I have to admit... I totally forgot about this blog once school started! Its funny how life just gets so busy that you have no time for yourself. Well, one of my New Years Resolutions is to be more loyal to blogging. So lets get you up to speed. It has been a rocky fall/ winter for me and most of it hasn't been pretty. John was working seven days a week 16 hours a day since before Thanksgiving, so I've had the kids full-time. On top of this, Ryan has had some trouble at school with bullying and I have been scrambling to find solutions to this matter. I was forcefully promoted at work to a new position, which I'm glad to say seems to be working out well, but a stress anyway. Then Christmas hit with all the normal stressors, including not being able to see the boyfriend since I had the kids constantly. Now, the New Year has hit and my Aunt in Canada has passed away from cancer. All in all, a rough season. But the New Year is here and I am convinced things are really going to turn around in 2010! John has been told that he still has a full-time job with MGM now that City Center is complete and this is a really good thing. I was really sweating what I would do if he lost his job and the child support went away. So - enough of the yucky dark stuff...
Sarah's birthday is just around the corner and she had originally wanted to go ice skating at a rink in Henderson, like she did last year. Well, when John called to inquire about reserving a party we were shocked to find out that they are no longer doing open skating or parties. He was told they were "going in a different direction." So last weekend was the big discussion as to where Sarah now wanted her party. On Saturday she was with her dad and she called me at home. In typical Sarah style, she had obviously been giving this question a good amount of time. "Mom?" "Yes Sarah", "You see [she always starts her sentences with this phrase] - You see I've been making a list of places to have my party - let me tell you them and you tell me if I should take any off or add any" - "Ok Sarah - go for it". [big deep breath from Sarah - winding up for something big to say] "Ok, well there is: adventuredome, shark reef, magic garden, king putt, chuckie cheese, artful potter, sky mania, pole position raceway, The Lion King, [big gasping breath] rollerskating, Gameworks, pinball hall of fame, and rollerskating." Wow, she really could set up a kids tour guide service in this town. I think she hit every possible thing in Las Vegas there is to do for kids!
Although, I didn't have the joy of driving her all over town for the day so she could decide, I'm glad to report that she has chosen Artful Potter for her birthday. She is planning to invite some boys so that should be interesting! Please feel free to pray for me!
Monday, January 4, 2010
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Man Skirt
With only a few days left before the school year begins, both John and I were feeling badly that neither of us had had any time to take the kids on a vacation. As a result, John had decided to take them to the beach this weekend. He called me and told me that he was planning to take the kids to Long Beach California. He felt that it was close enough and was cheap enough for the weekend. He planned to take the kids to the beach, a museum and to the Queen Mary for a tour.
According to John, when the kids heard about the Queen Mary, Ryan got excited and told Sarah that it was haunted. Well, right there and then, Sarah would have none of that. John said he tried everything to get her to agree to go... telling her that they were going to go in the daytime and the ghosts are only out at night, that there weren't any ghosts at all. The clincher for Sarah was when John pointed out that there was a scottish themed store onboard that she could shop at. Instantaneously, Sarah changed her mind and said "Ok. I'll go, as long as I can shop!"
So on Friday afternoon, the kids were loaded up by their dad in his car and on their way to Long Beach, when I get a call. They just wanted to call to say good bye for the weekend. Ryan is chattering away in the background as John is telling me the story about the Queen Mary and points out to me that the store on board is a scottish heritage store. Well, this of course, appeals to me since my maiden name is McDonald. Anyway, all of a sudden I hear both kids laughing hysterically and chanting... "Man Skirt, Man Skirt, Man Skirt"! Ryan grabs the phone and says... I'm going to buy a Man skirt mom... I say to him... "well son, as long as you wear it the way you are supposed to... commando!".
According to John, when the kids heard about the Queen Mary, Ryan got excited and told Sarah that it was haunted. Well, right there and then, Sarah would have none of that. John said he tried everything to get her to agree to go... telling her that they were going to go in the daytime and the ghosts are only out at night, that there weren't any ghosts at all. The clincher for Sarah was when John pointed out that there was a scottish themed store onboard that she could shop at. Instantaneously, Sarah changed her mind and said "Ok. I'll go, as long as I can shop!"
So on Friday afternoon, the kids were loaded up by their dad in his car and on their way to Long Beach, when I get a call. They just wanted to call to say good bye for the weekend. Ryan is chattering away in the background as John is telling me the story about the Queen Mary and points out to me that the store on board is a scottish heritage store. Well, this of course, appeals to me since my maiden name is McDonald. Anyway, all of a sudden I hear both kids laughing hysterically and chanting... "Man Skirt, Man Skirt, Man Skirt"! Ryan grabs the phone and says... I'm going to buy a Man skirt mom... I say to him... "well son, as long as you wear it the way you are supposed to... commando!".
"Sa- pichous Package"
Ryan and Sarah attend Kids Zone in the summer. This is run by the Henderson recreation department and they attend the program at Whitney Ranch. Everyday they go to the rec center and rotate hourly through different rooms where they have activities set up for the kids. The price is reasonable and overall they love it. they even get to swim twice a week and on occassions they go on field trips to attractions in the community at no extra cost.
