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

Cheers to 2015!

So, it's 8:00 on New Year's Eve, and what am I doing? Blogging. Charley and I had plans tonight, but when I had to pick her up from school sick on Monday, I opted to cancel. Now, of course she's been totally fine all day, but I suppose it was probably the responsible thing to do, staying home. I mean, nobody wants a sick kid at a party! Anyway, we had a pretty nice evening. We made pizzas, had a dance party (at her request...she wanted to dance to Usher's Scream...awesome parenting, I know), played Memory (yes, she beat me again), and settled in to watch Frozen. I think the movie was about 20 minutes in, before she fell asleep in her play room. I stayed up there and watched the movie for a little bit longer, because, honestly, I think it's a great movie. I've known all the songs for months, and my students have been borderline obsessed with it for the last year, but I never sat down to watch it until a couple of days ago. As a bit of a Disney snob (I'm partial to the classics), I was admittedly impressed. I like it. I'll probably watch it again. Ha!

Anyway, seeing as it's New Year's Eve, I suppose I should reflect on the last year and make some resolutions for the next year. It might get a little bit lengthy, but you've been forewarned. I'd like to reflect on the last couple of years though, because as time goes on, I can see myself changing into the person I actually want to be. I'll start with 2012...

 2012 was a life changing year for me. I had to come to the realization that my marriage was over, and move on with my life. While the breakup was terrible for me, I think part of that was due to the circumstances, but the other part of that was due to the fact that it was my first breakup...ever. I never knew what it was like to end things with someone, and have that feeling that things would never be the same. It was without a doubt, the most difficult, life changing year I've experienced so far. But it also jumpstarted some things in my life. While I had great friends in Vegas, I had no family out there and it never quite felt like home. In 2012, I moved home, into a place of my own, for the first time in my life. I'd never been without a roommate or spouse, so it was a totally new experience for me. I wasn't exactly rolling in money, when  I was in Vegas, but at least I was splitting the bills. When I moved out on my own, my household income was essentially cut in half, and the amount I was expected to pay every month basically doubled. Talk about a humbling experience. But I figured it out and made it work, and I'm so grateful for that experience, looking back. I learned how I deal with personal and financial pressures (not well at the time), and finally learned to stand my ground.

2013 was a year of personal growth. While 2012 was filled with trauma, emotional scars, and financial difficulties, 2013 was the year that I dealt with all of those issues. I dated a lot, for the first time in my life. I met a lot of great people, and a lot of not so great people. But I needed the experience. It only took me a couple of months to realize that I'm a terrible serial dater. I spent a long time kind of feeling like I wasn't a priority in my marriage, and when men were so quick to make me a priority, it honestly freaked me out. I guess I thought that making me the center of their world right away indicated that they just wanted a girlfriend...not me in particular. And I wasn't used to all of the attention from different directions. I didn't really (and still don't) like it.  It just goes to show that, at the time, I wasn't emotionally ready to settle down. I wanted to be...but I wasn't. Meanwhile, I started a business with a close friend and my step-dad in 2013. It was such an exciting venture, and I couldn't wait to make it a success. Unfortunately, an awful lot of circumstances hit right around the time we were trying to get it off the ground, and it didn't work out. That was really hard for me. I don't like letting people down, and I know that I wasn't able to do what I'd hoped I could do with the business. It wasn't a good feeling. I finally had some closure with the business in 2014, and I'm very grateful for that. While I wish it had turned out differently, I definitely learned from the experience. On a more positive note, 2013 brought about a wonderful job opportunity for me, too. I started working in the classroom again, and I don't think the job could have come up at a better time for me. I needed it. Not just financially... I needed everything about the job. Challenges, laughter, thinking on my feet...It definitely was meant to be, for me.

