Graduation

My baby, boy #4 Conner, graduated from high school on Thursday. A storm moved the ceremony indoors, so it was miserably hot and a bit crowded. It was a moment I'll remember as fondly as the day he was born, which I'm pretty sure was only a few months ago. 

I've decided there is some sort of hiccup in the time continuum. Perhaps time is shaped like a bell curve. The whole growing up and becoming an adult portion of life seems to take forever. Once you reach that top, it sets off a free fall of days. 

I don't have any scientific research to back up my claim, but 9 out of 10 moms agree with me, so it has to be a truth. 

Conner Adam Seckman

To celebrate, we had Conner's graduation party this Saturday. Nothing fancy, just a backyard BBQ. I was tired of the usual potato salad and pasta salad, so I made mozzarella potatoes. They turned out good enough for Mr. Seckman to hide himself a bowl in the fridge for an after-party snack. 

These were super easy, of course, because you all know I only do easy!

Mozzarella Potatoes

Ingredients:

2 bags frozen, shredded hash browns

16 oz. shredded mozzarella

2 large cans of cream of chicken soup

8 ounces sour cream

2 sticks of butter

2 tsp. onion powder

Preheat oven at 350 degrees
Pour the hash browns into a large baking pan (I used a large disposable roasting pan)
Slice butter on top of the hash browns and stick in the oven to melt butter
Mix together the soup, cheese, sour cream, and onion powder
Stir the cheesy mix into the potatoes
Bake for about an hour or until bubbly and a crispy crust forms on top

*This is the crowd-sized version of this recipe. To make a smaller batch, simply cut the recipe in half.

Dealing with Disappointment

I hate being sick!

I went the whole school year without getting sick, until the last day... and WHAMMO! I got a Mother of a Cold. Ugh. It's going to take my body a week to recover from all the coughing and sneezing...

But I'm not here to complain about that. I'm going to complain about something else...

After working as a long-term sub at the same school for almost a full year, I applied for an open position--and I didn't get it. But the worst part about it was the principal wouldn't tell me why someone else was chosen over me. I was so angry and disappointed. I felt used and helpless. How could they do that to me? And to top it off, she let me suffer through the last work day, avoiding me when she'd already decided--the coward, as I listened to all the teacher wish me good luck, hoping I'd get the job.

For a couple of days I was sick and depressed--I couldn't even have a drink cause I'm sick, dad-gum it! As a realist, I kept myself open to the possibility that I wouldn't get it. I've been screwed over before. But this was worse, especially after all the praise and encouragement I'd received. Early on, I told myself if I didn't get it, I would be done with teaching. At my age, this was my last shot. I guess it wasn't meant to be. It's their loss.

Some things in life we can't control. So I decided to act on the things I can control. Like, I won't sit around and wallow, feeling sorry for myself. I need to find a new direction. This is just a transition. It's not even a failure or a setback. I was a damn good teacher, but that chapter of my life is over. It's time for a change.

So that's where I am. Healing physically and psychologically. I'm ready to step up to the next challenge. And praying for strength and guidance along the way. Time to move on to bigger and better things.

Please DO NOT feel sorry for me. I'm over it.
Writing about it helped a ton - I highly recommend it.

You can't keep a good woman down - and don't forget it!
Have a SUPER week!

Dr Mom - one of many titles, and a Blog Hop!

Doctor Mom Blog Hop

Fellow writer and blogger, Chrys Fey, is helping her mom spread the word about her children's book. Tara and I decided to join this hop and share a little about our own awesome moms. 

Meet Cork. (Elizabeth's mom)

My mom passed away last year, but her memory and her lessons live on. My mom was never the average mom. She preferred time at the casino over time doing crafts. She was the queen of the off-color joke, and reality was often her biggest enemy. My mother was a dreamer and that was her greatest gift to me. My mom taught me to think big...to scoff at reality and create new ones with words. She also taught me that a person doesn't have to be perfect to be perfect. The quirks we try to smooth out in life are often the things that are most missed when we're gone. 

Caroline Rose Hartman

And this is DORIS (Tara's Mom)

I was lucky enough to have my mom (& dad) visit me this weekend for my middle son's graduation. I don't get to see my mom very often because we live so far apart. But she makes up for it by sending encouraging and supportive cards and notes throughout the year. My mom is creative, sweet, and caring beyond belief - she doesn't even know how much she inspires me! She is the best example of how to persevere through tough times I know and I wouldn't have made it in this world without her!

And now, Chrys Fey's awesome Mama with her own book!

Title: Doctor Mom

Author: Elaine Kaye

Genre: Picture Story Book

Ages: 5-8 years

BLURB: It’s Saturday, and Gregory Green can’t wait to have fun with his dad on the riding lawnmower, but something is wrong. Sammy, his teddy bear and best friend, won’t get out of bed. Gregory is worried when he sees Sammy’s left leg is torn. This is a case for Doctor Mom! Can they fix Sammy? And just how did Sammy get hurt in the first place?

