My Pretties

Oh, nothing.  Just showing off.  Aren't they pretty? Can you believe how they've grown?  Hope, Peyton and Sommer

You never know what will happen

Everytime I think to myself, "that's it, I'm not blogging anymore" something happens to remind me that this is a new community slowly creating it's unique mores. We are caught between cyberspace and reality. What a perfect opportunity for a true study of new relationship dynamics. The little blogling rivalries have prompted different responses in people. What we think we understand, and we are comfortable knowing about human interactions is evolving before our eyes.

Either that or we're just a bunch of boobs. That didn't come out right. Boobs. You know what I mean.

I was genuinely surprised to see posts from Dave, Jeff, and Angelo referring to a what started as a comment I made on Hope's the day before the last blogger meet up. Before we knew it, there were bloggers whose veins teem with sarcasm, and hypercritical critics heeding the call to a kinder, gentler approach. Angelo's encouraging words to fellow bloggers actually brought tears to my eyes. Reading what Jeff wrote about Jane made me appreciate both of them even more as friends.

Our school counselors call these encouraging words "put-ups" and they are used to counter bullying in today's campuses. Put-ups are just as necessary for adults. In the wake of certain blogger spats, it was just what we needed.

Having the meet ups gives us a chance to re-connect and reminds everyone that we are all real people with real feelings and what we say online has an affect in real time. I hope everyone makes it a point to go to the next meet up, even if it's only for a little bit. I have an idea for the next meet-up that will be really fun, so mark your calendar!

What A Jam-Packed Week!

Open House at Mt. Carmel. We met all of Hope's new teachers and received our
parental involvement points just for showing up. Don't show up, don't get your points. Just another fancy Catholic guilt trip. Joking! Do I get points for lame jokes?

Professional Development: Clinical Supervision & Evaluation
with former PSS Commissioner Dr. Rita Inos. For most of us it was more of a reunion and a chance to re-focus. "You have a mighty team" she said, "your best resources, your human resources are invaluable and you are going to get through this" I am inspired anew.

Yes, those are french fries. Yes, that is fina-deni. No joke, they brought it to the table like this.
Only on Saipan.

The G.E.S. Health & Wellness Team at work.
Thirty minutes before the food coma.

*****
Thanks Jeff and Cynthia, for the dinner, the company and a chance for a night out with companions who can hold a conversation for more than three minutes. Tony and I have gotten so adept at eating and talking as we pull a three year old off a restaurant window pane that we'd forgotten what it was like to sit down for a meal. Their boys were so well-behaved that I almost got the mommy withdrawal shakes. How does one eat without the scampering of feet, sound of toys dropping to the floor every few seconds and the persistent whining of crumb-snatchers?

I have to say, Cynthia and Jeff are a great team. They had kitchen symphony! The food was really great, Jeff's not joking when he says he can cook.

Chicken Marsala a la Jeff
Do you see the sangria? The sweet and wonderful sangria?

This pasta rocked!

Cynthia and Jeff ...awww

How Not To React On Your Daughter's First Day At Jr. High

Hope is going to my Alma Mater, go Knights!! I saw Jane at the parent orientation meeting . It was a hoot looking at our girls' reactions to the old and new rules. We are lucky mothers indeed. Hope sat there frozen as the disciplinarian read off consequences and categories of offenses. I have to admit, I sat in the perfect spot to see my old hallway where I spent all of my High School days, and all I could think of were all the rules I managed to break. Ah, the memories. Lucky thing for Hope that Mr. G, the principal knows what exactly to look out for since we went to school together . Hey Mr. G, did you take care of those old permanent records yet? Oops there goes another year with my...

Oops, there goes another year with my...

Oops, there goes another year with my Hope!

I need the parent version of Ned's De-Classified School Survival Guide. I took Hope to her first day of Jr. High today. Correction. I drove her to the gate and then she very gently told me that she could walk herself to class. Gulp! I let my head hang and took a deep breath. Okay, stomach stop churning and heart don't fly out of my throat. "Are you sure?" "Yup"
Okay. She'll be okay, right? I am a good mother, right? She's just getting older, right? So, I call her three times on my way to work trying to ignore the dizzy sensation, "Hope are you sure you can find your way, are you sure you don't want me to walk you in?" I made it to the Garapan Fishing Basin and then screech! I pulled a U-ey and dialed her cell, "Hope, wait for me at the gate, I'm coming back to walk you to class!" But, she was already in class and there were no other parents around. She's promised to let me walk her in tomorrow, just so that she doesn't get lost you know. Or, maybe so her mother doesn't feel like she's losing her baby.
******

Look who we've got our Hanes on now! Oh yeah, finally!

Words of Wisdom from a 12 year old!

Hope's right, this contest is just silly. We should all just grow up and pat one
another on the back for blogs well done.

Here's what I think about the Saipan's best blog poll. I think its ridiculous. Everyones blog is the best!!! My mom and Angelo are pretty competitive. Angelo took my mom off his link list, and go to my mom's blog and you'll see what I mean. I was thinking about putting the poll on but no way. I wish this thing will be over with soon. - Hope

She's a smart kid, that Hopie Daisy. If I were a discriminating voter, I'd throw her mom a line:)

We're Resorting to some serious celebrating

This is my kind of promotional ceremony

Hope and Zalika: friends since the 1st grade

Born with a full head of straight black hair that stood on end, but has since turned light brown and curly, Hope Leilani entered this world screaming! She is outspoken, frighteningly adventurous and the only one of our four children who did not need a security object. She's off to Jr. High now and out of my immediate view at GES. I can't wait for our conversations to change and our relationship to evolve.

We held our promotional ceremony at World Resort. The students came in their swim wear and got to celebrate their transition into junior high school exactly the way they wanted to. There were so many pre-teen hormones in that water park today, we might have created our very own fountain of youth. Congratulations Hopie Daisy, we love you!

If you want to keep the goat Hope,
you'll have to feed it yourself!