2014 was a year of settling in. I learned a lot about myself in 2013, but 2014 is when I did most of my mental processing. Yes, I'm a teacher, I process EVERYTHING. I took risks. I figured out who I am right now, and who I want to be, and started to make changes. I made new friendships. I learned to listen to what others have to say, and consider their opinions...but ultimately stand by my decisions. I mean, I've never been an idiot, but there have been many times in my life where I allowed myself to be treated like a doormat, in both personal and professional settings, simply to keep the peace. I now try to take a more diplomatic approach to discussions. Hear all sides, then come to a conclusion and actually VOICE my opinion. I still have my peacemaker moments, but that's something for me to work on in the next year. 2014 was the year in which I took a chance and moved away from everybody I'm close to. I kind of ventured off on my own, with Charley, and started a new life. My mom asks me sometimes if I'm lonely, living so far away from the girlfriends I grew up with. Honestly, there are times when I wish I lived closer...and of course I wish I could see my friends more often...but I'm really happy living outside of the city. It's strange, even when I was married and living in Vegas, I had visions of living in Forest Lake (which is TOTALLY random, because at the time I had legitimately no ties there)...maybe that's why I wasn't completely surprised to get the teaching job in Forest Lake...kind of like it was meant to be. Anyway, back to my point...I like it here. In fact, I'll probably end up moving further north (i.e. further from the cities) this summer. While I love my neighborhood, and EVERYTHING about it, I now have two jobs that are considerably north of where I live, and I have to backtrack to pick up Charley when I'm going between the two jobs. So, logistically, it just makes sense to move north. Now, of course that's not as easy as it sounds...The rental properties are slim pickings...but I know the right place will come along at the right time. Back to settling in... I also left a wonderful coaching job this year, and found another coaching job that's just as fantastic. I've always felt at home in the gym, regardless of where I've worked. Sometimes it takes parents and coaches awhile to warm up to a new coach, but I've been very lucky here in Minnesota. At both gyms I've been embraced quickly, and had really fantastic experiences. I certainly feel lucky to have come across my current coaching job, because I'm really getting to coach competitive girls again, and that's exciting for me. It challenges me, and I certainly do enjoy a challenge! I'm also working with wonderful coaches and parents, so I definitely feel settled in that gym. I guess the most important thing I accomplished in 2014 is that I finally began to feel like I became ME, if that makes any sense. I'm going to get all cheesy here, and relate it back to Frozen, but  there's a line 'Conceal, don't feel, don't let them know...' I think I spent a lot of my mid-20s concealing how I felt about a lot of things, but I'm past that. I've also learned to let go of the past and move forward. And that's exactly what I plan to do in 2015. Have a safe and wonderful New Year!

For those of you interested in my Frozen reference... Ha! Seriously, though, I know it's been way overplayed, but the message is awesome... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0MK7qz13bU

***Since this post wasn't very much about Charley, I thought I'd include some of my favorite pics from the last year :) Enjoy!

Blown Away

This time of year has brought about mixed emotions for me, the last couple of years. I love the holidays. From the cheesy Christmas carols to the 8 million pictures of kids with Santa on Facebook, I love it all. It's wonderful. It's also very stressful. I remember Charley's first Christmas. It was the first year that I had a salaried job, and the first time that it was important to me to have a Christmas tree. Charley would've been happy with a cardboard box as a gift, but that year I was able to give her quite a few wonderful things. I was able to give to my friends and family, too. I've always liked giving better than receiving, and that year I was able to give. It felt great, to know that I could actually give my friends and family gifts they enjoyed. Fast forward three years later, and I am in a totally different position. I made a point to give Charley the best Christmas possible. Everything extra went to her. Which meant I wasn't able to give how I would've liked, to the rest of the people in my life. I know people understand. It's just a phase in my life, and at some point (hopefully soon), I will be able to give the way that I would like. But for now, it's just not possible. So, for me, just like for many of my students, Christmas can be stressful.

I'm not a terribly materialistic person. Yes, I grew up in Edina, and yes, I understand that where I grew up brings with it a certain stereotype. I had an amazing, blessed childhood in many ways.  And, as my sister and I like to say, we always had great Christmases. Presents and excitement were never lacking. I'd like to replicate that childhood experience for Charley, but I've accepted that her life will be different from mine. She will never again live in a home with both of her parents together, opening presents on Christmas morning. The holidays, and life in general will be different for her. She'll spend time with other families at night, because I coach several evenings a week. But all of that's okay, because she is safe, loved, and always taken care of. I can't provide the lifestyle I once lived, but I can provide a loving, supportive household, and I try my best to do that. And I want her to value friendships, relationships, family, and experiences more than material belongings. That's always been how I've tried to live my life. Anyway, all of this has a point, I promise...

