FINALLY!

June 20, 2012

After some major problems with my email account, and having to link to another account thru a temporary account, and Caleb's MAJOR encouragement....I DID IT!  I managed to reopen my blog!!!  Now if I could just understand why we had to change it around in the first place, we would all be more knowledgeable!

However, who knows....it works again.

This week has created some challenges in getting Cooper down to the MET for her dance intensive, getting Cymbre to girl's camp, and getting attacked by a bird in the Target parking lot, and meeting up with the homeless man I have befriended.

Cooper has been dancing in a dance intensive downtown at the MET for two weeks now.  Last week I had to drive her everyday, which meant that Cymbre had to ride along too so that we had 3 people in the car for the HOV lane.  Cymbre wasn't too impressed!  However, she was a good sport.  It takes an hour and a half to do the round trip when we leave at 7:30 am in the rush hour traffic.  So to reward ourselves one morning we went and got donuts for breakfast.  We were sitting at the table eating our two donuts when this older couple came in.  The woman asked us if they could join us, and they looked pretty safe, so I said yes.  BIG MISTAKE!  While they were friendly enough and asked Cymbre what her summer plans were, I wasn't sure we were going to be able to break up their conversation with us in order to get Cymbre to girl's camp on time.  The lady was carrying on about how her grandson was going to boy scout day camp, and it was far away, and her son had to drive him there and then go back for him, and why can't they just sleep over?  Then we had to hear about how they come for donuts and coffee every morning, and if you buy the cups the store will refill them for free.  The man was setting up the coffee cups, buying donuts, and arranging a napkin as a table covering in front of his wife all the while she was talking.  We finished our donuts, and Cymbre was looking at me like.....Mom, how are we going to get out of here?  I just picked up our trash and stood up and said to the lady...We've really enjoyed talking to you but we really must get her things packed in order to get her to girl's camp, so we must say our goodbyes.  Cymbre looked at me, stood up, and started walking to the car.  On the way out, she was like....Mom, I was really thinking we were never going to get away from her.  And when I looked back into the store, they were changing tables anyway....after all that set up effort.  INTERESTING......

So now, Cymbre is safely off to girl's camp until tomorrow morning when I have to drive a carload home.  It's another 2 1/2 hour drive each way....

Cooper and Hannah have one more day of dance downtown....thank goodness.  I don't know how many more days Hannah's mom and I can deal with all that traffic every morning! And we have alternated doing the driving. Today, I was almost run off the road by a guy who just decided to take over my lane while I was still using it.  Needless to say....he heard my horn for a long time!  AND I kept my lane....just saying.  Score one for the carpool Mom!!

Then another day, I had gone to Target to pick up a few things, and parked near the entrance to the store.  I walked under this tree next to my car, and the big black bird swooped down and starting attacking my head!  I didn't do anything to it....guess it doesn't like people walking under the tree.   Anyway, I beat the thing with my umbrella and he flew away with some very ruffled wing feathers!  I walked away with messed up hair, and a scratch bleeding on my head!  When I texted my grandson about what happened, he told me that I didn't need to worry as birds don't eat people....so I asked him what about my bleeding scratch...did it deserve a hug....he just said a sleepy....okay.   So now I am hoping that because I came home and washed the scratch and put neosporin on it that I won't get some strange bird disease!  So I guess if I start chirping and flying away, someone needs to tie my foot to the ground and call someone!

Another day this week, I went to Walmart to pick up a few things that I didn't get the day before because when I was in the grocery store, the weather caused the power to go out.  When that happens, the store has about 20 minutes that they can check people out before they loose their back up generator.  So I just paid and left.  So when I came out of Walmart, I went to make the turn to go home and stopped at the light.  There was the homeless man who I have befriended and fed on many occassions.  I still don't know his name, but he recognizes me when he sees me.  He came up to the car, said hello and I told him I had something for him.  He said since it was Monday, he could only take $100's.  I told him he was in luck....I was giving him 400 pennies.  That was all the one dollar bills I had in my purse.  He just smiled, took the money, and I wished him a wonderful day.  He turned back and said...I can always count on you.  Interesting, because it is weeks between when I see him each time, but yes, when I see him I either drive around the corner and bring him some food from Wendy's or Taco Bell, or give him some money.  I have been known to sit on the street corner and eat with him.  I don't know his story, but I do know he is a friendly, well-mannered man who has a wonderful smile even though his teeth are rotted and black.

