Mom on the Spot

Back in September I was given the opportunity to join Office Max in their effort to help erase teacher funded classrooms. Office Max joined forces with Adopt-A-Classroom to create the A Day Made Better Campaign. In an effort to spread the word, Office Max reached out to the 30 gals in the *mommy* blogging community to help get the word out. I feel privileged to have been one of those 30:

My role as a Max Mom was had several facets:

• to host a contest on my Jenny on the Spot blog for readers to be able to nominate a teacher of their choice for a $100 Visa gift card to use in their classroom… and CHOOSE the winner *that was HARD*
• to host a local party to raise supplies and/or funds for a local teacher
• to deliver “the goods” to the winning teacher
• to publish the story on Whrrl
• the opportunity to attend a local school when Office Max delivered one of their 1000 BIG surprises – $1000 of school supplies to one lucky teacher. Linda Willimas from Wolfle Elementary in Kingston was our local recipient. You can see that Whrrl story here.

But I really want to share the following story. Our delivery to Mrs. McClanahan at Vinland Elementary in Poulsbo. My friend Alli McDonald (author of No Time for Flashcards) and I joined blogger forces… and threw a party. Please click here to view that story on Whrrl… It gives a bit of explanation and background I am not adding here. Aaand pictures. I love pictures!

Did a look? It was fun, huh?!

Now. You have seen all the women, families and local businesses (Zero Gravity Athletics, Poulsbo Perk, Poulsbo Athletic Club & KCMT)  that contributed to the story you get to see here… The story of a deserving teacher and second grade classroom get’s surprised with a great big box of goodness!

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Halloween is such a fun time, but…

There are some safety tips to keep in mind as we wander in relative darkness, tricking and and treating in a quest for a full bag-o-candy. Safe Kids is a company I became acquainted with when a representative came and spoke at a mom’s group I was part of years back.

They provided valuable information on how to help keep one’s children safe at home and out in the community.

In July, I went to a blogging conference (BlogHer) and Safe Kids was there! I was so excited to see them! You bet I added myself to their email list!

I received one of their handy emails earlier this week. It included a link to their site on Halloween safety. It lists out the basics. Nothing extra-ordinary, just reminders. I recommend going over some (or all) of these points with your children before tomorrow night. Here’s the link: Keeping Kids Safe on Halloween on Safe Kids USA.

One point of note — add to or amend these tips as best fits your family. I disagree with the first bullet point, “always trick-or-treat with an adult until age 10″. My son is 10 and I am not ready to let him go it alone, but where we live and how we get our “goods” is not in a familiar neighborhood. We have an ecletic looking Halloween this year. My point is — give a few moments to revisit the obvious. A little reminder before the excitement takes everyone to a land of make-believe…

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It’s that time of year… corn maze season. It’s time to bring out the rubber boots, mittens, hats, umbrellas, and pick them pumpkins! Tis also the season to warm-up by the fire and make gallons of hot cocoa. And coffee.

A little treasure popped up in our community last year – the corn maze at Sunrise Hill Farm in Kingston.

I know there are many local mazes and patches… all of which have their own distinct fun and charm. We are so fortunate to have such great choices!

I would have to say that right now, the kind of fun at Sunrise Hill Farm is my favorite, and my children’s favorite. My daughter’s preschool went last week, and I am now home all toasty-warm after another afternoon of wandering a Sasquatch-shaped corn maze:

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I decided to try a little series here.

“You Know You’re a Kitsap Mom When...”

But instead of leaving the observations to my own narrow experience, I opened up the topic to my trusted circle of friends on Facebook. Besides, is you don’t like what you read here, then I can coyly reply… “She said it, not me! Dude. Don’t shoot the messenger. Psh.”

Therefore, today I give you the first installment of “You Know You’re A Kitsap Mom When…”

My friend, Sheila from Kingston, submitted her observation:

You go to the park in the rain and play, A LOT. Then you eat soggy pb&j picnics just because there is not school that day.

Sheila is a local mom and blossoming blogger. You can follow her insanity here!