Christmas Eve Dinner :)

I've always surrounded myself with good people. I pride myself on that. And since I've been back in Minnesota, I've been surprised every year by the generosity of my friends and family when the holidays roll around. This year was no exception. No, that's not true. It was exceptional. In a wonderful way. Like I said before, I was not really able to give much to others this year, including my family. But I was literally blown away by the generosity Charley and I were surrounded by this year. My family made sure we were both well taken care of, when it came to gifts, and Charley had plenty of things to open. I think that's the most important part to children, right? But the generosity began before Christmas, for Charley and me. Sunday night, I got a text from the woman who watches Charley while I coach. "The kids wanted to get Charley a Christmas present! Can she open it when she gets here tomorrow night?" That was so nice, and unexpected. And the surprises continued. I got a message from one of my best friends, asking me, "Can you pick something up at the Target in Forest Lake tomorrow?" I thought it was kind of a weird question, because she doesn't live anywhere near Forest Lake, but I just went with it, and replied, "Of course!" She told me it was just something she'd wanted to do for me for a long time, and Christmas seemed like the right time. So, Monday, during my lunch break, I made a quick run to Target to pick up my mystery gift. Imagine my surprise, when the customer service rep came to the counter with a KEURIG! I was shocked. Nobody had ever done something like that for me before.  It was totally unexpected, and I nearly broke down in tears when I got back to my car. She wanted to do something for me, just because she knew I could use it. "Having a Keurig is like having someone make your coffee for you in the morning. It just makes life so much easier," she said. "I know it's not easy to be in your position, and I wanted to give you something that would make your mornings easier." I won't lie, it's been amazing to push a button and have my coffee ready and waiting for me every morning... That was enough of a wonderful surprise for a lifetime for me, but the giving didn't end there. I got to the gym Monday evening, and my boss pulled out a bag that's bigger than Charley, filled with gifts for both of us, to put under the tree. I didn't even know what to say. I've been at this gym for less than two months, and I already feel like part of the family.

All I can say is that this holiday season, I feel blessed. Not because of the material gifts I've received, but because I have the most wonderful people in my life. I've gotten countless holiday cards from my favorite people. Charley and I spent our Christmas (and the days prior) with family and friends. We shared laughs and ridiculous amounts of food. I had the chance to actually put up a Christmas tree, and start some new traditions with Charley. I got to watch her face light up, when she walked down the stairs and saw presents under the tree. When I gave her the one gift I'd said was from me, she walked up to me without saying a word, hugged me closely, and said, "This is the best present ever. I love you, Mommy." She then proceeded to try to give me one of her other presents, as a present from her to me. The fact that she wanted to give something to me showed me that, when it comes to her, I'm doing something right. We spent the day with family, and the evening with friends. There's really not much better than that in life. So...yes, the holidays are stressful. But they're wonderful. They bring out an incredible side to people. And I'm fortunate to have the best of the best people in my life. Merry Christmas!

The Aftermath...

It's been so long since I've blogged about dating (probably because I like to keep the more meaningful things in that area to myself), but I've found, in the last week, that my friends and co-workers seem to find it amusing to live vicariously through me. Perhaps they just find it amusing that people can be so ridiculous, and they are just glad that they're not dealing with the nonsense I have to entertain. I had so many people last week comment on reading my blog post about my coffee date. People who said things like, "My husband's a mess, but I'm SO glad I'm not in your shoes." Ha! I agree... there are many times when I wasn't in my own shoes. I had one friend, upon hearing that my mom was watching Charley on Saturday night, say, "What do you have planned? Another hot date? " Ummm... not so much. "What did you say to this guy?" people asked me. "How did you tell him you weren't interested?" Well... I didn't. I'm ashamed to say that I avoided him, instead of directly addressing the awkward texting fiasco that I'd experienced last weekend. That is, of course, until this weekend rolled around.

I went all week without hearing from this guy, so I kind of assumed he'd gotten the hint. Then, on Friday morning, I got a text that said, I need to see you soon. Please and thank you... I chose not to respond. Friday evening, I received a text asking what I was up to over the weekend.  I did respond, and said I had a holiday party to go to on Saturday night. It was true! I didn't end up going to the party, because it was so far from my house, and after the last week at work (my co-workers know what I'm talking about), I honestly just needed to be by myself and get some sleep. Anyway, after I said I had a party to go to, he replied, Holiday party? Need a date? WHOA! No. I will not bring a man I've met once who didn't exactly make a good first impression to meet some of my oldest, dearest friends. I told him it was an invite-only party. That was my only lie, I promise. He continued to text, and I finally told him, in not so many words, that he wasn't the one for me. I didn't get a response. Until 2:30 in the morning. Are you awake? the text said. I almost wrecked some dipshit just now...and want to talk to someone and calm down. Ok, now I tend to be a nice person (I told my friend Katie that I might have to be mean to this guy, and she insisted I don't have a mean bone in my body...ha!), and I give everyone the benefit of the doubt. But this was ridiculous. Not only did his text wake me up (which I didn't exactly appreciate...don't interrupt my beauty sleep...it's not pretty), but it also indicated several reasons why this guy is single. First of all, why is a guy in his 30s getting into bar fights at 2:30 a.m.? Secondly, if he was that upset, why would he ask ME...a girl he'd met ONE TIME to talk him through it.  Clearly, we're not in the same place in life and DEFINITELY not on the same page. I did not respond to his late night text, and the next morning I blocked his number. Enjoy the laugh, I'm sure it's amusing...I can't help but laugh... I seem to be a magnet for this type of guy. But they repel me quickly. And they are exactly why I hate dating. Ha!