My Sunday School class thinks I am a lunatic for feeding him, let alone sitting there and eating with him, or giving him money.  But I just wonder, how do I know that isn't the Savior?  And if it is, do I really want to be found not helping him?  I don't ever really miss the money I give him or spend getting him food.  And he isn't like some of the people who stand on the corner and beg for money...you just get the feeling that he really is homeless and in need of someone to help him out.  So sue me, I help!  My girls even recognize him when they see him, and they say mom there's that man we help.  So it can't be all bad, they have at least learned something.

Two weeks ago the lesson in Sunday School was about pride and humility.  So during the lesson, I was telling the kids that pride can really get us in trouble.  Then I told them that when I died I wanted to be in charge of the lightning bolts.  They all got really big eyes!  Then I said that I could really use them to get back at some of the people who have really irritated me while I was here on earth.  Then I told them that I really SHOULD NOT feel like that.  Because it was pride talking.  I shouldn't feel like I was better than anyone else, and could use lightning bolts to get even with them.  So now there is a running joke in my class regarding....don't make Sister Flanagan mad....she's going to be in charge of lightning bolts!  Guess I got their attention!

And this week, the lesson was about Alma teaching the people in Ammonihah.  It talked about how they were so mean to him, and how they spit on him and cast him out.  But while he was on the road leaving the town, the same angel who had previously appeared to him to tell him to quit trying to destroy the church appeared again to him.  This time the angel told him to return again to Ammonihah, and to tell the people to repent.  So I told the kids the story, and then asked them if they thought that Alma thought when the angel came for the second time.....NOT you again.  I'm not doing anything wrong.  What do you want this time?  Well, that set them all laughing!  But they laugh at me all the time anyway.  They think they have a crazy teacher.....but they do listen to what I say.  Anyway, we then continued the story about how Alma went back into the city of Ammonihah, and met up with Amulek.  Then I showed them a box and told them that it had a hula dancing monkey inside.  I didn't show it to them, but asked who believed me.  Only a couple out of the 18 sitting there.  So I called up a boy, who I know tried to put things over on the others all the time, and showed him what was in my box, and told him to tell the class what it was.  He looked, and then told them it was a hula dancing monkey.  So then I asked them how many believed me now.  Well, more than half the class.  SO, then I talked about how come they believed two of us saying the same thing even though I said the same thing when I was speaking alone?  Then I established that the Lord ALWAYS establishes His word in the mouths of two or more witnesses.  Then I finished the story of how Alma and Amulek went about teaching the people in Ammonihah the same gospel principles.  And this time, some of the people believed them.  However, it was Father's Day and I didn't remember to take them treats, so now they think I need to repent and bring treats this week.....will I ever get one up on these kids?

On that note, I think I will go see if that homeless guy is still on the street corner and share a burrito with him.....I could use some blessings today!!

Here We Go Again....

June 10, 2012

Just before church today I get a phone call from a teacher who loves to just dump her class of around 15 kids on me at the last minute on a Sunday morning.  Today I told her that I couldn't take her class.....she asked me why?  I just told her that I had some special things planned for my class and I didn't have enough to go around for her class too.  She tries to do this on a regular basis, and I've helped her out before, but it is getting out of hand.  She has "emergencies" every other week it seems.

I teach the 16-18 year olds, and her class is 12-13 year olds.  My class thinks they are the "babies", and they don't want them in our class.  My class is very protective of their crazy teacher who does crazy things, and I guess they just don't like to share the craziness!  The Bishopric member tells me on a regular basis if they even think of mentioning a change of teacher for my class....they are afraid of the revolt they will have on their hands.  It's true...I'm not trying to brag here....just saying.  Guess that means I won't be retiring anytime soon.....

