Little Explorers Pre-school Graduation

Thursday, May 21 was preschool graduation. It was So cute and yes there were bittersweet tears!
One part of the program involved the kids showing pictures of what they liked best about pre-school and then what they wanted to do when they grew up. There was a Doctor, a nurse, a grass-man, a paleontologist, a couple of Mommies and a Daddy. When it was Kian's turn Ms Sally asked,
"Kian what do you want to do when you grow up?"
"Work!"
Ms. Sally repeated "He just wants a job!!"

How sad is that? :-)Kian and Wesley, one of his favorite friends

Getting his diploma from Ms. Sally
Kian with his teacher, Ms. Sally Lamping...we think she may have been our benefactor. She is an amazingly warm and loving person and perfect for this job!

Kian and Ms. Lori Lorenz, the pre-school director and one of the most generous and understanding people on the planet! We love her!

Drama Queen...

Here I am again...it's May, end of school there will be lots to share! But tonight I want to share Mackenzie's last orchestra concert. I was sad. I love the cello. She has played since 6th grade, but now she had to choose between orchestra and theater.

This is her playing Palladio from the Diamond commercial. It was one of her favorites and for sure mine! She says she hates to practice and so this will just be a good time to quit and move on.
I want to make sure I have that in writing since I have 2 other daughters who are constantly saying "Why didn't you make me stay in dance or music or choir or whatever..."
Yeah, I'm getting this one in writing.
Actually later in the evening I did...kind of...
It was time for awards and we had no idea that Ms Cornet would be giving awards for Drama as well. But the first award was for Best Actress at Fishers Jr. High and it was Mackenzie Nelson!! Her faced looked shocked and my camera was in my purse so I have a picture of her after she is sitting back down :-)

So Yay for Mackenzie and her first acting award...may there be many more to come!! Hopefully, next time Mom will be prepared with the camera!

Happy Birthday Mom!!

Mom age 2

Today would be Mom's 66th birthday. As I write this I remember how young she truly was. She has been gone almost 2 years now. I still miss her.
Even though as I've said before, losing your mother is the natural way of things (as opposed to losing your children first) but there is something a girl always needs her Mom for. When Mackenzie made it into the National Junior Honor Society recently I wanted to tell my Mom. She would have been SO proud! Those are the kinds of things that you want to share. I won't be able to tell her all about Kian's Pre-K graduation this week and send her pictures. There will be no "Mam" in the audience beaming because a little boy is "graduating" from pre-school. My great sadness is that Kian does not have a relationship with my Mom or Dad. I can only talk about Mom and share stories and pictures with him.

So now let me share some memories--She got her name Mam from the TV show Webster. She was babysitting a little boy named Brad and he was just like part of the family and she wanted a name that he could call her that would not be formal but was easy to say. Merrilyn was kind of hard for the little kids. Somehow we came up with Mam which I think on the show was short for Madam, but it didn't seem formal at all. It stuck and all of her grandkids call her that.

My Mom, Merrilyn Louise--age 9 months

Merrilyn Louise--First grade 1950

Then there are the things that I never even thought to ask her...

• How do you get the potatoes soft and brown when you are making a pot roast?
• How old was the girl on the Mike Douglas show where you saw my name spelled with a "C"?
• What year was that Ford Mustang convertible that we had for awhile?
• What was your favorite movie?
• Are these Iris's from my grandma or yours?
• What was your first date with Dad like?
• What was your favorite food?
• Do you have any regrets?
• Do you miss me or are you too busy?!
  

I do know some things about my Mom...She loved Reese's Peanut Butter cups, popcorn, swimming, camping and just being outside. She had a super green thumb and I never took advantage of her knowledge. She didn't have a great relationship with her Mom when she was a teenager, so I think she tried really hard to have a better one with me. It didn't always work, but we got there. She loved to read and later I found out, write. She was very loyal and loved fiercely.

My Mom with her parents Betty Louise and Merrill Hansen October 1959

Mom at high school graduation June 1961

She never went to college. She was a Mom when she was 19. She loved her kids and grand kids. She was so beautiful.She loved to talk and she loved to talk about mundane things that were SO tedious! Maybe we always have regrets when someone we love leaves us too soon, but I will forever wish that I had talked to my Mom every day.
She would have loved that, but I was too impatient and conversations with my Mom always seemed to last forever. But then again, they really don't do they?

My Mom and brothers Lee and Frank and me 1970
(Why am I the only one who doesn't match and what is Frank looking at?!)

I know there was SO much more to my Mom that I never bothered to find out. We always think we have forever or we can't be bothered with finding out or we just don't know what will be important when they are gone.
I love you Mom, I miss you.
I know that you are happy now that you are with Dad. I am sorry that your last days were so painful. I am sorry that I wasn't there for you. I'm sorry that I didn't spend more time with you on the phone.
I missed you when you moved from here!
I will treasure our last conversation when you told me how great my kids were and that it was a testament to what great parents they had.
I had the best example...

Merrilyn Louise Hansen Zabel Davis
May 18, 1943--June 22, 2007

The Big Bang Theory

We are trying to clear off our DVR and today while I was upstairs Doug started to watch The Big Bang Theory. OK, so not my favorite show, I think it's kind of painful to watch. Anyway, I came downstairs and there was Kian playing in front of the TV as usual and Doug stopped BBT so he and I could watch something else. Kian is all offended,
"I thought you were going to watch The Big Bang Theory?!"
Doug says, "No, Mommy doesn't really like that show"

A few minutes later I hear a conversation in the dining room (our computer room) and after listening for a minute I say,
"Kian, what are you doing?"