Charley spent the night at my mom's yesterday, and I probably should've gone out last night. I haven't really had that opportunity in over a month. But the last month has gone by so quickly, I really just needed some time for myself. I got some holiday shopping done, and picked up some groceries. I had intentions of making my grandma's famous pumpkin bread, so I picked up the ingredients, along with a few other things I planned to cook for the week. Without Charley home, it's much easier to do meal prep! Anyway, I got home and discovered I didn't have enough sugar (who runs out of sugar?!) to make the pumpkin bread, and I couldn't find the recipe for the soup I'd intended to make. As I told my friend Kellie on the phone later, at that point, I just said, "I give up," and opted to take a nap. After my nap, I had a great phone conversation with my friend, listened to music, and just relaxed for hours before going to bed. It was heavenly.

This morning, I picked up my princess, who seems to have developed a cold that has her nose running like a faucet. But she was glad to see me, and we had fun around the house this afternoon. She fell asleep just after dinner, and I'm hoping the extra sleep will ward off the germs! With the holidays just around the corner, my students can be a bit of a mess, and I really don't want to miss school if I can avoid it! On that note, have a great week everyone!

Coffee Dates and Gymnastics Meets... I Prefer the Latter

I can't believe I'm sitting down to write right now...It's nearly 10:00 on Sunday night, and I had an incredibly busy weekend! But I don't think I'll be asleep for another half an hour or so, so I suppose I might as well blog a little bit. The last week was crazy. I coached 3 nights, and the girls I work with competed over the weekend. That meant practices were very much about preparing the finishing touches for the meet, and making sure all of the girls' routines looked put together. They looked great in practice, and they did really well in the meet. I was proud, and very grateful for the chance to work with these girls. They're hard workers and they genuinely want to learn. I can't say enough about how much I enjoy them!

Now, I know yesterday was a Saturday, but as per usual, Charley woke me up bright and early. We met my friend for breakfast in Roseville, before I dropped Charley off at my mom's for a little while so she could see her for the first time in a few weeks. Given the fact that I had a little bit of time to myself, I did something I haven't done in a long time. A LONG time...I went on a date. I wasn't really that excited about it, because I knew prior to the date that the guy, although very attractive, wasn't exactly my type. I'm not talking physically here...I just mean I had an inkling going into the date that he and I weren't really on the same page. But he's been pestering me for awhile to let him take me out, so I finally agreed to coffee. It was kind of nice to have someone so eager to take me out, but I was skeptical. Anyway, we met up for coffee, and it was nice.  We talked about the typical first-date stuff, like where we grew up, what we do for fun, etc. There were a couple of red flags, particularly when he talked about how all his friends were married, and doing married people stuff all the time, so he never had anyone to hang out with. I get that. I mean, most of my friends are married or in relationships, and I'm not. But I'm not mad at them for finding happiness, as he appeared to be. In fact, I really appreciate the fact that they've found the right people. That makes me happy! But he seemed to be a little bitter about it. He also made some comments that were a little bit immature.  He's older than I am, so I guess I'd expected something different in terms of maturity level. Oh, well. When we finished our drinks, we walked to a nearby bookstore so he could pick out a card for a wedding he would be attending that evening. He walked me to my car and hugged me goodbye (yes, I intentionally parked in a VERY public setting, so he wouldn't be tempted to lean in for an awkward kiss or anything...ha!). Overall, the date was fine. It was nice to have someone so excited to see me and take me out. But honestly, there was no chemistry.

