resting in the room, we were both finally ready to go to the meet. By the way... we spent over an hour in the arcade, and I didn't spend a dime. I'm so grateful that Charley doesn't really play video games, so she didn't realize that she had absolutely no control over the machines, that were playing in Demo Mode over and over again. She spun steering wheels, sat on motorcycles, and cheered herself on....never once realizing that she wasn't actually playing. At some point, she'll put the pieces together and I'll actually have to pay for her to play, but for now, what she doesn't know won't hurt her, right? Ha!

Charley and Chelsea...Team Cheerleaders!

We caught a ride with one of the gymnasts and her dad, and made our way to the meet around 6. My USA Gymnastics certification isn't currently registered with the gym I'm at, because originally, my boss hadn't intended to have me come to meets. So, I sat in the audience with the parents and watched from the background. Do you have any idea how hard it is to be a coach sitting in the bleachers? It had nothing to do with the parents. In fact, I think they like having me there, because I can explain the scoring to them, and they are all really wonderful people. The problem is, I'm standing there during warm-ups, seeing little corrections the girls need to make before they compete, but I'm too far away for them to hear me! At one point, I got close enough to the girls as they warmed up for floor, that Barb was sending them to me for corrections at one end of the floor, but other than that, I felt so helpless knowing that I could give the girls a pep-talk if only I could get closer to them! Anyway, their warm-ups weren't great, but when it came time to compete, the girls did GREAT! I was really proud of them. Their routines were rewarded, too, with several first place finishes and the team placed second out of 10 teams. 

The only thing that put a damper on the night was a little boy (the brother of someone from another team) who said something mean to Charley. At one point, during awards, Charley came up to me and said, "Mommy, that boy called me fat!" "What?!" I asked her. "He keeps saying, "Fat Girl, Fat Girl," she told me. I knelt down and told her, "Don't you ever listen to someone who is calling you names. You're perfect just the way you are. Don't play with that boy anymore." I stood there, stunned. She's three. The fact that a little boy would taunt her, and talk about her weight made me disgusted. A few minutes later, I saw the boy peeking his head out from behind a mat. "Fat Girl!" he yelled, and then hid behind the mat with his friend. He peeked out again, saw me coming, and quickly hid behind the mat again. And what did I do, when I walked up to him? I scolded him. I never saw myself as one to scold other peoples' children, but in this case, I felt I was justified. "How old are you?" I asked him. "Six," he replied. "You are picking on a little girl who is 3 years old. That's not nice. You hurt her feelings. When you call people names and pick on them, they won't want to play with you. You shouldn't speak that way to a little girl EVER again," I lectured. The boy nodded, and you know what? He was nice to Charley after that. I saw him seeking her out to play with her...with me watching like a hawk... and he was playing nicely. It might not have been my place to scold someone else's child, but I'm not going to just let someone give my kid a complex at 3 years old! Ugh.  I wished I'd known where his parents were, because I probably would've had words for them, too. Anyway, although that left me with a bad taste in my mouth, the actual competition went well, Charley was well-behaved, and the team awards, we went back to the hotel tired, but happy.

This morning, Charley and I took our time getting ready. Barb left early to get the next group of girls started at the meet. Charley and I had breakfast, packed up the car, and then drove over to the meet to catch as much of it as we could. We got there in time to catch three out of four events. The girls looked a little bit nervous, but I expected that, because this group of girls was younger and for most of them, it was only their second meet. They were doing pretty well, until they got to beam. Again, I was on the sidelines, but as I watched their routines, and saw the corresponding scores, I felt like something was wrong. Barb came over to me, and said the judge wasn't giving the girls credit for their dismount. She went over to the meet referee to contest it, and the referee backed the judge's score, but said if we could find that it was acceptable in the rule books, they would give us the points back. So I got online, pulled up the rule book, and guess what? We were right. So, basically the judge had to go back and change all of our girls' scores. It was a lot of back and forth, and our team held up awards for a long time. A LONG time. But we wanted to make sure our girls got credit for the routines they performed. Then, they started calling beam scores, and none of our girls were in the top 8. That was a huge red flag, because we'd had some decent scores, so we went back and checked, and sure enough, the scores hadn't been changed in the computer. Again, there was a lot of back and forth. In the end, several of our girls were called up for the wrong placements, including one who placed first all-around, but got called up for second place, which I thought was a bummer for them. They all walked away with awards, but it would've been fun for them to be called up for the awards they'd actually earned...Which were generally, significantly higher. Anyway, the miscalculations impacted our team score, too, so while we were called up to receive the third place team award, I'm pretty sure we'd actually taken second. But after nearly two hours of going back and forth with the judges, Barb and I were both so exhausted, we just decided the actual totals would be posted online, and we'd see our real placement there. The bottom line is, our girls did a fantastic job, and I'm very proud. 

We drove home right after the meet, and Charley crashed within 10 minutes. She was such a trooper, in the gym for two days in a row, and she really didn't get crabby until the very end of today's session.  Overall, it was a really fun (albeit fast and STRESSFUL) trip. It was exciting to see the girls I've been working with perform so well. There were little blips in performances here and there, but those will work themselves out with more competition experience. After their performance this weekend, I can't wait to see how these girls do in their next couple of meets! With that said, I'm COMPLETELY wiped. Have a great weekend everybody!

