That's My Holly Girl!

What Am I Doing?

Hmmmm... it involves folks at my house for a week or two... lots of tools... a few loud noises... things called navajo white and true black... more tools... a few different glazes (one of those glazes is on a few dozen donuts) not being able to cook like normal? It is a pain in my "booty" for now... but in the end... it will be (hopefully) so worth it!!! Wonder what I am doing??? Pictures to follow in a few weeks....

Six Years Ago, The World Became a Happier Place...

Who Needs a Movie...

Who needs to leave home for entertainment when you have Lilli around?? : )

Who Needs a Gymnastics Coach....

We are "planning" to sign up for gymnastics. We have not yet fit it into our schedule. This has not deterred Lilli at all! She has taught herself to do a one-handed cartwheel and is "working" hard on a no-handed cartwheel! Who needs a coach... not Lilli! Especially not for the "showmanship" part! : )

My Wish....

... is to have my stitches out! ... Granted!

Joey's 15 "Seconds" of Fame

E@PN Gameday was at UA a few weeks back. Guess who we got to see on TV? : ) Joey and friends got themselves up and at 'em at about 5am in order to find a great spot in the middle of the chaos!

In the close-up shot he is the one on the right side with his mouth wide open and glasses. In the picture of the journalist, he is behind on the left holding the E@PN sign up and waving his hat!

He is loving college life... can't you tell?

Monkey Bars-2 Lilli -0

After one week in kindergarten, I had to ask (demand) that Lilli stay off the monkey bars for a bit. Her hands were covered in blisters. Remember... this one plays hard! : )

So - she (unhappily) obliged.

Fast forward a few weeks - on the afternoon before Joe and I were leaving for a long weekend away - nanny and papa were ready to take over the "easy" care of the Judge household - kids and animals included. The school called. That call resulted in a trip to the emergency room and 4 stitches.

You see... Lilli has fallen from.... the monkey bars. My mother and I raced to the school to pick her up, where she was sitting quietly (with a smile) in the nurses office waiting. First thing Ms. Lilli said to me, "Mom, look no blisters, I promise!"! She did not seem to notice her face covered in blood!

Joe met me at the emergency room... I am not so good with the whole blood and medical thing. Best let Joe handle as much of that as possible... I would only add more stress to the situation. The stitches were done and Lilli was quite impressed with the doctor and the ease of his sewing technique - described in great detail to me a few hours later. But even more so... Lilli was impressed with the nurse who gave her a popsicle... color of her choice!

Lilli returned to school this morning... last thing I said as she jumped out of the car - ready for the fun day ahead... "STAY AWAY from the monkey bars dear!"!

Sad.... But True.

I received the following in my inbox the other day. I am not usually one to forward anything. But this - well, I thought it was funny, and very true - and very very sad.

_________________________________________________

HIGH SCHOOL

1957 vs. 2010


Scenario 1:


Jack goes quail hunting before school and then pulls into the school parking
lot with his shotgun n his truck's gun rack.
1957 - Vice Principal comes over, looks at Jack's shotgun, goes to his car and
gets his shotgun to show Jack.
2010 - School goes into lock down, FBI called, Jack hauled off to jail and never
sees his truck or gun again. Counselors called in for traumatized students and
teachers.

Scenario 2:
Johnny and Mark get into a fist fight after school.
1957 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up buddies.

2010 - Police called and SWAT team arrives -- they arrest both Johnny and Mark.
They are both charged w ith assault and both expelled even though Johnny started
it.

Scenario 3:
Jeffrey will not be still in class, he disrupts other students.
1957 - Jeffrey sent to the Principal's office and given a good paddling by the
Principal. He then returns to class, sits still and does not disrupt class again.

2010 - Jeffrey is given huge doses of Ritalin. He becomes a zombie. He is then
tested for ADD. The family gets extra money (SSI) from the government because
Jeffrey has a disability.

Scenario 4:
Billy breaks a window in his neighbor's car and his Dad gives him a whipping
with his belt.
1957 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college and
becomes a successful businessman.
2010 - Billy's dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy is removed to foster care
and joins a gang. The state psychologist is told by Billy's sister that she remembers
being abused herself and their dad goes to prison. Billy's mom has an affair with
the psychologist.

Scenario 5:
Mark gets a headache and takes some aspirin to school..
1957 - Mark shares his aspirin with the Principal out on the smoking dock
2010 - The police are called and Mark is expelled from school for drug violations.
His car is then searched for drugs and weapons.

