Sherry Ellis's Blog, page 142
June 19, 2011
Foam Fun
My daughter had a dance performance at a local berry festival. The atmosphere was very carnival-like. There were rides, and concession stands, and vendors of all sorts. The hi-light was a bubble pool. A machine cranked out sudsy foam and poured it into a giant pool. Kids could run around in it and get covered in bubbles/foam or whatever it was.
The dance team was up on the stage getting ready to perform when a big gust of wind blew the foam all the way over to the stage. The girls went crazy. They were screaming. They were laughing. They were acting like a bunch of nutcases.
We managed to calm them down, but after the performance, guess what they did? They changed out of their costumes and headed into the foam pool.
They were covered from head to toe in white suds. It was quite a sight. I think it was the best two dollars I had ever spent.
The dance team was up on the stage getting ready to perform when a big gust of wind blew the foam all the way over to the stage. The girls went crazy. They were screaming. They were laughing. They were acting like a bunch of nutcases.
We managed to calm them down, but after the performance, guess what they did? They changed out of their costumes and headed into the foam pool.
They were covered from head to toe in white suds. It was quite a sight. I think it was the best two dollars I had ever spent.
June 17, 2011
Sniffing Ice
No, I'm not talking about some new kind of drug (although I'm sure there is a drug known as "Ice."). I'm talking about bags of ice.
My kids and I went to the grocery store. When it was time to check out, my son bolted to the ice cooler. He opened the door and stuck his head inside.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
"Sniffing ice."
The cashier smiled. "Ice bags do have a rather exotic smell," he said.
"Bubba, get your head out of the cooler," I said.
He grinned.
Another cashier looked over. "Oh, he's so cute!" she said.
"He's so crazy!" I corrected.
I think he got it from his dad.
My kids and I went to the grocery store. When it was time to check out, my son bolted to the ice cooler. He opened the door and stuck his head inside.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
"Sniffing ice."
The cashier smiled. "Ice bags do have a rather exotic smell," he said.
"Bubba, get your head out of the cooler," I said.
He grinned.
Another cashier looked over. "Oh, he's so cute!" she said.
"He's so crazy!" I corrected.
I think he got it from his dad.
June 16, 2011
Little Miner
I took my kids to a museum today. At the museum, there were several geodes and precious gems on display. My son loves that stuff. It inspired him to do a little geology of his own.
So we stopped at the museum gift store and picked up a quartz mining kit. This kit consisted of a big block with four quartz specimens imbedded inside. The kit also contained tools to chisel the quartz specimens from the block.
We took the kit home and my little guy went to work. He wanted to do the project inside, but I knew that would've been a mistake. I had him go outside on the driveway.
He started off very nicely chiseling the block. I went inside to make dinner.
A few minutes later he came in the house completely covered with dust.
"Dude, you're filthy!" I said.
He grinned. "I got two pieces out!"
"Already?"
"Yeah. I found an easier way to get them out."
"What did you do?"
"I smashed them on the driveway with another big rock."
I had to go investigate.
Sure enough, the driveway was covered in dust and debris. At the worksite was a very large rock.
"Dude, that's not how you're supposed to do it. That's not very scientific! You could harm the specimen!"
"So? It was fun! I want to be a miner when I grow up!"
Oh boy.
So we stopped at the museum gift store and picked up a quartz mining kit. This kit consisted of a big block with four quartz specimens imbedded inside. The kit also contained tools to chisel the quartz specimens from the block.
We took the kit home and my little guy went to work. He wanted to do the project inside, but I knew that would've been a mistake. I had him go outside on the driveway.
He started off very nicely chiseling the block. I went inside to make dinner.
A few minutes later he came in the house completely covered with dust.
"Dude, you're filthy!" I said.
He grinned. "I got two pieces out!"
"Already?"
"Yeah. I found an easier way to get them out."
"What did you do?"
"I smashed them on the driveway with another big rock."
I had to go investigate.
Sure enough, the driveway was covered in dust and debris. At the worksite was a very large rock.
"Dude, that's not how you're supposed to do it. That's not very scientific! You could harm the specimen!"
"So? It was fun! I want to be a miner when I grow up!"
Oh boy.
June 15, 2011
Movie Bust
It was free movie day at the theater today. That was all fine and exciting...until we got into the theater.
The kids and I made our way to the top of the crowded theater and managed to find the last three consecutive chairs in a row. We sat down and began munching on popcorn. We munched, and munched, and munched.
Oddly, the show had not begun. It was now twenty minutes past time. The natives were getting restless.
"Why isn't the movie starting?" my daughter asked.
"I don't know," I said. "This is most perplexing."
"I think it's a trick," my daughter said. "They lured us in here so we would buy popcorn."
"I think you're right. We're just going to sit here in semi-darkness for two hours munching away."
That's pretty much what happened. There was a problem with the projector. After about forty minutes of waiting, the kids and I got up to leave. Of course, the lights darkened just as we were about to exit.
"Okay, let's try this again," I said. We marched back up the steps to our seats.
We sat in the dark for seven more minutes.