 

So when we get to church Guy goes to talk to the bishopric member over Sunday School.  He tells Guy that they will talk to the teacher who keeps trying to just dump her class in mine.....ok.....SO

 

I start to teach my class, and then there are several kids from the 14-15 year old class that come into mine.....WHAT??

 

I let them stay, but then after church I emailed the SS president and told him that my class was not the dumping ground for any teacher who decided they would not be in church today.  I have 18 kids in my class, so when they decide to put other classes in mine I can have up to 30 kids when I am prepared for 18.

Teaching that many kids isn't the problem for me....heck, I could teach 100....but the problem is when you are prepared with an activity for 18, or  treats or handouts and suddenly you have so many extra what do you do?  My class knows that I have them....they look forward to them....and my class doesn't want their baby siblings in their class.  So I defended my class today.....guess we'll see what happens now.  The SS President said he sent the ones in today because there were 4 in the class....excuse me....then teach 4 kids.  I told him I thought that the SS Presidency should have taught the other class, and in the future I would appreciate being asked if I can take extra kids.

The bigger problem is that the younger kids ALL want to be in my class because they have been once, and they hear about what I do.....I should say the crazy things I do....and they want to participate too.  Maybe what we need is just a gospel doctrine youth class instead of this mass of confusion every week.  No, I'm not volunteering!  There is a limit to my craziness....just saying.

I must admit having lots of kids could come in handy when we play Gadianton Robbers, or the 2000 Stripling Warriors, or when we do the Ammon protecting the king's flock story....I mean some of them could be sheep! It could be fun to have a whole bunch of kids for the Samuel the Lamanite on the city wall story, or even next year for the mobs that attack the pioneers.  It's a different thing though when we are talking about more serious things with object lessons, and intimate sharing of testimonies.  And where were all these kids when we were building our ship the beginning of the year?

Today I took mirrors for my class with a question, Have you received His image in your countenance?  attached.  The lesson was about how Alma the Younger was teaching all the people in Zarahemla and Gideon.  And he asks them a series of questions....hence the question.  We talked about people in the ward that I can sometimes see their love for the Savior....a man seminary teacher, my visiting teacher, our stake president, the prophet.  We talked about repentance, and how truly being converted helps us to have the image of the Savior in our countenance.    I told them that Alma chapter 7 was like a contact lens for us regarding the Savior and his purpose in coming to earth.  We talked about pride, and being humble. We talked about how pride makes us feel like we are better than everyone.....and I told them that when I die I wanted to be in charge of the lightning bolts....so I could get back at the people who irritated me here on earth.....then how bad it was that I sometimes thought that.  My class decided that it was probably not a good thing to upset Sister Flanagan!  We talked about the difference it makes in our lives when we decide that the worldly things of this life....fancy clothes, homes, cars really don't make up for the things that being humble can bring into our lives.  The ability to serve others, to share what we have been given, to sacrifice, to strengthen our testimonies.

Then I watched as those 16 year old kids came up and picked up a mirror to take it home.  One of the boys said to me....Sister Flanagan....I have to have an octagon shaped one for my room.....OK....take one.  You would think that a 16 year old boy would think a mirror was something he didn't really need.

Score one for the crazy teacher!

Abinadi's Visit

May 25, 2012

On May 13, 2012 Abinadi came to visit my Sunday School Class.  In reality, it is a member of our Bishopric who is over the Sunday School, and a friend.  I made the costumes, and wrote his script....straight out of the scriptures.

Calling King Noah and his guards and priests to repentance!



King Noah and his guards...guards are the kids wearing the yellow scarves.

Alma is the young man who has a yellow and blue scarf seated 2 to the right of the king.

Class photo with Abinadi....if you look carefully, you can see the ring of fire folded up on the chair on the right.

Now you can see Alma better, and the kids with the blue scarves are the King's Priests.....who are also wicked.

Abinadi preaching

Stay tuned for further visits.



We Have A Haunted Mailbox!!

May 21, 2012

For weeks now it seems like our mailbox is NEVER shut.  I shut it, the mail lady shuts it, Guy shuts it, the girls shut it.....but the silly thing is always flapping it's little mouth open.