Apparently, however, that feeling wasn't mutual. Later in the day, I got a series of texts asking what I was up to, what I'd thought of him, etc. I found that interesting, because I'd made it very clear that I am put-off by people wanting to know what I'm up to all the time...Particularly early on...I know he was just trying to be nice (and perhaps was feeling a little bit insecure), and one text later in the day would've been just fine. But he wanted to talk all day. And some of the texts were...well...stupid. "Do you wanna flirt?" he asked me at one point. "Not really," I replied. Clearly he thought I was joking and attempted to continue the conversation, but I chose not to respond. I wasn't feeling it. He's a nice guy, but based on our conversation at coffee, and his constant texting afterwards, he clearly didn't listen to what I had to say. I guess I just got the impression that he wants to settle down...with anybody... Or have a fling. And I'm not going to be either of those people. I guess, what I got out of the experience was the fact that yes, of course it is nice to have someone chase me and take me out. It is nice to be pursued. But ultimately, if there's no substance to it, it's not really worth pursuing.

On a totally unrelated note, Charley and I went to watch the girls I work with compete last night. There were competitions on Friday and Saturday. I couldn't make it on Friday, but decided to hang around in Minneapolis on Saturday, so I could watch the girls compete. They were very nervous, but definitely excited to perform. There were a couple of falls here and there, and a few mistakes, but overall they did a great job. I was very proud of them. I wasn't working the meet, so I had to stay behind certain barriers, but I found myself coaching from the sidelines. I really can't help it...It's like the impulsive side of my ADHD...When I see an error, I have to correct it, and I have to do it immediately! Ha! I sat with the parents, and was able to explain the scoring to them a little bit. I think it was helpful to them, because I imagine if someone doesn't know about gymnastics, they probably just look for straight legs and pointed toes, and think it was a clean routine so it should score well. Unfortunately, there are so many more things that go into scoring, and most of them can be difficult to understand. So, it was nice to be able to explain it to them directly after the event, before I forgot! Anyway, I'm glad I went, and in spite of the fact that Charley was not on her best behavior (I blame the fact that she has a cold), it was a really great evening. On that note, it's late now, so I'm heading to bed. Goodnight!

Feeling Thankful

The last few days literally flew by. We had all kinds of events planned at school, so my students' schedules were totally out of whack. With all of the excitement at school, by the time Wednesday night rolled around, I was ready to relax. Charley and I watched a movie, and Charley went to bed early. For some reason, on holiday breaks, I get the inkling that I should stay up late because I'll get to sleep in. I don't know why I always do this... It never actually happens. Charley was up at 6a.m. and of course, upon waking up, I instantly regretted staying up until midnight. Oh well, live and learn, right? Ha!Anyway, as Thanksgiving rolled around, I thought about all of the things I have to be thankful for, and there are just too many to list. I suppose I could go with the generic and say I'm thankful for family, friends, a job I love, wonderful co-workers, a great home, etc...The list could go on. But I won't bore you with that. Let me fill you in on our Thanksgiving...

Thanksgiving was really nice this year. Charley and I went over to my dads' house around noon, to socialize a bit before eating dinner around 4. One of our long-time family friends from England was in town to celebrate her first Thanksgiving, and I wanted to make sure Charley and I had plenty of time to visit with her. It was a nice, relaxing afternoon with family and friends. My dad cooked the turkey, several sides, and dessert. I was responsible for the mashed potatoes. Now, historically I've been pretty good at making mashed potatoes, but it's been awhile since I made them for a group. I wanted to make sure we had enough...Well we did...We probably had 5 pounds of mashed potatoes....And went through more than I would like to admit! Anyway, they were pretty good, so I was relieved that my contribution to the meal wasn't a total flop.

After dinner, I noticed Charley starting to get little red bumps around her lips, the way she does when she is around peanuts. There were no peanuts in sight, though, and all she'd eaten were potatoes, turkey, and cranberries. I figured it must've been a reaction to the cranberries, and smeared some cortisone on her face. The bumps went away, and we all sat around the house for awhile. Around 6:30, I suggested that we check out some of the Black Friday deals. Now, there was a time (pre-Charley), when I was a pretty heavy Black Friday shopper. I'd go out in search of big deals, early on Black Friday. Well, many shops were actually open last night, so I figured since we weren't doing anything, that we should check them out. So, my dad, his friend, Charley, and I went shopping on Thanksgiving. It felt kind of weird to be out shopping on a holiday, but it was kind of fun. We didn't go super early, so we missed the crazy lines and the rush of people at Target and Old Navy. But it definitely was an adventure...I got some great things for Charley, and a couple of things for myself...but leaving Target with only 5 (small) items...we looked kind of silly. People were walking around the store with multiple carts, breaking up into groups to get everything on their lists, carrying all kinds of electronics around the store...It was quite a sight. Charley took it upon herself to run around through the aisles, perusing the stores, while I attempted to simultaneously look around and chase after her. Let's just say, chasing Charley definitely won in that contest. Actually, I should probably be grateful for that. She probably saved me from spending a ton of money on things we don't need. Ha!

