It sure is

"It sure is Froggy out today"
-Dallas on his way to school yesterday. Yep, there was a lot of fog.

My Sister

I have a gift. She was given to me when I was 3 years old and her name is Suzanne. Now, when I was 3, I've heard that I wasn't too interested in having her around, but over the years, she's become a lot more fun. Today, my gift is celebrating her birthday and I'm celebrating the anniversary of meeting her.

Oh, how I love my sister! She makes me laugh more than any other person in this world. I don't even need to say any words, just one look can lead us into convulsions of laughter. My dad used to call us "laughing hyenas" and warn us that we would "never find husbands with those laughs." (Typing those words makes me laugh out loud). Suzanne is also one of the only people who can make me cry. She's a lot like Dad in that way. If I disappoint her or upset her, it is sure to reduce me to tears. I don't like her knowing that very much.

She knows all my inside jokes, she knows all my strengths and all my weaknesses. She is an amazing woman, friend, sister, wife and now mother.

Suzanne....I love you so much and hope you have a wonderful birthday! If I could, I would buy you a baby monkey...

The following ramblings are for you. (in no particular order, although I did try)

The Peculiar Purple Pie Man from Porcupines Peak...Oh No It's The Nosy Neighbor From Next Door...No, you be Michael Jackson...Susie...Red Glasses...Charles(said in that way)...The next guy who walks in is your boyfriend...Red Baron Pub...Papa does Preach...All my life/Baby, Baby...You can call me Elfie from now on...WTF!?!?!...Uptown Baby...Las Justas...Because I knew you, I have been changed For Good....

Back-In-The-Day

We're watching The Music Man in my 3rd grade Drama class. They've just watched when someone asks for a drink and goes out to the well to pump some water. One student asks "Did they really have to do that?" Just before I can answer, another student pipes up "Yeah...back in the day they did....Mrs. Prouty, did you know I used to live back-in-the-day in an old haunted house? It's from when John Wayne and his people used to go through there. Well, I saw the well they used to drink water from. That's how I know."

Prouty Family Rock Band

Dallas and I do our best talking in the car during our 45 minute drive home. As a parent, I look forward to these times because I have been made well aware that there will be a time he won't want to talk to me at all. Here's our conversation yesterday.

D: Guess what Mommy?

M: Yes, Dallas?

D: Last night I dreamt that I was a rock star. I played the drums.

M: That sounds like fun.

D: I was thinking that when I grow up, I can be in a rock band.

M: You can do anything you like, Dallas. (Editors note: See what a good mother I am?)

D: Well, Addison can be in it too...she can be the guitar player. And I was thinking you can be in it too.

M: Me? What would I play?

D: (without hesitation) The flute.

M: Hmmm....I guess that's okay. Is Daddy in it? What would he play?

D: (again, without hesitation) Of course, he plays the violin.

M: (chuckling) That sounds like quite a rock band.

D: It is. They'll call us the Prouty Family Rock Band.

M: (Hysterical laughter) Yup....that's what they'll call us.

So, coming soon to an arena near you: THE PROUTY FAMILY ROCK BAND complete with guitars, drums, flutes and violins.

Teach Them Well And Let Them Lead The Way

So many years ago Whitney led us to believe that the children our the future. Clearly, Whitney never taught elementary school. I could, in effect, write a different story every day of how a child has overwhelmed me with knowledge they shouldn't have. I am equal parts horrified and amused by the things that get brought up in class. Now, I teach drama so I get to see things from home getting aired out on stage. Sometimes, it's heartbreaking and all I can do is squeak out a "Thanks, next group" and sometimes I can't stop laughing. This week, I was working with 5th graders on the creative writing process. I hoped to inspire them to create a scene they could perform on stage. I had them write out their ideas, prompting them with ideas...Who are your characters? What is the problem? etc.

Here's one example of about 18 (similar) ones I got that day. I will translate it for you. No, not because it's in Spanish. It's in English, albeit 5th Grade gangsta' English (self-proclaimed)

Characters are: Little Wayne and Bird Man (These are apparently rappers)

What does one character want: Bird Man wants a red champagne.

