Is This Normal?
The chaos that is the KerbersOff to the pumpkin farm
Between the weather being crappy and a couple previous commitments, we were not sure that we’d get to a pumpkin farm at all this fall. Luckily, though, the rain subsided for awhile this afternoon, and we were able to hit Rader’s Family Farm for a short time. Our main goal was to have some fun and to get a good carving pumpkin. We had two smallish pumpkins sitting on our porch from the kids’ visit to Grandma Judy and Grandpa Scott’s, but they were smashed in the street last night, so situation had instantly become more urgent. We needed a pumpkin to carve, darn it! So after church and lunch, we were off.
Since we’ve had so much rain lately, the place was a total mud pit. The owners had done as much as they could to help with the mud situation…there was straw laid down all over the place out there, but it was still a muddy mess. Nonetheless, we played on the straw pile, in the big trough of corn, ran around the play area a bit, and even stopped at the photo spot.
You’ll probably notice how talented my kids are at posing for a staged picture. (Yes, that is written with a great amount of sarcasm…look at that picture!)
As the clouds started to roll in, we decided that the play time could wait and we had better pick out a pumpkin quick! 
Daddy found the carving one, and Ben and Emma each picked their own that they could carry. As Dave paid for our treasures, the kids and I quickly went through the barn and looked at the animals, and then we headed for the car. The first sprinkles were coming down as we loaded up.
It was a short, but profitable trip. The kids were thrilled with their pumpkins, and we were home in time for Emma to still get a nice nap in. A win/win situation, if I do say so myself.
Happy birthday, Jamie!
Jamers is Sweet 16 today. It doesn’t seem possible to think that she’s been a part of our family for 16 years. I can still remember getting the call from Brad like it was yesterday. The sad news is that she can’t get her license yet, though. Apparently you must have your permit for a year before you get the actual license, and she wasn’t really pushing to get that last fall. I don’t think she has to wait very long…like a week or so, I believe…but I’m sure it’s driving her nuts right now. Time will pass quickly, Jamers, and before you know it you’ll be cruising around Jacksonville on your own! That is, if your dad ever lets you out of the house again…
Happy, happy birthday, Jamie. We love you!
Parent/teacher conferences
Today was parent/teacher conference day at school. The kids got to sleep in while many of the teachers worked harder than they normally do.
While this is easily one of the most dreaded days of the year for most teachers, we librarians absolutely love it! Conference day is one that we get to work absolutely uninterrupted, and it’s so nice to actually get some projects done. We did have to go to a morning meeting, but it wasn’t too long and it was a small group of other librarians, so it was not bad at all.
Believe me; I remember having conferences all day very well. It wasn’t all that long ago that I sat at one of those tables trying to convince parents that their students were either doing really well, or needed to do a lot more to be successful. Neither scenario is really all that great. So these days, I try hard not to rub it in that we get the day to work on our own without dealing with parents much at all. Some teachers appreciate our situation, and others just whine about it to us. I always say the same thing, “Hey, they’re offering classes at ISU to become a librarian…you’re free to take them and then get hired somewhere so you can have this one beneficial day!” That usually shuts them right up.
Happy anniversary, Grandma and Grandpa
Everyone makes such a big deal over big, fat, round anniversary years. At 10 years, everyone I know goes somewhere together to celebrate. At 25 years, there’s usually some kind of get-together or party to celebrate. Then comes 40 years, for some reason a real biggie, it seems. I can remember my grandparents’ fortieth anniversary party very well from my childhood…it was a par-tee!
Well, this year is Mom & Dad’s 49th wedding anniversary, and while many people don’t think that’s a big deal, I have to disagree. They’ve gone through 49 years together as husband and wife…almost five decades, people! I can’t even imagine! And while I know that next year will bring all the fanfare with the 50th, I hope they know how much I respect and appreciate their marriage now, even though no one may be making a big deal out of it. When I talked to Mom today, she said that this was, “just like any other day.” But I have to disagree…a 49th anniversary is definitely not like any other day.
Thanks for everything you do for us, Mom & Dad, but more importantly, thanks for the great example you’ve set for all of us. We love you…happy anniversary!
Happy birthday, Aunt Nancy!
This year Aunt Nanny is having a little bit of trouble with her birthday. She’s hitting a round number (I won’t mention which one, but if you take 9×5 you’d probably be able to guess it) and it’s bothering her a bit. But I assured her last night that she is definitely the youngest 45 year-old I’ve ever seen! I swear sometimes I feel much older than she seems. I’m hoping that just has to deal with the fact that I’m still chasing toddlers. I hope so, anyway!
There was a time that the mid 40s seemed absolutely ancient! Now, though, they’re super duper young…especially since I’ll be seeing them all too soon! In all seriousness, though, Nance is truly young at heart, and I’m sure that she’s happier with her life every day. What more could anyone want?
