Another Reason Why a Small Town Fits Me

Yesterday, I was reaffirmed why the move to Ste. Genevieve, and the decision to teach at Valle was the right one. On my afternoon break, I went down through the cafeteria to work in the teacher's workroom. While passing through, one of the custodians said, "Oh, Mrs. Metzger. I ran over your daughter in here today." (No, this isn't the reason I'm thankful for the way my life is going.) I smiled and asked what happened. Supposedly Mrs. Reich, the custodian, wasn't looking and turned into Reese, knocking her over and sending her lunch tray flying. Then Reese looked up at her preschool teacher and said, "Miss Connie, I'm having a hard day:(" You see, Reese had already had her fingers stepped on at carpet time, and her tummy was hurting in the lunch line, so the maul from Mrs. Reich pushed her over the edge. Well, needless to say, Mrs. Reich felt awful. I was concerned for Reese, and know what it's like all too well to have a "hard day." So I walked next door, and popped in on Reese at Valle's preschool. She had just laid down for a nap, but Miss Connie and Miss Colleen got her up. The look on her face when she saw me, was not the look of someone who was having a hard day. Her surprise visit from mom was just what she needed. I squeezed her, kissed her, and sent her to her cot for rest. As I walked back across the playground to my school, I thanked God for all that He has given me - but especially at that moment, the convenience of teaching right next to my own children. I truly feel so blessed in my life:)

oh-oh-oh,oh,oh my gosh!

I am so serious when I say that my neighborhood friends from childhood and I went to the New Kids on the Block concert last night. Oh yes, the Block is Back:) Wendy, Jaime, Jodi, and I bought the tickets in fun a few months ago, for old times sake. We joked about the fact that we were actually going to the concert, but when we got there, I kid you not, there were true, die-hard NKOTB fans. I didn't know those people still existed. Here are some things I saw last night, that I was certain had died in the 80's:

• big hair

• tight rolled pants

• large (and I mean large) buttons of the boys - we joked about who in their right mind would actually buy a big button for $15 (especially when we still have ours from years ago in boxes in the basement)

• but my favorite - puffy painted t-shirts

I can still remember going to a slumber party in 8th grade and puffy painting a shirt with "I love Jordan," for my first NKOTB concert at Six Flags.

Well, let's just say not a lot has changed with the Boston Boys in 20 years (seriously, it has been 20 years). They dance the same, sing the same, and fortunately for us fans, look the same. I'm telling you those men look darn good for pushing 40, and they can still REALLY MOVE. Somewhere in the middle of the show, a previously skeptical Jodi leaned over to me and said, "You know, there's something kind of hot about a 40 year old man who can sing and dance." I agreed. She then said, "I think I might have to buy a button."

We sang and danced along, and all in all, ended up being pleasantly surprised. The show was actually good. I had a great time being with old friends and old boys I used to be in love with!
I sit today and think, "Where have those 20 years gone?" So much has changed in my life since then. But the one thing that remains constant between then and now are the close friendships I still have with my neighborhood girls. I love you Wendy, Jaime, and Jodi! St. Jude Rocks!

Go Blue!

The Valle Warrior Football team has won district and is now in the playoffs! We sat and rooted them on last night at the game, which was too close for too long, but ended up being a good win. Drew and Reese both love going to the games because so many of their friends are there to hang out with. They get a treat at the concession stand, and we watch the game, the band, and the dancers.
Now, when I was in high school, the Valle football team was unbeatable. Even though we were (and still are) only a 1A school, we could compete with 3 and 4A teams with ease. We won the state championship my 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th grade years, and went to the game my Senior year, but lost. However, since then, the Valle football team hasn't been nearly as successful. But this year, things are different. Valle's on a roll, and we're going to keep sitting in those bleachers rooting them on to sweet victory! Go Blue!

Hallelujah! Halloween Has Passed!

I can't believe how excited I am that a holiday is over. Maybe it's because we were on Halloween overload. We trunk or treated the Saturday before Halloween, and then Reese had Halloween at dance class the Monday before, and then Trey celebrated at his sitter's on that day, and Drew and Reese both had Halloween parties, I celebrated with 17 kindergarteners and that many parents, and then we STILL went trick or treating that night. I felt like Halloween would never come to an end. It truly was like the longest week of jack-o-lanterns, candy and costumes ever. It was so extreme that Reese was actually 3 different things this year for Halloween. Seriously, she was Dorothy for Trunk or Treat and her class party, a butterfly for dance class (we created the costume from stuff at home, and it was probably the cutest one), and Cinderella for actual Halloween night. Now the trick or treating didn't bother me so much, but the candy haul was ridiculous. I sorted into groups: chocolate (keepers), other candy the kids like (which went into the candy jar), and the pile to pitch because NO ONE needs that much candy!

Reese's preschool teacher told me the following Monday about the Halloween fairy. She comes in the night and takes all the candy away, and leaves a small toy or treat in the candy's place. I'm thinking she needs to begin making annual appearances at the Metzger residence:)