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On September 11th, I took my daughter Lucy on the Liberty Walk in downtown Poulsbo. She didn’t understand why we were there, but someday she will. I’ve been having lots of fun using a new-ish social app called Whrrl. Just click on the image below to follow the story with notes and pictures of our Liberty Walk in Poulsbo.

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September, September… sweet, sweet September…

For my family, the start of September is the start of a new season. Fall doesn’t “officially” begin until the 22nd this year (today!), but the heart of Fall for us starts on the first day of school…

Oh the excitement of that first day of school!

After 3(ish) months of lazy summer days we head full-on into commitments, schedules and a set bedtime (or we should!).
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Nine Eleven

9/11

Four mere syllables.

Those four syllables are arguably the most emotional breaths spoken here on American soil in recent history.

I remember that morning. I was pregnant with my second child. I had awoken early… I knew I was just weeks pregnant, and I was already feeling the stress of all the things that needed to be done before the baby’s arrival. I couldn’t sleep. I decided to just get up and start on that list.

I remember pulling out a few shoeboxes of photos. I tossed them on the bed and flipped on the television. It was 5 a.m. Pacific Time.

My memory feels foggy… even dreamlike. I recall sorting photographs of my son, my firstborn. Then I remember hearing a newscaster… the alarm in his… or was it HER voice. I don’t remember. Was it Katie or was it Matt?

I looked up at the television and saw smoke coming out of the the first building that was hit. I looked back down at my pictures. I sorted another stack.

I looked back at the television.

“What?”

This wasn’t a movie. It actually took me a few minutes to realize what was happening before my eyes.

I saw the second plane hit. I sat. Stunned. Panic. Disbelief. My husband was in Seattle… he’d have to take a ferry or cross the Tacoma-Narrows bridge to get home…

“What the hell is going on?”

I cried. I broke into a sweat. I grabbed my chest. I paced. I called my husband. I trembled.

And I was hundreds of miles away. I wasn’t even there.

I clutched my belly – where a brand new life was forming…

That morning, I woke up to hope and found despair.

I cannot believe 8 years have passed. I can’t belive 8 years have passed. I can not believe… this ever happened.

But it did.

That baby forming in my womb back in September 2001? That baby is in second grade… she is my heart’s delight. A light in the dark…

I received an email from the school district this evening (Thursday, September 10)

On Friday September 11th, the City of Poulsbo is hosting our local Freedom Walk, which is a Nationwide event. Come listen to a brief ceremony at Noon and then join members from the Poulsbo Fire Department, Poulsbo Police, Navy Region NW, Kitsap County Sheriffs, elected officials and the American Legion as we walk together to pay tribute to those who serve our community.

For those who don’t wish to walk; we encourage you to line the path beginning at the Parks & Recreation building on 1st Street as it winds down 1st Street to Sunset, down Jensen Way passing the National Guard Armory & City Hall. Then the route goes up Front Street past Martha & Mary’s and ending at Legion Park. We look forward to seeing you there as we celebrate Patriot Day with the 2nd Annual Freedom Walk.

Poulsbo Fire Department

If you read this in time, please come. I am planning to go. To remember. To honor. If not, take a moment to remember… to pray… for the families affected, the lives of the fallen heroes, our country, our soldiers, our local and national leaders. Whether we agree with the politics that lead us or not… their burden is great. These are not carefree days in America, but hallelujah we still have our freedoms…

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I have nothing but high praise for the Kitsap Humane Society.

At the end of June we set out to adopt a dog. For my son, but for the family… but for my son… for his tenth birthday.

We checked out their website and decided to visit a specific dog. Sadly, he had been adopted. Sad for us, but so happy for that fog to have found a home! The news did not foil our mission. Our decision had been made – we were going to get a dog. Yet we knew it might take some time to find OUR dog… Would it be around the corner, would it take days… even weeks?!
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I am in between. The last days of summer are here and I am finding myself wanting for more.

I’m not done! We’re not done!

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A friend came over and taught my kids a new trick with food. Being the “good mom” that I am, I told the kids, “Hold it! I need to get a picture!”

Here’s a side-shot, just so you can teach your kids how to have fun with their Pringles! Any flavor of Pringles will do, but I found the cheesey kind lends to that “beakish” appeal…

Does YOUR family play with food???

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