When I ask her to pose for a picture, this is what I get...

When we got back from our little excursion, Charley asked for some more turkey. She hadn't eaten that much at dinner, and I was certain she was still hungry. Besides, I knew she wouldn't sleep on an empty stomach, so I brought her some turkey. Within minutes, I noticed that the little red bumps were appearing again, and this time her lips were beginning to swell. I asked my dad what he'd seasoned the turkey with, and he said it was just olive oil, salt, and pepper...all things that Charley has been totally fine eating. But there was no denying it...the turkey seemed to be the problem. We were at my dad's house, which is about 45 minutes away from my home, and although I had an Epi-pen, I really didn't want to use it if I didn't have to. So, again, I slathered cortisone on her face, and raced to Walgreens down the street (thank goodness they were open),  to pick up some Benadryl. By the time I got back, the cortisone had already begun to reduce the bumps and swelling, but I gave Charley the Benadryl just to be on the safe side. It helped her fall asleep, too...Lucky me! Once she went to sleep, I started looking up the brand of turkey we'd eaten, to see if there were any additives listed that she could be allergic to, and I couldn't really pinpoint anything specifically. It looks like I'll have to take her back in for allergy testing. Yuck! Poor kid. I had the same thing done to me when I was 4, and I still remember it vividly. "It will only itch if you're allergic," the nurse told me, before she started pricking my back with small vials of allergens. I'm sure she didn't anticipate that my entire back would be inflamed for days afterwards...but it was! I'm just hoping that Charley doesn't have the same experience!

Rocking a new sweater. She's so grown up!

This morning, we woke up at my dads' and enjoyed being lazy around the house. We went to lunch at one of my favorite restaurants, and then I took my English friend, Lily around the city. We drove through Edina, where I grew up, then into Minneapolis, St. Paul, Como Park...It was actually really fun to drive around and show her what a Minnesota city is like! We haven't seen each other in at least 5 years, too, so it was nice to catch up a little bit. By the time we got back to my dad's house, Charley and I were exhausted and really ready to get home. So, here we are. It's been a busy couple of days, but we've both enjoyed it. I hope everybody had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and has a great weekend!

Ready for a Break! Thanksgiving Break, That Is...

I've been thinking about how it's been over a week since I've blogged for the last couple of days, but honestly, I couldn't think of anything in particular I wanted to write about until today. Today was...well... rough. Well, rough in my terms, which probably isn't all that bad to some people. But it seemed like a pot that was starting to bubble (probably due to the upcoming Thanksgiving break) finally boiled over, and my normally orderly students were bouncing off the walls! But before I get into that, let me talk a little bit about the last week or so...I'll try not to be too ADHD and bounce all over the place, I promise. Anyway, here we go...

Over a week ago, there was a big snowfall in Minnesota. Shocking, I know. Anyway, as usual, I found myself totally unprepared. It's funny... For some things, I am always totally prepared (work, scheduling, etc.)... but when it comes to the weather, I always seem to be caught off-guard and find myself stuck in the mud, in a sense. Well, the snow hit, and fortunately my neighborhood was plowed fairly early, so I was able to get around pretty easily, and within a couple of days quite a bit of the snow had melted. But then it snowed again. And I didn't have a shovel. Typical. I shoveled all the time growing up, but give me a break, I lived in Las Vegas for 4 years, and the last two years I lived in a duplex, where the landlord shoveled us out all the time and a shovel really wasn't necessary. I suppose I got a little spoiled in that sense. Anyway, I got myself a shovel and now I'm a little bit more prepared for the impending ice storm that's supposedly coming this way over the weekend!