"Let's go!" my daughter said.
We were about to go, when a movie started on the screen. It wasn't the movie we were there to see. It was Megamind. "Okay," I said. "Megamind is fine. We can watch this."
Well, unfortunately the sound wasn't working. We watched fifteen minutes of silent Megamind and decided enough was enough. We exited thinking what a wonderful adventure the whole thing was.
At least it was free!
The kids and I made our way to the top of the crowded theater and managed to find the last three consecutive chairs in a row. We sat down and began munching on popcorn. We munched, and munched, and munched.
Oddly, the show had not begun. It was now twenty minutes past time. The natives were getting restless.
"Why isn't the movie starting?" my daughter asked.
"I don't know," I said. "This is most perplexing."
"I think it's a trick," my daughter said. "They lured us in here so we would buy popcorn."
"I think you're right. We're just going to sit here in semi-darkness for two hours munching away."
That's pretty much what happened. There was a problem with the projector. After about forty minutes of waiting, the kids and I got up to leave. Of course, the lights darkened just as we were about to exit.
"Okay, let's try this again," I said. We marched back up the steps to our seats.
We sat in the dark for seven more minutes.
"Let's go!" my daughter said.
We were about to go, when a movie started on the screen. It wasn't the movie we were there to see. It was Megamind. "Okay," I said. "Megamind is fine. We can watch this."
Well, unfortunately the sound wasn't working. We watched fifteen minutes of silent Megamind and decided enough was enough. We exited thinking what a wonderful adventure the whole thing was.
At least it was free!
June 14, 2011
First Sleepover
"Mom, can I have a sleepover?" my six-and-a-half year old son asked.
"Um," I said trying to imagine a sleepover with two six-year-old boys. "Ask your father."
He went to his dad who said, "Ask your mother."
"Mom?"
"Okay," I said. "When did you want to have this thing?"
"Tonight."
That wasn't much of a notice.
Nevertheless, I agreed and the little guy had his buddy over.
They had a great time. Of course big sister, an experienced sleepover-er, had a few tips: Have a big pillow fight at 10:00 PM, tell ghost stories until 11:00 PM, stay up until midnight.
Needless to say, the boys were a bit tired in the morning. Still they thought it was the best sleepover ever.
"Um," I said trying to imagine a sleepover with two six-year-old boys. "Ask your father."
He went to his dad who said, "Ask your mother."
"Mom?"
"Okay," I said. "When did you want to have this thing?"
"Tonight."
That wasn't much of a notice.
Nevertheless, I agreed and the little guy had his buddy over.
They had a great time. Of course big sister, an experienced sleepover-er, had a few tips: Have a big pillow fight at 10:00 PM, tell ghost stories until 11:00 PM, stay up until midnight.
Needless to say, the boys were a bit tired in the morning. Still they thought it was the best sleepover ever.
June 13, 2011
Tire Trouble
Today was my daughter's big dance recital. We were all very excited about that .... until we went outside to get in my car.
My car did not look so good. One of the tires was noticably deflated.
"Gosh darn it!" I exclaimed. I went over to have a closer look. That's when I saw it - a big silver nail stuck in my tire.
"I don't believe this!"
Fortunately my husband came to the rescue. He got out the air compressor, and filled the tire. Then he drove the car to Firestone. They said they couldn't patch it, so he got a new tire. Then he brought the car back and we all piled in to go to the recital. We made it just in time!
I knew my husband was good for something! (Actually, he's quite wonderful - he's good for a lot of things!) Kudos to my husband for saving the day!
My car did not look so good. One of the tires was noticably deflated.
"Gosh darn it!" I exclaimed. I went over to have a closer look. That's when I saw it - a big silver nail stuck in my tire.
"I don't believe this!"
Fortunately my husband came to the rescue. He got out the air compressor, and filled the tire. Then he drove the car to Firestone. They said they couldn't patch it, so he got a new tire. Then he brought the car back and we all piled in to go to the recital. We made it just in time!
I knew my husband was good for something! (Actually, he's quite wonderful - he's good for a lot of things!) Kudos to my husband for saving the day!
June 11, 2011
Musician's Report from the Trenches
Okay, so this has nothing at all to do with being a Mom, but I thought you might still be interested. This has to do with my career as a musician. We musicians have a lot of stories to tell about performances - things that go on that the audience is completely unaware of. Yet the show must go on.
Here's today's story. I had to play for an outdoor wedding at Coney Island. If you recall, the rehearsal was a couple of days ago, and I was sweating like crazy. Today it was ten degrees cooler - only 85 degrees. Yeah - it was still hot.
I set up my music on my stand and began playing. Apparently, the bugs must have enjoyed my playing. A little brown spider walked across my music the entire time. I even shooed him off, but he made a little web and crawled back up. A cute little lightening bug also crawled around on my stand the entire time. I couldn't get rid of him either. Then there was the fruit fly. That darn thing wouldn't stop going up my nose. Do you know how difficult it is to play the violin when there's a bug crawling around inside your nose?
