Fatter the Flakes Fall

Silent, softly falling snow,
Covers the crisply frozen earth,
Plush pillows hide the children’s toys left outside one day too long,

Still fatter the flakes fall.

Boisterous laughter accompanies children’s play,
Man of snow, with coal for eyes, image of imagination,
Warm cups of cocoa remedy the winter’s chill,

Still fatter the flakes fall.

Frisky puppies frolic in the newly fallen snow,
Paw prints tell the story of the afternoon’s adventure,
All too soon to be erased, as their makers warm by the fire,

Still fatter the flakes fall.

Steeply sloped sledding hill beckons riders to the top,
One more climb, one more thrill,
Atop the red toboggan, speeding down the hill

Still fatter the flakes fall.

Silent, secure in the warmth of home,
Covers pulled tight from chin to toes,
Plush pillows transform the window seat, a cozy winter bed.

Still fatter the flakes fall.

Multi-Talented Girl

Madison is a girl of many talents. She is amazing academically, is great at soccer, loves to climb, and I have always known that she was also talented musically. She had a great opportunity Monday night and I have been wanting to share it but couldn't find the right words since I wasn't actually there. My mom emailed me to tell me about the evening, so I thought I would just share her words with you....

Last night was the Fruita Monument High School Holiday Extravaganza- back in the day we called it the Christmas program. So where else would we be? We picked up Madison for our annual evening of enjoyment and headed out. The Choir, Band and Orchestra all perform (separately) which means a lot of parents and family come-so they have the program at the Avalon Theater downtown, where we went to see Brian Regan. To help raise money for the school programs they do something fun. They have for $5 you can play the trivia game, which is trivia on the 3 directors, Ryan being one of them. So you would think it was a done deal now but wait last year we did not win, oh the pressure. The major award for being the winner is you get to direct the band for one song-Sleigh Ride! Ryan has to have the band trained to work together and be able to play without real direction! So Madison picks our seat in the Balcony and we begin to fill out our trivia game. Dan makes it so fun for Madison and I. Then after turning it in we realize we forgot our program for the event- so Dan and Madison head off to get one. They end up chatting with a student about how sales were going on the trivia game and the student shares how Mr. Crabtree had told them his niece had been saving up all summer to buy a chance to direct the band, probably to encourage the band to be able to play the song no matter who was directing -or is it conducting. How funny the guy did not know he was talking to his niece! Madison is now so nervous and excited about possibly winning and actually going up there on the stage in front all those people. Of course we get to enjoy all the choirs first. Next is the band and Ryan comes out and is adding another level to the podium to make it taller. Yikes now she is sure she won or do they usually do that. Then Ryan reviews the answers with the crowd and we had only missed one- and it was about Ryan! He waits to announce the winner until they have played their first song. Now Madison is squirming, but it had looked this good last year too. So
Dan and I are reviewing how to walk out there with her head high and no one would be able to tell how scared she was. The first song is over and Ryan comes back to the mic. to announce the winner- Madison is frozen- and he says will Madison Caster come to the stage. At this time not many people are expecting an almost 10 yr old. Dan helps her to the back of the stage and Madison walks out with her head high and the crowd all sighed "oh" as how precious is that. Ryan took a few minutes to give her directing/conducting lessons and left her at the podium. She lifted her directors stick thing (what is that called?) and the band started playing. She almost seem startled at how powerful she was! She said the whole band was staring at her with
smiles in their eyes. When the song was over she stood there with her back to the crowd until Ryan came back and told her to take a bow. It was so sweet, she turns and brings one arm across her waist and the other one back and bows to the crowd. The kids and the whole crowd went wild cheering for her. As she walked off the kids were yelling "you rock Madison" and other cool stuff. She came back to her seat and was so shell shocked scared and had too much fun both. As Ryan was getting ready to direct the next song there was some confusion and the band started yelling Madison come back. She looks at Dan and said should I go? She was ready to go again. We did talk to Ryan later and he said she really had won the game, the closest other score only got 4 out of the 7 or 8 questions, so it wasn't fixed. I sure hope someone was able to get a picture of Ryan giving her lessons. What a memory!!!!
Love, Polly


Here are some pics of the event...