Happy birthday, Nance. You’re the best sister I could have…exactly the same as me in many ways, but very, very different in others. I love our relationship, and I love you!
IMC book club
I did make it to school today, thankfully, and although I wasn’t feeling great all day, one thing helped make the day better. We had our first meetng of our new IMC book club today after school, and it was really great.
My co-worker Caroline and I decided to have our book club meet once per month. We both wanted to be a part of the fun, so we plan to close the IMC the third Monday of each month, and dedicate that time to book club. The students who were interested came to the first meeting, and they had the idea for us to choose a category each month, and have everyone read a different book from that category. Today’s category was Halloween, or scary books. We had a great variety of selections, and it was a really fun meeting. Even though the numbers were quite small this first month, I’m sure that interest will grow as word of mouth takes off.
As a side note, I read a Stephen King book called The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon for this month’s meeting. That book scared the crap out of me!! I even had nightmares one night when I read before going to sleep. I used to love all King books when I was in high school and college, but I am definitely more of a chicken these days. I don’t think I’ll be revisiting him anytime soon.
Next month we’re reading books from the 2010 nominees for the Abraham Lincoln Award. I’m looking forward to another great book discussion with some really awesome young adults.
It got me, too!
Ugh…there is nothing worse than Mommy getting sick! But I couldn’t avoid it, and yesterday and today I have felt miserable. I haven’t been nausious, or had a fever, but I literally feel like I’ve been run over by a Mack truck. I have had no energy at all, and even when I am out of bed, I end up laying on the couch and falling asleep. I have slept more in the last two days than I have in the last two weeks, I think! It sucks.
I hope that I can go to work tomorrow, because Emma is still full of fever, and she’ll be staying home with Grandma. They certainly don’t need me home sick, too! I just hope that this will be our entire round of sickness for the winter. Wouldn’t we be lucky to have that happen…
Happy anniversary, “Is This Normal”
Today marks the first anniversary of my blog. I know that I have a few faithful readers, and I do think that’s awesome. But I never really mind when my reader stats are low, because as it was a year ago, my motivation for writing this blog is purely selfish. My hope is to get all of my posts published into a book each year to keep and give to my kids when they are old enough to appreciate it. I hope that someday they will cherish the stories and thoughts I had about our family and specifically about them. I know I could never remember everything I’d want to tell them, so hopefully this blog will do that.
The blog has evolved since it first started, and that’s one of the things I love about it best. In January I started the Project 365 section, and while I haven’t always been great a bout keeping up with posting the pictures, I have been diligent about taking pictures every day. I can’t believe, when I look back now, how much the kids have changed in just a short time. I’ve really enjoyed participating in this project, but it has been time-consuming. I’m currently debating whether I will do it again for 2010. One thing I have decided, though, is to try to blog about more of the mundane, every day aspect of our lives. I think that the posts like quotes of the day, or simple little comments from the kids are some of my favorites. I hope to include them more.
If you’re reading this, thanks for checking out “Is this Normal?” from time to time. I hope you’ve liked it, and will continue to keep up with the Kerbers!
Battle of the Bands ‘09
As much as I whine about Homecoming week, I do have to admit that there’s one event I love…The Battle of the Bands. This takes place each year, and there are auditions for student bands held weeks before the show. I have been to the show for the last four years, and I’ve been a judge the last two years. I have to admit that I’m always blown away by the talent of some of our students. Sure, some of the bands are simply good guitar players and drummers with kids basically screaming at the top of their lungs, but others are so good! It floors me. I can not even begin to imagine playing in a garage band when I was a high schooler, let alone playing in a good one!
One of the biggest reasons I love this event is that it gives kids who often don’t participate in other events a chance to be in the spotlight (no pun intended) for once. Homecoming is so often about school spirit and sports that sometimes the artsy alternative kids have no place to fit into the week. Battle of the Bands gives them this opportunity, and I love it!
Winning door
Each year at Homecoming, the Orange Crush organization (NCHS’s answer to Pep Club) sponsors a door decorating contest. I’ve never really been able to get any of our student helpers interested in participating, but finally we had a monitor (the technical name for our student helpers) who was into it. So the IMC’s doors got decorated.
We started late, and frantically threw stuff together, but by the time the judges saw the doors it looked pretty darn good. In the end all of the hard work paid off. The judging was last night, and our door was given the Iron Pride Award. Iron Pride is our parent-teacher organization, so I’m not really sure if that means they picked their favorite door or it means that our door showed the most school spirit. whatever the criteria for that award…we’ll take it! The kids were so proud of their work, and we loved being a part of the Homecoming celebration in a way we’ve never been before.