Scenario 6:
Pedro fails high school English.
1957 - Pedro goes to summer school, passes English and goes to college.
2010 - Pedro's cause is taken up by state. Newspaper articles appear nationally
explaining that teaching English as a requirement for graduation is racist. ACLU
files class action lawsuit against the state school system and Pedro's English
teacher. English is then banned from core curriculum. Pedro is given his diploma
anyway but ends up mowing lawns for a living because he cannot speak English.


Scenario 7:
Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers from the Fourth of July, puts them in
a model airplane paint bottle and blows up a red ant bed.
1957 - Ants die.
2010 - ATF, Homeland Security and the FBI are all called. Johnny is charged with
domestic terrorism. The FBI investigates his parents -- and all siblings are removed
from their home and all computers are confiscated. Johnny's dad is placed on a
terror watch list and is never allowed to fly again.

Scenario 8:
Johnny falls while running during recess and scrapes his knee He is found crying
by his teacher, Mary. Mary hugs him to comfort him.
1957 - In a short time, Johnny feels better and goes on playing.
2010 - Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job. She faces
3 years in State Prison. Johnny undergoes 5 years of therapy.

I Remember

And What Do We Look Like After a Day at School....

Did you notice in the earlier post below - before school - how perfect the hair was? How "clean" and "centered" the clothes were? You can't tell... but they smelled good too... a nice mixture of Johnson's Baby Soap and Johnson's Baby Shampoo! : )

Fast forward a few hours... and things change... a.l.o.t.! These two play hard! They have a good time! Can you tell??? The hair ... pretty disheveled... the clothes... can you see the new stains... and how crooked they are now? Can you see the marker lines on Abby's arm... on Lilli's new shirt? Can you smell what I smell??? : ) The sweet scent of baby products is now GONE... LONG GONE! : )

But... they are happy and smiling and ready for a few more pictures! I am only happy to oblige!

Disco Olives ?????????

I interrupt my sadness to replace it with some cuteness....

Today is fall picture day at school. The girls were up and "practicing" their smiles when I went into the bedroom this morning! Silly girls!!!

Lilli's only preference - pigtails. Done. Abby... just wanted to take some blue-jeans and a t-shirt to change after the picture! : ) Love my casual girl!

Once dressed, both were twirling away in their "disco olive batilda jane" clothes. Hmmmmm... "disco olive".... what??? Abby and Lilli name all of their clothes - seriously - and they picked this name for their new fall Matilda Jane outfits because of one of the fabrics... ok... I get it.... but still... how do they know about disco???

Sunrise - Early 2001 in "Yogya"

I guess if I can't go back, I can look back...

One of my favorite places to visit while we lived in Indonesia was Yogyakarta. It was an easy and inexpensive flight from Jakarta to this wonderful little spot in Central Java that the locals simply called "Yogya".

The kids and I would always spend one sunrise at Borbordur Temple. As a big fan of history - it was pretty amazing to stand on this 9th Century Buddhist Temple - even better to share it with the kids.

A Rough Go of It...

My kids span the ages... 5 to 18. The oldest started University this year, the youngest - kindergarten. They are all doing fabulous... but me... not so much.

I have raised my children much like a mother duck.... all my ducklings in a row... right by my side. Doing things - preferably - as a unit. So, I am having a rough go of it right now.

Joey has transitioned beautifully to the life of an independent college student. He seems like a pro at this. Holly - busy senior. She has a million clubs, activities, friends, and work. She is most happy when she is busy... and she is happily a very busy girl right now.

Our dinner table - now- often has an empty chair or two or three. I know I can't stop or reverse (oh how I would like to find a magic lamp right about now!!!) time, but I sure do miss that feeling of complete security and "wholeness" that only comes when my family is all in the same room.

Oh well - better get used to it all as things will be changing again shortly when Holly departs next fall.... WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

****Heads up to everyone with a soon to be college student... preferred method of communication - texting! Yikes! I have had more texts in the last month than I have had in my entire time owning a handphone (cell)! ****

Side note... the music that I have added to my blog for now - is Indonesian Pop Music. Abby loves to listen to "her" music... I was delighted to find that the pop player had a few of her (i'm sure influenced by her mommy's love of Indo pop too!) favorites. Sadly - they did not have Rosa - another favorite... possibly the most favorite!