I've been working twice a week at the new gym, and I have to say, I'm impressed with the quality of training, particularly in a community education program. I don't have anything against community ed programs, but when it comes to gymnastics, you generally get what you pay for. In this case, however, the girls are really well-trained...and they want to learn! So they're really fun to work with. I'm having fun getting to know them a little bit, and figuring out where I can be the most helpful and best-utilized. I have to admit, I was a little bit nervous about committing to weeknight hours, mostly because I'm afraid I'm going to burn out...but now that Charley has a place to go (that she LOVES), I'm finding that the long days really aren't that bad. And I LOVE having a weekend. I told someone the other day that this is the first time in 13 years I've had a full weekend, and that's true. Gymnastics coaches almost always work weekends. So I'm enjoying being able to relax like a normal person (well, not quite like a normal person...I'll always be a total busy-body), two days a week.

Okay, let me get to the events of the last couple of days. It's interesting. When I was in school, I remember being overly excited about holiday breaks, because I got a couple of days off to relax and be with family. Some of my students are excited about Thanksgiving break next week...others are not. Not at all. But they can't verbalize that or even really recognize their stress, so they act out in different ways. Teachers anticipate this type of anxiety as breaks approach, but it seemed to hit earlier than usual, this year! Anyway, I've got a couple of kids who are a little bit out-of-sorts, because they aren't really sure what the break will bring. So, it's my job to try to redirect them, try to get them to talk about their feelings, and understand their underlying motivations. Easy, right? Ha! Not so much. But I try. The week started off alright, but the kids have gotten progressively more anxious, hyper, and distractible.  Today was no exception, and a few of my generally well-behaved students, were a bit off. Naturally, I had an observation today. Great timing, right? My observer came in while I had one student writing an apology letter, and two students going back to class. When my other students came in, they got right to work, but one student consistently interrupted. The phone rang (which never happens), several people came in to pick papers up from the printer, and when the lesson was over, one of the students in my next group (who was WAY off today) barged into the room, and exclaimed, "What are you doing?! Playing a GAME?" It was the perfect ending to the lesson. Totally summed up the distractions that had appeared throughout my normally effective math class. There's something to be said for working in a resource room, though... You've got to be prepared for anything, and if nothing else, at least the observer got a picture of life in the resource room!

While it's been a bit of a crazy week, it has had some great moments. One little girl (who is absolutely adorable), has been coming in looking sad, with her hair covering her face all week.  Today, I said something to her about it. She made mention of her mom not having time to do her hair in the morning, because she had to get to work.  So I pulled her hair back into a little ponytail...and her attitude changed instantly. Her classroom teacher told me later in the day that her students were having conversations about what they're thankful for. My little girl said, "I'm thankful for teachers that help me a lot and do my hair." That made me feel so good. Something that seems so insignificant made a difference in her day. 

Alright, it's time for me to head to bed. Charley and I went to our friends' house for dinner tonight, and I'm exhausted. It was a nice evening, though. The kids played, my friend and I got to catch up, and Charley fell asleep within a half an hour of getting home. It was just what I needed at the end of a long day! Have a great weekend!

Something Special

Ok, while this post will summarize my last week or so, quite a bit of it will focus on Charley, so be forewarned. Since I posted last, I've celebrated Halloween, had my first full weekend off in a very long time, worked two jobs, attended two meetings (thus writing two sets of sub plans...my teacher friends will understand why that's annoying), developed laryngitis, gotten my iPad fixed, and finally gotten caught up on sleep. Phew, that was a lot of information for one sentence. Anyway, the week was jam-packed, but in spite of losing my voice, it was a really successful week.

Before I get into the events of the last week, I suppose I should touch base about Halloween. Charley and I went over to my friend Michelle's house to trick-or-treat with her two kids. Michelle's husband dressed up like a scarecrow and sat outside, waiting to pass out candy to the kids, while we took our kids out to get some candy. It was quite an experience! People were pulling kids in trailers, there was a horse and carriage taking kids through the neighborhood...even a haunted house at the end of the block! The funny part is, Charley and Michelle's daughter Evie, didn't notice any of that. They were too busy chit-chatting and playing music on Evie's light-up Elsa dress. The girls nearly got trampled several times by older children, but they were lost in conversation and totally oblivious. All three kids ended up with tons of candy, and because Charley can't have anything with nuts or peanuts, I ended up with quite a stash myself...A stash I actually brought into school. Not without eating a Reese's though...Do you know how long it's been since I ate a Reese's? Mmmmm....Heaven.