Some days it's not a problem when it decides to yawn, but somedays it has a full mouth of mail, and the said mail is exposed to the weather elements or the sprinklers, or the kids outside playing, or just the overpacked things will fall out syndrome!  And it looks like a kid who is showing you that they are chewing up their food!

Today I put some letters out to be mailed, and SHUT the flap.  Got in my van to leave to take Cymbre to the doctor, backed out of the driveway, and the thing was flapping wide open!  Now I know I shut the thing.  I even double checked that the little flap was secure behind the other flap!  It wasn't over-packed with outgoing mail....just a few birthday cards, and a graduation card for my neice.

So, I shut the flap again, and went to the doctor.....came home, and you know the drill....IT WAS OPEN AGAIN!!  So I shut it again, drive around the cul-de-sac to pull into the driveway.....and that cussed thing is open AGAIN!!!

I've decided that it's haunted, hates us, doesn't want to be a well-behaved mailbox, or maybe it's just living to be rude!!  I mean, who likes to own a mailbox that is constantly sticking it's tongue out!!

We've taken good care of this mailbox....you know, fed it regularly, given it baths with the sprinklers, we empty out the junk mail, never leave mail in it while we go on vacation, and by some miracle it hasn't been run over by any teenage drivers!

So just exactly, what could be it's problem?  It appears to the casual observer to be a healthy, well-adjusted mailbox....you know friends with it's companion mailbox, lives in a good neighborhood, gets lots of yummy mail each day, and some days even gets packages.  We usually wash the bird messes off on a regular basis, and it's paint isn't terribly scratched!  I mean, what mailbox has a better deal??

And why would a perfectly good mailbox that's been a faithful family friend, sudden turn on the said family?  It has to be possessed!  That's the only possible explanation.  I mean, all the working parts of the thing are in perfect working order...the red flag moves smoothly up and down, the latch isn't broken, all it's screws are tight....it's not been abused.  The only logical explanation is that it's HAUNTED!!  There must be some little mal-adjusted troll who lives in it....although never seen in daylight, who just can't stand having the door shut!  Maybe he just likes some fresh air, but he better watch out....those Houston jumping spiders might decide to make a web over his front door!  Then he will just have to arrange his furniture around all the mail that will build up because Mom won't be emptying the mail each day.....no sir eeee....had one of those little suckers jump down my blouse once, and I don't want that experience again!!!   Just saying!  That mail will just have to stay inside that mailbox until Dad can tame the spider and retrieve the mail from inside....and if the troll is really lucky, Dad won't be out of town when he has this experience....just saying!



Dance Mom Lamentation!

May 8, 2012

Now that competition season is over, the rush is going full steam ahead to dance recital.  Can I somehow get off this costume train?????  I need a little costume fairy, preferably someone who loves to tend to details and tiny pieces to tend to about a million costumes for recital!!

