Christmas Program

Yesterday was the day that Grandma Judy and I were to trek to Muncie to see the children's "Christmas" program. In January! The weather was cooperative, so I gathered up Judy along about 12:30 PM and we went northwest. Judy had been hurriedly sewing two corduroy jumpers each for Robin and her stepsister, Wednesday...a project she had in the works for months...finally a fait accomplit!

The children were not told that we were coming. Kendra (stepmother) had asked that we be there by 2:30 in order to go to surprise the kids at school. We actually were there by 2:15. We delivered all of the things that we had taken up, etc...then headed to the school at 2:45 in Kendra's minivan. The parking area for kid pick-up is about a block from the school where the kids go...on church property. They are walked by their teachers to the parking area...and walk, basically, through the snow to get to the parents. Kendra and her friend Carmen (who had climbed in Kendra's car to gossip) got out to meet the kids. Judy and I hid behind the car parked next to Kendra's.

Robin arrived first. As she got between the parked cars, she spied me and came to give me a hug. "Mamaw!" She didn't seem all that surprised...just happy...and was equally happy to see Judy. Then, she went to tell Ryan that there was a surprise for him. He got in the car, oblivious to what was going on. He was looking all around inside the car for his surprise...and Robin was getting such a chuckle out of his not knowing or seeing it! (Kendra and her friend were still at the front of the vehicle, waiting for their daughters.) Judy and I crept around to the open car door. She had her camera in hand to register Ry's reaction when he saw us. When he got a glimpse of us standing there, he had the most dumbfounded look on his face! Duh!! It took a couple of seconds for it to register who we were! (You know what that's like...seeing people out of "context"?) Then we got big hugs and a happy face...and a very talkative ride back to the house!

We all stopped at KFC where Judy and I (mostly Judy) picked up dinner. We ate as soon as we got back to the house because the kids were hungry...and so were the rest of us. Then Ryan went into his room to play with the box of Transformer stuff that Judy brought up...not a new toy...just a "found" one that he had been asking her for but she couldn't locate. Robin and Wednesday went to their room (which now has split beds instead of bunks) to watch Narnia on TV. I had taken up a couple of little plastic earring boxes that I've had for years. Gave one to each of the girls. Robin promptly got in a drawer and took out the card of earrings that her mother had given her and put them in the box that she picked. Judy and Kendra and I just sat and talked for a bit in the living room. A little later, we had dessert...one of the KFC chocolate chip cakes...then it was time to get the children ready for their program.

This was when Judy and Kendra exposed the girls to their matching corduroy jumpers. They wore black tops underneath, black tights, and black dressy-shoes. Ryan wore his navy school pants, a white shirt, and a black tie. Sweet! Off to the program.

The program venue was a lot like going to every other school program I've been to in 40 years of teaching and 30 years of being a mother. Kids running rampant in a gym, and parents letting them. Blah, blah. Kendra's mother, Grandma Mary showed up. There weren't enough chairs out. Quickly, students came running with chairs with tennis balls on the legs. The priest came out to pray before the program and the principal said a few words. ( The music teacher is new this year...Mrs. Friday. I made a sick joke...asked Kendra what would happen if her daughter, Wednesday, married Mrs. Friday's son. Heh heh...Wednesday Friday! I'm sure Kendra has heard it before...and equally sure that I should have just let it go!) Each class did two songs, in order of grade. Ry's group was first. He did okay...about the same as with his pre-school program. First grade was better. Robin's group was even better, with Robin seeming a bit more animated than Ryan. Wednesday was truly the charmer in her third grade group. She has a stage presence that would probably stand her in good stead were she in public school and had any opportunity to shine. The rest of the program went downhill. Then the priest prayed again, and it was over. We gathered up the children and headed back to Lanewood Drive.

I warmed up the car while the children got in their jammies. It was past everyone's bedtime. Robin asked when the next time would be that she could come here and made sure that we didn't leave before having a good chance to say good-bye. She's a forward thinker. I like that!

I think the children were delighted that we were there for their program. Actually, I just think they were delighted that they were there...program or no program! On the way back to the house from picking them up, Robin commented, "If only Mommy were here..." My heart sank. Then she added, "And Grandpa...and Daddy." I'm sorry that Mommy and Grandpa and Daddy weren't there, but at least she was only taking roll instead of expressing deep loss!

Other observations:
` *Ryan wants a cell phone so he can call Mommy. Kendra told him he could call his mom on hers. He wanted to know if that meant he could steal hers to call. (One of his friends has a cell phone. Can you imagine?)
` *Ryan commented on how nice I was to Gracie, their dog, "after the Frodo days". He seems to think that I didn't love Frodo. I'm going to have to talk to him about that. I had Frodo put to sleep a year or so ago. In my own defense, I inherited the spoiled, neurotic, un-housebroken pooch when Meg and Nathan first moved to a rented home in Muncie. I worked with her for three years to try to get her housebroken, to no avail. When Meg and the children moved here, I couldn't keep the floors clean enough for them even to play on the carpets. Then there was the day that the Fro-dog chased Robin down the hall and bit her on the hand for seemingly no reason. It was too much. I finally decided that I had no choice. Frodo was pretty much unadoptable. I gave up on a pet that I loved, for the first time in my life. Little Ryan now needs to understand the lay of the land. I'll talk to him about it the next time he is here...
*Robin's new glasses appeared to be pink in the picture I got. They are purple...cute. She didn't wear them to the program. Asked not to because they hurt her nose and are making a mark. Kendra says she will take her to get them adjusted. Apparently she only needs them for school.
` *Robin is FINALLY getting teeth coming in next to her front "toofers". Unless they even out, she will need braces. Way too soon to tell.
` *Wednesday was using the word "stupid" in the car. Kendra got on her about it. Told her to find another word...like "silly". Wed. offered "awkward"...then was using the word endlessly until K. told her that she couldn't use it until she could spell it. Then there was a major guessing game from all three kids about how to spell it. Once they got it, there was a huge cacaphony on the car of kids saying "awkward, awkward, awkward"! Sounded like the seagulls in the Nemo movie!

Judy and I talked all the way up and back. Failures as parents. Past experiences. Happiness that we had taken the trip. Concerns about the children. Three hours of captive audience! I listened...she listened. I thank God that the active grandparents have all been able to stay grounded for the children!

Got my blood test today. Have a cardiologist appointment tomorrow. Routine. As the horror continues to unfold in Haiti, I am so thankful to be an American in my itty-bitty home-on-a-slab in the Midwest! Had brunch with my friends Bonnie and Ryan today. Good food. Good company!