Anyway, by the time we got home Friday night, I was exhausted. I was coming off of a 21+ day working streak and two of those days had been 13 hour days. Charley was tired, too. As much as I've been busy, she generally has to come along for the ride whether she wants to or not, so she was wiped out after trick-or-treating. Charley fell asleep on the couch, and I was in bed before 10. It was great. Over the weekend, Charley and I enjoyed not really having anything scheduled. We had chores to get done and errands to run, but nothing we absolutely HAD to do. Except, of course, for meeting up with Jackie and Chris, Charley's new babysitters.

When I started coaching at the gym in North Branch, the program director found a family that was willing to take Charley while I was at work. On my first night in the gym, the director introduced Charley to Jackie and Chris, the parents of one of the girls I work with. They were very friendly, but Charley was not entirely sold. I think she knew that meeting them eventually meant she would have to be away from me. She's such a mama's girl. Anyway, I talked to Jackie about getting together over the weekend, so Charley and I (well...all of us) could get a little bit more comfortable with one another. We went over to their home on Sunday night, and it was like being at home. While I chatted with Jackie and Chris, Charley got acclimated to the space, and played with their daughter. I felt much better about leaving Charley with them, and Charley definitely seemed comfortable. On Monday when I dropped her off, she ran in without an issue, waved goodbye, and apparently did just great. When they brought her to the gym, Chris said, "It was like she's known us her whole life." I guess she was singing and dancing to her iPad, and, of course, making sure she had the whole family's attention.

She always wants to get dolled up!

This is where the focus of my post really turns to Charley. I am seriously so lucky to have a child like her. It's not just because she's smart. I know she's smart. She always has been. But she is just so adaptable in social situations, particularly with adults. I don't know what to attribute that skill to. I mean... there are probably several factors involved. For one thing, she's being raised by a single mom. She has to come along with me, most of the time, more by necessity than by choice. Maybe that's impacted her social maturity. She's also spent time with friends and family, who act like Charley is just part of their families. She's used to fitting in, even when she's the only child in the room. I could also credit all of the coaches and parents who treated her like one of their own, at Kenwood (and Sasso's in Vegas, for that matter). They didn't have to. In fact, they could've been annoyed that she came along while I coached. But they never complained. In fact, on the days Charley was NOT with me, I generally got questions about her. "Where's Charley?" disappointed moms would ask. Ha! I loved that. I'm often amazed at how easily Charley can wrap someone around her finger, and have that person totally engaged for long periods of time. Men, in particular. Even the most straight-faced, inexpressive men will engage in conversation with Charley and usually crack a smile at the very least, within minutes of meeting her. It's impressive. It's also a little scary (I'm thinking of her teenage years).  Anyway, this all relates back to Jackie and Chris' house, because Charley didn't know them well, but seemed to be able to adapt to their house rules quickly and easily. According to Jackie, "She is so polite! And very sweet. I call her Little Miss Manners, because she always says please and thank you. She is such a sweet girl!" What more could a mother ask for?

This kid loves a good hair cut.

 It's funny, because I had at least 5 conversations about manners at work last week. Most of the issues stem from the fact that teachers will greet students as they walk by, and the children say nothing in response. That's happened to me several times. I'm not one for being ignored, so I've been known to say, "EXCUSE ME! Come back here, please. When someone says 'Good morning' to you, it is rude not to respond." I think any time someone communicates with you, and you don't respond, it's rude. It's just not how I was raised. I require my students to say hello when they enter my classroom, and say goodbye before they leave. And you know what? They do it every time.In fact, some of them have started a little contest with me, getting creative with, "See ya later, Alligator," "In awhile, Crocodile," "See ya soon, Baboon," trying to come up with rhymes so they say goodbye last. It's cute. Their peers might not recognize the need to respond to adults, but my students do (well, most of them do) and I appreciate that. It's a social skill we generally don't think about teaching, because it seems like common sense politeness. But kids aren't necessarily learning this at home. I would say that my friends' kids are exceptionally polite. They have great parents. That's why we're friends! But unfortunately, at this point, politeness is the exception, not the rule. This is why I appreciate that Charley shows those social skills outside of the house. From the Target cashier, to the dad watching his daughter get her hair cut at the salon, to the older women checking out her macaroni and cheese at Noodles and Co. last night, Charley makes no exceptions. She's friendly with everyone (everyone she doesn't think is a 'creeper,' that is). It makes me feel like I'm doing something right. She truly is, something special.

With that, I'm going to relax on the couch and try not to talk for the rest of the night, so this laryngitis goes away. I'm hoping to sound like a human before Monday. Chances are slim, but I'll give it a shot. Have a great weekend!