I mean really, it's pack the costumes, febreeze the costumes, repack the costumes!  Remember to put the nude bras in the first one of the day....but that one doesn't need to have the straps, so put the straps into the costumes that needs them.  And remember to add safety pins to the plastic hooks because we can't possibly have a wardrobe malfunction onstage to embarrass us!  And then some costumes need tan tights and black fishnets....some with seams and some without seams.....you know, who cares if the stockings have seams....you just have to make sure they are straight anyway!  And how come there is ALWAYS one rhinestone that is missing on the seams just when you are about to go onstage to dance?  Do rhinestones go on vacations?  If so, I seriously need to know where they go....I'll send my little costume fairy to collect all the ones that belong on our fishnets!  Other costumes have gloves, and you know, why are the fingers ALWAYS inside out when it comes time to put them on in a hurry?  What little mean troll turns those tiny finger holes inside out to torture a wardrobe mom?  Whoever you are, you deserve to be banned to wardrobe glove prison turning little fingers right side out for hours every day...just saying!  And have you ever tried to put gloves on a sweaty hand from dancing in a hurry....it would be easier to build a skyscraper all by yourself!  Ballet tutus have to be hung upside down from the crotch so the skirt stays puffy, and you have to have pink tights with them....jazz costumes usually have tan tights.  Jazz can have either tan or black jazz shoes....another problem for moms....what if the kids have tan shoes, but need black ones for the one costume....back to the store and $50 later....TADA...black jazz shoes, which the kids hate to wear anyway...they prefer just one knee sock.  Guess that's not the in thing for recital though!  And who is the guy who likes to cut holes in the toes of dance shoes just before recital EVERY year....I really need to have a major discussion with you!  If I buy shoes right before recital, then they are to small at the beginning of the dance season in the fall....can we somehow reach a compromise here?  Maybe I could lead you out to the outgrown dance shoe vault in the garage and you could demolish a pair or two and leave the ones they actually are wearing alone.....please? And don't even get me started on the shoe selection...we own 2 pairs of ballet shoes, two pairs flat black tap shoes, one pair black tap heels, one pair tan flat tap shoes.  We have foot paws x 2 and foot undies x 2, and the the black and tan jazz shoes x 2!  We have pointe shoes, and character shoes, and lyrical shoes!  We don't have hip hop shoes...guess we don't have much swagger!  I can fill up my entire kitchen counter with smelly dance shoes!  And you have to pack them in the first costume, and then when the kids are frantically changing, you have to remember what the next costume that needs them is and put them in the costume bag with that costume.   My worst nightmare is the shoe quick change in 8 beats in the middle of the dance.  Can you just see me crouching down in the wings of the stage with the shoes untied and open wide ready to stuff a foot in and tie while the kids put on the other shoe?  You know it just wouldn't do for them to dance with one shoe on and one shoe off...I mean, really, how embarrassing! (Yes, I need a very large list taped to the front of each costume bag that says what shoes, what tights, how the hair is styled (more regarding this in the next paragraph) where pins are needed, and what accessories are being used.  My list comes in handy when the girls can't remember what the name of the next dance is too.  And they don't have time to help put stuff away anyway when they only have a couple of dances to totally change their costume.  Can you just see me backstage in a hot dressing room, costume bags hung all around me, costume parts all over counter and floor, and those blasted dance shoes EVERYWHERE?  It's enough to make a mom have a nervous breakdown right there backstage, EXCEPT we have to suck it up and be the stage mom until after every dance is done and all the costumes are repacked but smelly, and we have bribed Dad to carry everything back to the van that is parked somewhere in the next county!  There are also the hairstyles that need quick changes.  For competition we use a right side french braid tied into a leftside low bun.  OK, but do you know how many times you can mess up a french braid when you are trying to hold a million strands of hair all in your hand at once and not mix up the strands...AND you are trying to do it while the kid is saying, hurry mom, hurry mom, and you know that as soon as they dance this one dance, you have to take everything out and make just a plain pony tail.  Then just when you think you can wash the hair gel and hairspray off you hands, you discover that the next dance needs that ponytail redone into a low center bun.  And just to make things a bit more complicated, multiply this times 2 for each hairstyle!  Now can you see me quietly wimpering in the corner behind the costume rack?  Did you know that hairnets have legs, and they like to run away very fast between the time you take them out of the package and make a ponytail to put the hairnet around to make a bun?  Those little suckers could win the Olympics with their speed record for quick escapes!  Maybe they don't like the hairpins being stuck into them, or the bobby pins squishing them, or heaven knows they must hate all the hair gel and hairspray!  But come on, it's nigh unto impossible to unpack another hairnet while holding onto a bun that isn't anchored down because it doesn't have a HAIRNET!!!! Then if you try to make Cymbre a ponytail and a bun you have to attach fake hair to her, and that's a whole issue by itself!  And the thing that really will make a mom go crazy is the constant changing of accessories.... necklaces, earrings, and hair pieces, and hats.  Purple earrings, pink earrings, a ring for a finger, chokers, ribbon chokers, rhinestoned bobby pins, hairbows, miniature hats, black gloves, black half gloves, arm bands, belts, feathers...you name it the girls have had to wear it!  And the benefit of all this costume stuff is you get to stand in the wings of the stage and watch the entire show from the back.....no wonder I make the back of the costume just as fancy as the front....it's the only part I see!  AND, you get to start stripping the kid down as they come off stage for the quick changes in costumes that are always looming just out of sight!  Have you ever tried to undress a dancer who is running to the dressing room, while holding costume parts and sticking bobby pins in your mouth, and unhooking costumes or safety pins?  Talk about multi-tasking!