What a Weekend!

So, the last couple of weeks have been very stressful. I've got my plate full at work, I've been busy with appointments outside of work, and as usual, Charley has been keeping me on my toes. On the bright side, I've been going to sleep easily every night! Ha! Honestly, things really haven't been bad, just busy, but when I'm given the opportunity to slow down and relax, I'm not very good at doing so, so really I can only blame myself for the stress. I will say, though, that with all of the meetings, paperwork, and appointments that have been keeping me busy, they all kind of blend together in my mind, and my memory really only stretches as far back as last weekend, so I suppose I should just start there.

Friday was a crazy day for me. Someone mentioned that Mercury is in retrograde, and if you know me, you know I totally believe in that kind of thing (just like a full moon) impacting people. Anyway, by the time I picked Charley up from school, I was exhausted. I asked her if she wanted to go out to dinner, which is a bit of a treat for us. She decided on Noodles and Company, and we had a little Mommy-Daughter date, which was amazing. We sat down at the table, and she said, "Mom, would you like to have a conversation?" "Of course!" I replied, " What would you like to talk about?" She went on to tell me about her day at school. She has a crush on the cutest little boy, and she made sure to mention how he had gotten an accident report because his friend kicked him. Then, she started asking about my day at work. She asked about my friends, too. Honestly, Charley is so hilarious to me. What preschooler asks her mom if she wants to have a conversation? But it's just so.... Charley.

Saturday was our day to relax and do nothing. Unfortunately for Charley, she has a mom who isn't very good at just sitting around the house all day. So, shortly after we got up and dressed, we went to the mall to get Charley new shoes. She'd had a bunch of shoes and boots, but I swear, her feet grow like you wouldn't believe, and only one pair seems to fit! Anyway, we went shopping, and naturally Charley went for the sequined, sparkly, light-up shoes that would attract the most attention. She put them on and proudly walked around the outdoor mall, stomping her feet at every opportunity, making sure to tell every passer-by that she got new Twinkle Toes. From there, we ran errands, and finally made our way home late in the afternoon and we really did relax after that. With Charley's birthday just around the corner, we decided to make a practice batch of birthday cupcakes, because the last time I tried to make her a birthday cake, it was a complete disaster. The cupcakes actually turned out pretty well, except for the fact that I forgot to buy cupcake wrappers, thus they all ended up slightly deformed because chunks were stuck to the pan. Whoops! Ha...Typical. We really had fun decorating, though, and I'm feeling fairly confident about making cupcakes for her birthday party. Speaking of birthday parties, Charley has been getting a LOT of birthday invitations lately. And her friends parties? They're at gymnastics gyms, bouncy house gyms... They're expensive parties. And the parents are inviting EVERY kid in her class! I love that Charley has friends at school, but this is not the year that she will be inviting school friends to her party. The thought of having 25 preschoolers running around my house makes me hyperventilate a little bit, and I'm not spending $500 on a birthday party for a 4-year-old. Ha! Sorry, that was totally off-topic. Back to the weekend...

Sunday I decided to get my hair done. I looked around for salons that are actually open on Sundays, and found one that wasn't too far away. Charley and I walked in, and immediately, I was struck by the fact that I LOVED one of the stylists' hair. Fortunately, she approached me and got started on my hair fairly quickly. It was a Sunday, so the salon wasn't really that busy, and at one point the only people there were two stylists, Charley, and me. Of course Charley made friends with the stylists instantly, and they chatted with her while my hair was processing. My stylist put a toner (she called it a "glaze") on my hair to even out the color, which made me a little bit nervous. I've had allergic reactions to hair color in the past (about 10 years ago), which I'd told her, but she didn't seem to think this product would make me react. So I went with it. Remember this, it comes into play later... Anyway, a few minutes later, a man walked into the salon. There was no receptionist, so who felt the need to approach him and offer assistance? Charley. "Can I help you?" she asked. The stylists, who weren't expecting that from a 4 year old, just about lost it laughing. The man, who apparently was a regular, because the stylists knew who he was, played right along. He told her he needed to check in for a haircut. "Can I get your phone number?" Charley asked, and she started punching numbers into the computer. "You've got a scholar on your hands," my stylist said. I smiled and agreed. Just another moment that captured Charley's essence. She's definitely an old soul. Anyway, the stylist finished my cut and color, and Charley and I headed home. It was a pretty wonderful salon experience...and then...