PRAISE FOR DOCTOR MOM:

"Doctor Mom is an adorable story that shows how Moms can fix anything--even a torn limb on a beloved teddy bear! Children will enjoy the lovable little bear who needs a stitch or two and his boy who plays dress-up as a doctor." – Wanda Luthman, award-winning author of Little Birdie Grows Up

"A sweet and heartfelt tale kids can easily identify with, and all of that with a wonderful touch of magic." – Tonja Drecker, reviewer at Bookworm for Kids

BUY LINK:

AMAZON

Elaine Kaye, author 

Elaine Kaye first created Gregory Green after her son, who loved her homemade pea soup, thus inspiring the story Pea Soup Disaster. Doctor Mom is the second book in A Gregory Green Adventure series and highlights something all moms and children can relate to; a beloved stuffed animal in need of a repair.
Kaye has worked as a library assistant and teacher's assistant in elementary schools in the Sunshine State. She currently lives in Florida, but she has called Michigan; Honolulu, Hawaii; and Okinawa, Japan home.She is a grandmother of three boys.
Website / Etsy Shop / Goodreads / Amazon / Instagram / Facebook

Thanks for stopping by!

Liz & Tara

Happy Mother's Day - A Poem

This Ode to Mothers of teen boys, can also apply to Mothers of all kinds... Here's to YOU!

They think they're funny, not looking at me...

Pledge for Moms of Teenage Boys

by Tara Tyler

Repeat after me...

I am the mother of crass teenage boys.

When they were young, we played with their toys.

Action figures, super heroes, talking turtles, balls;

And I kissed all their boo boos after their falls.

From dare-devil stunts to record breaking goals,

I almost went blind from constant eye rolls.

As older they grew, so did their smells.

The kisses were fewer and so were the tells.

Now they are driving, impressing the girls.

It all went so fast, oh how the time whirls.

Here lies our duty to train these young lives

To be better men for their future wives.

Pledge Number One: Moms must take a stand,

Make them clean up, they should lend a hand.

Stop picking up after them, losing your minds,

Or they'll never get up off their lazy behinds.

Pledge Number Two: Limit their screens.

They must learn to speak, and not just with memes.

Expressing emotions is part of the lesson;

Mimic emojis and less text expression.

Pledge Number Three: Don't let them quit,

Staying with something makes them legit.

Commitment to job, faith, and family stuff;

Sticking with guts no matter how rough.

If we work together on these three big things,

We'll make better men with happy endings.

And don't be afraid, they'll never forget.

They'll always love mom, how e'er old they get.

Remember those boys and their sweet little faces,

And someday with grandkids, maybe they'll grace us.

Now go take it easy - or hide before they find you!

PS - Health-o-Meter: One good week, One bad week

(Teacher Appreciation is chock full of free food!)

Quick Tips and Ideas

This week was a busy one. College is out for the summer, so all of my boys are home. I also have two graduating this spring--one from high school and one from college. Between party planning and trying to absorb all the boxes and crates moving back home for the summer entails, I've been scattered.

So, for this week, I'm sharing a few quick tips and ideas. Whenever I see something useful or interesting, I usually write it down or snap a picture of it to share here. Let's crack open that idea vault and see what's there!

Tip #1

I have a decorative can in my bathroom that I put hand bands, etc. in. It's getting older, but it has sentimental value, so I'm not inclined to part with it. The problem was it kept leaving rust rings on the back of my toilet where it sat. 

Time to bleach the rust ring again!

The solution? Paint the bottom of the can with nail polish. Usually, I'd use clear polish, but I didn't have any, so I used pink. Left the can upside down until it dried-- problem solved!

No more rust marks!

Idea #1

I saw this idea at a craft store and I loved it. I haven't tried it yet, but I'm seeing all sorts of easy possibilities. You could use almost any shape. Just search for clip art silhouettes on the internet, like HERE. Pick a picture, attach it to your jar or vase or plate...really there are so many options...and then paint. Remove the printed art and you've made a cute craft!

I'm imagining some pretty flowers for summer time!

Idea #2

I LOVE this idea. My niece did these with her little girl. I am so bummed that I never thought to do something like this with my own kids. These are her child's feet, captured for a lifetime, in simply the cutest way.

Baby's feet and hands as art. I love it!

Tip #2

I saw this on Facebook and had to laugh. Personally, I can over-prime completely sober. I love online shopping! I even bought my dog food online last week. I bought it from Wal Mart and went through Ebates first, so not only did I get cash back from Ebates, I didn't have to carry the 50 pounds of dog food up my steps! I'm sure my mail carrier hates me.

Be sure to go to Ebates before shopping online!
No sense passing up cash back on purchases and if there are
online coupons and discounts, Ebates usually has them listed too.