He says very matter-of-factly,
"Watching The Big Bang Theory!"

on the computer! I have no idea how he finds these things, but we may have to password protect our computer from our 5 year old!

Proud Parents...

I know that this phrase is most often used when announcing the birth of a child, but I wonder why? A newborn baby while indeed perfect hasn't really done much to be proud of :-)
Tonight I am a proud parent of a beautiful, talented, smart, funny 14 year old daughter who just happens to be a new member of the National Junior Honor Society of Fishers Junior High School! Yay Mackenzie!!!

Paige Cassidy, Madeline Snipes, Mackenzie Nelson, Claire Volk


Mackenzie has challenged herself for herself and has worked SO hard and she has earned her spot. She had to be a good citizen, leader, get good grades and be willing to serve. She actually is one of only 11 students that got the academic distinction as well which means achieving higher than an 11 GPA on a 12 point grading scale! I should mention that Mackenzie has been taking advanced classes since 3rd grade and is in advanced English, Science and Math this year. Way to go Kenzie!

Mackenzie and "Star Trek" Lauren Hendricks

I have to give a lot of credit to Fishers Junior High. We have nothing but great things to say about the entire experience there. Even when Calah was there it was great. Calah came in from being home-schooled and it could have been very uncomfortable and hard for her to adapt, but they made it a wonderful seamless transition.
Mackenzie's 7th grade team of teachers made a huge impact. Most notably Mr Sturgeon and Mr. Fassould. She has enjoyed learning and likes to be challenged and is most content when she is excelling at what they have assigned. They have inspired and encouraged and I couldn't be more grateful.
My daughter plans to pursue an International Baccalaureate Diploma and attend Yale! I believe it is in large part because of their patience and enthusiasm and ability to teach each kid in their unique style.
So THANK YOU to great teachers who make a big difference and congratulations Mackenzie!!

25 Random Facts About Me

It occurred to me the other day that I had written some things (answered Facebook quizzes actually) that told a little of my story and I'm not sure how long they will be saved or if they will be on Facebook so I decided to transfer some of them over to here to Blogger. Maybe I will figure out how to do the book thing some day!

WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? My first name comes from an actress on the Mike Douglas Show and my middle name is the same as my Mom's and Gramma's

WHEN IS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? Maybe a month ago

DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Yes

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Thinly sliced roast beef

DO YOU HAVE KIDS? Yes...5

IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Yeah, sure.

DO YOU USE SARCASM? No, never...Did that sound sarcastic?!

DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? No

WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? NO!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Reese's Puffs...I know disgusting. I'm supposed to be an adult

DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? I try not to wear shoes that tie.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Baskin-Robbins Jamoca Almond Fudge

WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? Hair and then smile

RED OR PINK? Red

WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? My body...yuck!

WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? Reagan

WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Black pants, red slippers

WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? I don't know, whatever Calah is blasting in the shower. Probably Slipknot

IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Burnt Sienna

FAVORITE SMELLS? Popcorn!

WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Phone? I have a phone?!

FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? Hockey

HAIR COLOR? Reddish-brown

EYE COLOR? Green

DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Sometimes

FAVORITE FOOD? Pizza

SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Scary movies with happy endings!

LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Lars and the Real Girl

WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Salmon sweater

Summer or winter? Neither, I like fall

HUGS OR KISSES? Can't choose, I like both

WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? The Beautiful Blue Death, The Story of Edgar Sawtelle

WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? I lost mine

WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT? It doesn't matter what was on last night...tonight is The Bachelor!!

FAVORITE SOUND(S). The breeze through the Aspens and the ocean. And totally different but awesome, a baby's giggle!

ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Uh, yeah, no.

WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Sweden

DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? Loading the dishwasher FAST and efficient

WHERE WERE U BORN? Lodi, California

Originally Published February 13, 2009

1. I have a headache.

2. Probably from doing this list again.

3. People tell me I can write well, but I don't think so.

4. I watch General Hospital. I have since I was like 4.

5. If I had a bigger, fenced yard I would get another dog. Doug does not know this.

6. My favorite city in the world is San Fransisco...I left my heart there once...

7. I LOVE Crème Brulee –even if it can kill me

8. I hate wearing shoes. But I love shoes. Is that weird?

9. I can sew. I used to sew a lot of my clothes when I was in college. But I don't really enjoy it.

10. I am an addict.

11. I love love love my family! My gramma, grandpa, aunts, uncles, cousins, husband and kids!

12. I have abandonment issues.

13. I think the best chocolate is Swedish...or See's

14. I would be a terrible Juror because I almost always can understand both sides.

15. I was on the Vicki Lawrence show.

16. I am still friends with Jan from 2nd grade and I have moved a million times since then. No, really, a million.

17. I would change nearly everything about my wedding except the flowers (and the groom!)

18. I wish I were taller.

19. I've never learned to swim properly.

20. I have the best kids...Seriously, they are awesome.

21. I am afraid of adults. I can be in front of kids all day long, but their parents are scary!

22. My dream job is back-up singer for Barry Manilow

23. My favorite flowers are Lilacs

24. I am very loyal, like a dog. I can be a doormat.

25. I would love to play the piano.