But the best part of all this is just watching the girls dance from the wings, having watched all the hours of practice and work. By then we've paid for and made all the costumes, glued all the rhinestone, made all the hats and hairpieces, replaced the fishnets that got holes, and used about 10 gallons of Febreeze!  To see them pull of a perfect performance ALWAYS brings the tears to my eyes, and that further complicates the costume changes....sort of hard to see with tears brimming at the corners of your eyes.  You just stand there in amazement at the talent they have and their ability to use it to the delight of others.  How proud their Heavenly Father must be of how they have multiplied their talents He sent them down here to earth to develop!  Now if He would just throw a little cash into the till....everyone would be happy! Just saying!

And on that note.....I must go to the store and buy about 5 gallons of Febreeze to take to recital to freshen up these costumes!  I'm going to get a new flavor...somthing for my nose to enjoy amongst the sweaty, smelly costumes and shoes backstage during recital.....you know, right before I hide myself in the far back corner and take a well-needed NAP!!!  Maybe Dad will pull the van up from the next county and carry me to the car when he finally gets all the costumes loaded....what do you think Guy?   Guy?   I know you are here somewhere.....



Survived The Last Competition!

May 7, 2012

We have finally survived the last competition of the season....and with just some minor injuries that have healed nicely!  Can you believe it?

Next we move on to recital, and then start everything all over again for next year.  Seems like I just finished making those costumes this year, and it's already almost time to retire them......

Here's what the girls received this time:

 

Cymbre:

Ain't We Got Fun Tap Solo

1st place platinum in category, 7th place overall Teen Soloist, Power Pak scholarship (she can attend a dance intensive in Orlando or someplace in Maryland)  It's only given to 25 kids in each city....a very big accomplishment!

Tap group - Don't Stop Believin' - elite gold

 

Cooper:

Standing There, jazz solo - 1st place platinum in category, 9th place overall Senior Soloist

Don't Stop Believin' Tap Group - Elite Gold

For You I will Contemporary Group - 1st place platinum in category - 4th over Senior Group

Baby You Got What It Takes Tap Solo - 1st place platinum in category (Tap)

Can't Buy Me Love Tap Solo - 1st place platinum in category (open)

 

So Cymbre is the top teen soloist for APAC, and Cooper is the Top Senior Soloist for APAC one more time.

They've had a tremendous year, and many thanks go out to Ms. Andee, Ms. Traci, Mark Goodman, Terrill Mitchell for helping them with choreography this year.

 

Must go get those costumes ready for recital photos...nothing like washing, drying and repack in 24 hours!!!

Cymbre's Ain't We Got Fun Tap Solo

May 1, 2012

This is Cymbre's Ain't We Got Fun Tap Solo by Mrs. Andee Wilson.

This one at Hall Of Fame Dance Competition got platinum.....finally!  And also Fabulous Feet, a special judges award for tap dancing.  The girls seem to get that one on a consistent basis for Mrs. Andee.

Our sassy little miss...



Ending pose...

The other awards the girls got were scholarships:

Cooper:

Hall of Fame All-Star - This gives her a place in the opening number at any of the national level competitions for Hall Of Fame

$250 Break The Floor Scholarship - allows her to attend several different intensive workshops in NYC

$50 Fall of Fame scholarship - allows her to attend the Fall of Fame dance convention in Houston at a discounted entry fee

And lastly she got a Judges Award for Intensity for her Standing There jazz solo.

Cymbre:

Hall of Fame All Star - This gives her a place in the opening number at any of the national level competitions for Hall Of Fame

$50 Fall of Fame Scholarship - allows her to attend the Fall of Fame dance convention in Houston at a discounted entry fee.

Guess you could say they had a good time and brought home a stack of plaques and papers!

And, we also got to see some family on Guy's side that we don't get to see very often.  We enjoyed just visiting and picnicing with Sharon and John Hann, Terri and Morgan White....Terri and Morgan came to the dance competition and helped us cheer for the girls. 

It was a welcome break for all of us.......