Well last week just before five in the evening, I get a call from John (their dad)... "Did you get a call?" "What do you mean?" I say. "I was just wondering if the rec center called you, because I'm trying to get to the kids and Galleria Drive is blocked off by police. They tell me there was a bomb scare at the rec center and they have evacuated the kids to a nearby middle school." He goes on to tell me everyone is safe but he just wanted to call me and let me know in case I saw something on the news and got worried. No problem I tell him, things like this seem to happen quite frequently around here and it is never anything serious. It seems like the local law enforcement are bored and always over react to things like this. I ask john to give me a call when he gets the kids.
Not more than ten seconds after hanging up the phone with John, it rings again... This time its Ryan voice... "Mom!!!" he says breathlessly... "Well you see there was a suspicious package and they made us all go to the school..." With excitement and a tinge of worry in his voice. [Ryan is my worrier]. "I know son, Dad is on his way, don't worry". "Ok, well I just wanted to let you know, they are letting us call if we need to." "Ok son, Dad will be there soon." "Ok mom - bye" And the line goes dead.
Ten seconds later.... the phone rings again. I pick it up to hear Sarah's excited voice... "MOM!!!!" She is tripping over herself trying to push the words out of her mouth.... "Well, you see... there was a sa-pi... there was a sa-picc.... there was a sa-pich-ous package, and they took us all to the school and we are all here now and it is loud". "Yes, Sarah, Ryan already called me, Dad is on his way to get you and he will be there soon. Where is Ryan".... "In front of me"!! "They are letting us call if we need too"! I'm thinking to myself... now she probably stood there and watched Ryan talk to me! This is ridiculous! But I guess it is something majorly exciting and she just felt she needed a turn telling me all about it! "Well, I say, Dad should be there soon" "Oh, I know he is standing right here in front of me!!!"
As an aside to this story, later that night I was pondering the sa-pichous package. According to the kids there was some sort of brown bag in the lobby or some thing like that. I kept thinking to myself... some child is going to be mortified when he finds that his bathing suit or perhaps his underoos have been blown to pieces by the Henderson PD bomb squad.
Well last week just before five in the evening, I get a call from John (their dad)... "Did you get a call?" "What do you mean?" I say. "I was just wondering if the rec center called you, because I'm trying to get to the kids and Galleria Drive is blocked off by police. They tell me there was a bomb scare at the rec center and they have evacuated the kids to a nearby middle school." He goes on to tell me everyone is safe but he just wanted to call me and let me know in case I saw something on the news and got worried. No problem I tell him, things like this seem to happen quite frequently around here and it is never anything serious. It seems like the local law enforcement are bored and always over react to things like this. I ask john to give me a call when he gets the kids.
Not more than ten seconds after hanging up the phone with John, it rings again... This time its Ryan voice... "Mom!!!" he says breathlessly... "Well you see there was a suspicious package and they made us all go to the school..." With excitement and a tinge of worry in his voice. [Ryan is my worrier]. "I know son, Dad is on his way, don't worry". "Ok, well I just wanted to let you know, they are letting us call if we need to." "Ok son, Dad will be there soon." "Ok mom - bye" And the line goes dead.
Ten seconds later.... the phone rings again. I pick it up to hear Sarah's excited voice... "MOM!!!!" She is tripping over herself trying to push the words out of her mouth.... "Well, you see... there was a sa-pi... there was a sa-picc.... there was a sa-pich-ous package, and they took us all to the school and we are all here now and it is loud". "Yes, Sarah, Ryan already called me, Dad is on his way to get you and he will be there soon. Where is Ryan".... "In front of me"!! "They are letting us call if we need too"! I'm thinking to myself... now she probably stood there and watched Ryan talk to me! This is ridiculous! But I guess it is something majorly exciting and she just felt she needed a turn telling me all about it! "Well, I say, Dad should be there soon" "Oh, I know he is standing right here in front of me!!!"
As an aside to this story, later that night I was pondering the sa-pichous package. According to the kids there was some sort of brown bag in the lobby or some thing like that. I kept thinking to myself... some child is going to be mortified when he finds that his bathing suit or perhaps his underoos have been blown to pieces by the Henderson PD bomb squad.
Friday, August 21, 2009
People ask me...
all the time... "what is it like to raise kids in Las Vegas?" After having been in the valley for over four years with a now 8 year old girl, Sarah, and a 10 year old boy, Ryan, I can truly say that, it certainly is different than anywhere else I have ever lived before! No where else in America can you go to pick your children up at after school programs to see other mothers in fish net stockings and hot shorts picking up their kids! Now, to be fair, the school principal also had issue with this and now there are very large signs on the doors of the school advising parents that they too must adhere to the school dress code when picking up their children. But again, how many schools in the U.S. have to remind parents of this? On a positive point, my children have very unique and different opportunities afforded to them on a regular basis as Vegas kids. World class shows, and access to world class performing arts instructors as a result. Nevertheless, I have found that it is truly an adventure to raise children in this town and I decided to document those adventures here. My name is Ailsa and I am Ryan and Sarah's mom. I hope you enjoy my blog!
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