Yes, that's what was going on. But nobody knew it. They just thought the music was lovely. Such is the life of a musician.
Here's today's story. I had to play for an outdoor wedding at Coney Island. If you recall, the rehearsal was a couple of days ago, and I was sweating like crazy. Today it was ten degrees cooler - only 85 degrees. Yeah - it was still hot.
I set up my music on my stand and began playing. Apparently, the bugs must have enjoyed my playing. A little brown spider walked across my music the entire time. I even shooed him off, but he made a little web and crawled back up. A cute little lightening bug also crawled around on my stand the entire time. I couldn't get rid of him either. Then there was the fruit fly. That darn thing wouldn't stop going up my nose. Do you know how difficult it is to play the violin when there's a bug crawling around inside your nose?
Yes, that's what was going on. But nobody knew it. They just thought the music was lovely. Such is the life of a musician.
June 10, 2011
Why the Dog is Like Daddy
My kids and I had an interesting discussion around the lunch table today. My daughter started it:
"That dog is just like Daddy!"
I looked at her quizzically. "How so?"
"He's big and manly."
"And hairy," my son added.
"Yeah. And he burps and farts."
"And he destroys trees."
I looked at my son. "Daddy destroys trees?'
"Yeah - do you remember the one he weed-wacked?"
Oh, yeah. Okay, so Daddy destroys trees and so does the dog.
Then I thought of one: "He leaves messes wherever he goes!"
Yep. The dog is just like Daddy.
"That dog is just like Daddy!"
I looked at her quizzically. "How so?"
"He's big and manly."
"And hairy," my son added.
"Yeah. And he burps and farts."
"And he destroys trees."
I looked at my son. "Daddy destroys trees?'
"Yeah - do you remember the one he weed-wacked?"
Oh, yeah. Okay, so Daddy destroys trees and so does the dog.
Then I thought of one: "He leaves messes wherever he goes!"
Yep. The dog is just like Daddy.
June 9, 2011
Turn Up the Heat!
No. Please don't! I don't want to sweat anymore. Today I had to play my violin outside for a wedding rehearsal. It was a very nice rehearsal, except for the fact the it was 95 degrees and very humid. Sweat was dripping down my back. Sweat was dripping into my eyes. I think my music was sweating too because it was rather soggy after the rehearsal.
So after that sweaty ordeal, I had to run home to get my daughter to her dance class. I piled my kids into the car, ran through the parking lot when we got there (because we were thirty mintes late), and got even sweatier.
That's when I looked down at my son's shoes. He had on one blue tennis shoe and one red tennis shoe.
I shook my head. More sweat rolled into my eyes. I guess it doesn't matter. Just give me a tall glass of ice water!
So after that sweaty ordeal, I had to run home to get my daughter to her dance class. I piled my kids into the car, ran through the parking lot when we got there (because we were thirty mintes late), and got even sweatier.
That's when I looked down at my son's shoes. He had on one blue tennis shoe and one red tennis shoe.
I shook my head. More sweat rolled into my eyes. I guess it doesn't matter. Just give me a tall glass of ice water!
June 8, 2011
Terrorizing Creatures
I'm not sure about which to tell you first - my son terrorizing chickens, or my dog terrorizing our frog. Let's start with the dog.
The beast has been very bad. I supposed that's nothing new. Today's big adventure, after dragging the hose container around the backyard (with the hose in it), involved our pet African clawed frog. The gosh darn dog charged up the stairs to where the frog tank was. I think he wanted a bath, but since the tub wasn't full, he went for the next best thing -the frog's aquarium. He flicked off the lid with his big nose and stuck his face in the water. He would've flipped the whole thing if I didn't grab him by the scruff and haul him out of there! I think the frog must have had a heart attack. He was swimming a little crazy in there after that incident!
Then there's my son. We went to a local farm as part of our summer adventures. My son spotted some roosters strutting around and decided he wanted to bother them. He flapped his chicken wings and clucked after the roosters. The roosters ran at the sight of such a ridiculous creature. My son chased them around the barn and landed flat on his face when he slipped on a patch of gravel.
What a goof ball. And all of this happened when it was 97 degrees outside. Oy gewalt!
The beast has been very bad. I supposed that's nothing new. Today's big adventure, after dragging the hose container around the backyard (with the hose in it), involved our pet African clawed frog. The gosh darn dog charged up the stairs to where the frog tank was. I think he wanted a bath, but since the tub wasn't full, he went for the next best thing -the frog's aquarium. He flicked off the lid with his big nose and stuck his face in the water. He would've flipped the whole thing if I didn't grab him by the scruff and haul him out of there! I think the frog must have had a heart attack. He was swimming a little crazy in there after that incident!
Then there's my son. We went to a local farm as part of our summer adventures. My son spotted some roosters strutting around and decided he wanted to bother them. He flapped his chicken wings and clucked after the roosters. The roosters ran at the sight of such a ridiculous creature. My son chased them around the barn and landed flat on his face when he slipped on a patch of gravel.
What a goof ball. And all of this happened when it was 97 degrees outside. Oy gewalt!