Conflict: Little Wayne has the red champagne.

Resolution: Bird Man want it and he know that Little Wayne had it but he did give it to Bird Man.

By the way, this one never made it to the stage.

A Great Friday

Good Friday is probably my favorite day of the year. I actually find solace in knowing I'm a sinner. Maybe it makes me feel better for the naughty things I do or maybe it makes the gift of Jesus so much more awesome. Good Friday evokes a lot of emotion for me. The images of a beaten, battered savior on a cross for ME, the closing of the tomb, the expectation of the resurrection. It's just too much for me to take sometimes. The service, no matter where we attend, always finds me at the end dabbing my eyes. (Of course, I'm pretending I have something in my eye) At most churches we've attended there has always been some symbolic act like hammering a nail into a cross or dropping a rock in a bucket to make a loud noise. This year, the youth of our church did a shadow show behind a large white curtain. Because of the shadows, it felt like the message was that more poignant. Dallas was in awe of the whole thing. He watched with anticipation to see what would happen. It's what he said next that started the tears. He watched as the guards mocked and pushed Jesus down and said "Oh No, Don't go pushing MY Jesus!" He sure is something! Which reminds me of my favorite Good Friday/Easter Story. When my sweet little sister Debbie was 3 or 4, we went to a Good Friday service. At the end of the service, while everyone is walking out in silence. Debbie says "What happened? Why is everyone sad?" to which we replied "Jesus died." She shook her head and said "Oh No" and did not say a word the rest of the night. On Sunday morning, the pastor came out with shouts of "He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!" To which Debbie, equally loud, shouted "JESUS IS ALIVE!" Of course everyone looked at her, touched at her ability to understand the Easter story at such a young age. What they did not know, of course, was that to young Debbie's child mind; our Pastor, with his beard and shaggy hair WAS Jesus and to see him come out on Easter morning was indeed a resurrection!

It's Official

Today has been deemed "Hiccupotomaus Day" by Dallas. Why, you ask? Simple...he has the hiccups.

Why I Love My Weekends...

This is what it is all about...
I love Addi's disinterest.

overheard

Dallas, to his 2 year old sister as they are walking hand-in-hand down the stairs.

"Come on, Addison. Let's go downstairs and pretend the Simpsons are appropriate."

April Fool

Dallas has no idea that April Fool's Day is only 1 day. He has been telling me all kinds of April Fool's Jokes since Tuesday. They range from "Mommy, we're going to be late to school....April Fools!" to "Mommy, I'm gonna spend the night in the car....April Fools!". Today, of course, I got a doozy. "Mommy, you're the prettiest and best mommy in the world....April Fools!"

Almost The Same Thing

I work in a school where the majority of students do not speak English as their first language. As a result, sometimes there are miscommunications. The following is an example of what I mean.
Yesterday, we had the orchestra director from the local middle school come to recruit 5th grade students. He brought several of the instruments and played them for the students. He began to play "Amazing Grace". I was standing at the back of the class and the student seated at my feet said to the kids around her "I know this song, it's satanic". I looked down at her and said "No, it's not!" and she said "Yes, it is I heard it before. It's satanic." She then whispered to her classmates "Isn't this satanic?" and they all said "Oh, yes, it is satanic". I told her to stop and said "This is a church song! It's Amazing Grace!" She looked at her friends and said frustrated "I know I heard it in that Leonardo Dicaprio movie." Yeah, she meant Titanic.

Overheard

From one 5th grade girl to another:

Girl A: When I become an actress, I'm not going to be like Vanessa Hudgens, I'm going to be more like Ashley Tisdale.
Girl B: Ashley Tisdale is good, Vanessa Hudgens is naughty. She put
nudie pictures on the internet.

Girl A: Well, she didn't mean to put them on the internet, she sent them on her phone to Zac Efron as a special surprise.

Girl B: Some surprise! Now, the whole world's seen her boobies.

Girl A: Ashley Tisdale would never show her boobies, She's so good that I don't
even know who she dates. Forget it, I want to be Beyonce.