"Cause you'll burn it..."

I think that I have made a lasting impression on my son. About a month ago I toasted him some cinnamon raisin bread and burnt it black, so I put in two more pieces and once again burnt them even blacker (if that could be possible). Since this incident he has banned me from making him toast or bagels. He insists that I instead put it in the oven. If Brian is home he refuses to let me even touch it. When I offer, he puts his hand up (ya know like talk to the hand) and says "No mom, I want daddy do it." When asked why... "cause you'll burn it." Brian finds this absolutely hilarious, and offers Maddox toast or bagels for every meal just to reenact this conversation.

Figures, the one thing that my son will remember from his childhood is that mom burns toast.

Learned? Maybe I should mess up all the rest of my cooking, then I will be banned from all cooking...Hmmm not a bad idea.

It's Official

There it is... my masters degree diploma. I find it odd that though I have received my pay raise, transcripts, and confirmation from the university that I completed the program, it only now feels complete.

Now... what class(es) should I take next... I need to get certified to teach Gifted and Talented, there are more math classes I want to take, a calculator class, I still have another online book study to do as well as a few weekends to meet for the MS Cubed program I started last summer ... hmmm...

Learned? Who knew when I graduated high school, or even college (the first time), that I would actually never be done going to school.

All Boy

Maddox: "(insert sound of huge belch)"
Me: "Maddox! What do you say? Stop making yourself burp."
Maddox: "Mom, it is air coming out of my tummy, I can't help it!"

Learned? He is way too smart!

Happy Turkey Trot!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

I just love this holiday because of the yummy food! I always stuff myself way past full, so this year I decided to be proactive. A group of us from school, and my mom, sis-in-law, and our kids all ran or walked in the Turkey Trot; a local 5K to support the fire department. The weather was quite gloomy this morning, it had rained overnight, and was threatening to rain on us during the race. So I bundled the kids up and hit the pavement. There was a pretty good turn out today considering the weather and it is only the 2nd annual. I ran an amazing pace considering I was pushing Maddox, I finished it in 28:20.9 (a 9.07 min/mile pace). I am super happy with my self. Madison walked with Kristen and the baby Tinley.

I saw a bunch of people I knew too! Anne and Katy were there(I run with Anne on Tuesdays, and Katy is in my class and watches Maddox while we run.), as well as Chet who I used to work with. I saw one of my students there too. I ran into an old friend/coworker from the Gene Taylor's era of my life and caught up briefly.

Just as we finished up the race the clouds let loose and began to dump on us. The kids and I were eager to get home and warm up with an hot shower; as well as relax before we headed to the in-laws for the feast!

Here are some pics from the event:



Learned: This was a great way to feel less guilty about all the food I'll eat today, and spend healthy time with friends and family. I hope to make it a Thanksgiving tradition!

Twilight (Twice)

What a great weekend!

Vycci and I went to Twilight, and I must say that it was a great reunion with all of my favorite characters. We both really enjoyed the movie and thought that it followed the book very well. I only wish they would have shown more of her clumsiness, and more of Edwards strength. In the books Edward is a very strong, self assured person in all aspects except when it comes to Bella. I think that the movie was really trying to portray his inner torment about his feelings for her, so his strength and confidence didn't come through as clear. I think that the characters that fit what I had imagined best were Alice and Jacob. I anxiously await the second movie where these two characters take a more leading role...

Vycci and I both agreed that the actual movie may not be the best movie we have ever seen, or be to the caliber of such films as Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings, but the reason we enjoyed it so immensely is because we enjoyed the books so much. I am anxious to hear the perspective of someone who has not read the books. I think a group of us may go again next weekend when the family is in town for Thanksgiving, and my mom has not read the books.... We shall see!


OK... so I have a confession to make.... we enjoyed the movie so much that we went back and watched it a second time later that night... I know.... silly girls. To tell the truth I can not wait till next weekend to have the chance to see it again. I also just got the second book back from the last person I loaned it to and I feel it beckoning me... I guess I must heed its call...

Learned: Having a friend that will be as giddy and silly about a movie is comforting. It's nice to know that in all my quirkiness I am not alone.