Yesterday, I woke up and I felt my scalp itching a little bit. "CRAP!!!" I thought to myself. I knew I should've trusted my gut about that stupid hair color. Sure enough, over the last two days, I've developed hives on my scalp. Who is allergic to hair color, seriously?! Oh yeah... me. I'll say the color looks fantastic, but my scalp? Yikes! I mentioned it to a couple of my co-workers, fearing they noticed me itching my scalp and wanting to reassure them that no, I do NOT have lice. I just have weird skin allergies. Thanks for those genetics, Dad. I was on the phone with one of my friends earlier, and I said, "Want to hear a funny story?" and proceeded to explain that I'd had my hair colored over the weekend. She responded before I even finished my story. "Aren't you allergic to hair dye? Did you have a reaction?" she asked. Ha! Apparently, I'm predictable. Ask any of my girlfriends from high school, they'll tell you I'm the one who has ALWAYS had weird allergies to everything...and should probably live in a bubble. And this hair color experience? It was my own fault, I should've insisted that nothing touch my scalp. Definitely NOT a mistake I will repeat in the future!

Wow, that was a lot of information for a blog! I'm headed to bed, but have a great week everyone! And if you happen to see me scratching my head (literally), don't feel the need keep your distance...Ha!

Dear Charley: Part Two

The last couple of weeks have been incredibly busy. Since going back to work after the holiday break, I feel like I've been so busy, there are times when I look at the clock and wonder where the day went! That's good for me, though, because I'm most productive when I'm busy. With that said, my last post was primarily about myself and how the last few years have changed me. So, I thought I'd go for something a little bit more fun in this post. Charley's birthday is coming up in a few weeks (HOLY CRAP, I'm going to have a 4-year-old!), and in her honor, I thought I would do an updated, "Dear Charley." She's grown up so much, and there are many things I'd like to say to her. 

Dear Charley,

I understand that whining and pouting are part of a phase, and totally age appropriate. But can you make this phase pass quickly? I know that girls tend to be a little bit on the dramatic side, but pouting and crying because I told you that you couldn't put a wet towel on my throw pillow is really unnecessary. I also will not search the house for a bead that fell off of your necklace a week ago, that you NEED to have for school, and you ask me to find for you 3 minutes after we were supposed to leave. It doesn't matter how much you whine. You will just have to go to school without your bead.  I will continue to ignore the crying over nonsense, because you DO eventually get over it and return to my happy, hilarious little girl. Again...let's make this phase pass quickly!

Love,
Mom


Dear Charley,

I know I let it slip that you make me feel like an idiot when we play Memory. It's true. You are incredible at Memory, and I'm not sure I will ever beat you.  However, I only said the word idiot one time. You may not laugh and call me an idiot every time you get a match. And please do not say that to your friends at school. I'd hate to know what the teachers would think of me, if you started calling your friends idiots! We will group that word in with your bathroom words. You can only say it in the bathroom.

Love,
Mom

Dear Charley,

I think it's adorable that you refer to Oscar as your brother. But when you're telling people the story about the time he ran away (across the street), could you please clarify that Oscar is your dog-brother? When you tell your teachers that your brother ran away, and he doesn't live with you anymore, but you get to see him soon...well...they start to wonder. It's probably equivalent to the time that I had an argument with your Auntie Allie just before preschool, and I told my teachers I wished things were better at home. I will give you credit, though. Although you left out the fact that Oscar is a dog, you actually told his story quite well. I'm impressed.

Love,
Mom

Dear Charley,

I love the fact that you want to tell me everything that happened throughout your school day. I find it especially amusing that the first thing you do is tell me who hit whom, who threw a tantrum, who cried for mom at nap time, and who had accident reports sent home. The fact that you remember every event that occurred during the day is hilarious. You're just like me, in that sense. I also think it's adorable when you get out your notepad, and tell me you're writing an accident report. You are the most creative, imaginative girl I know.

Love,
Mom

Dear Charley,

Charlie Brown's Christmas clearly made an impact on you. In the last few weeks, I think I've heard you say, "Oh, good grief," and, "Oh, for goodness sakes," at least 20 times. While most of your friends will probably never use these terms in their lives, I think it's wonderful that you do. It's like you're a little girl growing up in the 50s. It's adorable. You can say those things as often as you want.

Love,
Mom

Dear Charley,

When you take out your toys, it is your responsibility to put them away. Yes, I will help you clean up. However, when you hold one toy in your hand, while I load your toys into their bins, I am not helping you... I am doing your job for you. You can cry and whine as much as you'd like, but I will not clean up your mess without your help. On a different note, when you DO participate and put your toys away without complaining, I am more than happy to help you. I might even sing the clean-up song with you, if you're lucky. And when we're all finished, I promise not to get mad (at least on the outside) when you walk into another room and immediately make another mess.

Love,
Mom

Dear Charley,

I love the fact that you have no shame, posing for the camera. Due to a recently revealed picture, I'm certain that your Auntie Kelsey taught you to make your kissy-face for the camera. You're definitely a free-spirit and your sense of humor amazes me. You're charming, silly, and always full of personality. In this sense...never change.

Love,
Mom

Dear Charley,

I know that the day I took you to Children's Place and let you pay for your accessories (one of your favorite words) with your gift card was a very exciting experience for you. The look on your face was priceless. It was also frightening. Mostly because you were WAY too comfortable swiping that 'credit card.' It makes me nervous for your teenage years. Although you won't have your own credit card, so I guess I'm safe for awhile. Anyway, I loved watching you pay for your necklace and bracelets. You're growing up too quickly, but I love the spunky little girl you are.

Love,
Mom