Life Lessons From a Caterpillar

Penguin has successfully transformed into a moth!!

Colby got home from school yesterday to see an empty cocoon and a moth perched on the side of the netting. I was at the mailboxes and heard this scream. After the past two weeks and our injury record, I was almost afraid to run into the house. He met me at the door jumping up and down and screaming that the butterfly is alive!

Whew! I am impressed with ourselves. I was so worried that the caterpillar would die the first night. When it didn't, I just knew it would never "hatch". I even read up on the internet about caterpillars and how long it takes for them to hatch -- 2 weeks to a few months. I figured I would have to have that net cage on my fireplace hearth for a few more months before we could convince Colby that it wasn't going to come out!

This morning, we decided it was time to let him go.



Colby was fine at first. And, then, he got very sad.



"I don't want to let him go, Mom."

I put my arm around him and MY tears started pouring down my cheeks. I could feel his little heart breaking. I wondered why that caterpillar had to mess with his heart! Instead, I decided to prepare him for the future...I said, "Just remember this in about 10 years when you are leaving me to start your life and I don't want YOU to go."

April

Only seven more weeks until summer!!!?! What??? Where did the time go? I can't believe April is almost gone. So much has been going on, yet I have not had time to post about it. So here is a quick glimpse at this month so far in the lives of our family:

1. My in-laws came the first weekend of April to see the boys play some baseball. Unfortunately, Colby's tournament was cancelled; but, they got to see some great Hooks games! We had a fun but quick visit. I believe that I am the luckiest person in the world. I have wonderful in-laws. I hear my friends complain about their in-laws and the families they have married into -- I married into the best family ever! (And I am not saying that just because they read my blog!!)

2. The weekend my in-laws were here, Colby found a caterpillar at the ballpark and begged for us to let him bring it home. He named it Penguin and put lots of care into making it comfortable and safe. Feeling pretty certain it would be dead before morning, we were all shocked to see that it was busy making its cocoon on Monday morning. We have had lots of fun watching it and are waiting eagerly for the butterfly to emerge. Colby is even keeping a daily journal, to track its progress.


Penguin is working hard.

All finished with his cocoon.


Chris and Colby made a net contraption so when he becomes a butterfly, he can fly around and dry his wings.
And now we wait...


3. That same weekend, Connor and one of his teammates collided into each other while packing up their bat bags. After seeing our doctor and having x-rays, we will find out if his nose is broken tomorrow. I am pretty sure that if it is, I will no longer be in the running for 2009 Mother of the Year Award because I wasn't even going to take him to the doctor! After several adults told me it was at least fractured, I decided to make him an appointment...6 days later!

4. Chris spent the second week of April in England and Austria. The boys and I had a quiet, relaxing Good Friday and Chris made it home in time for Easter. We woke up Easter morning to the first tp'ing job (of many, I'm sure) on our house! How quickly life changes from hunting Easter Eggs to cleaning up toilet paper!



5. This past Tuesday, Chris and I met two of our sweetest friends from high school and college for lunch -- Carrie and her husband, Kurt. Carrie was one of my best friends in high school, my college roommate and was in our wedding. I was in hers and Kurt's wedding. And, then we moved apart. We haven't seen each other in nine years and we had SO much fun at lunch. I really thought they were going to throw us out because we laughed so loudly and often! They have not changed a bit and will always be dear to us.



6. Tuesday evening, while at Connor's practice, Colby and his buddy found another caterpillar. He begged me to let him take it home. I convinced him that we didn't want to mix Penguin and the new one -- the new one might disturb the whole "changing" process. One of the other mothers who has a 4-year-old said that he needed to bring a bug to school on Friday and if there was an empty water bottle, she would take it. Colby ran to the car where he had an empty bottle and proceeded to poke holes in the cap with his pocketknife -- I had no idea what he was doing or that he even had his knife in the car with him. A few minutes later, he comes screaming across the parking lot holding his finger as it gushed blood everywhere. The knife had closed up on his finger and cut the tip VERY WELL. Chris and I rushed him to Urgent Care where they sewed him back together -- six stitches on that little fingertip. Yep, 2009 Mother of the Year Award is out of my hands for sure! Luckily, his baseball tournament was rained out this weekend and he should be as good as new for next weekend! Needless to say, he wants me to throw that knife away!



7. Tuesday also began a little renovation process on my kitchen. Our house is 10 years old and is needing a little updating. This was the first project that we hired someone to come and do and, guess what...it is done!! We had a fluorescent light box in the middle of the kitchen and have replaced it with recessed lighting. Amazing what a difference this made!! We finished painting the ceiling tonight and are expecting a new oven and microwave in a few weeks! Yipee!!

Before:



After:



We have had a very rainy weekend, which was a welcome event. We have been able to take a breath and enjoy each other for a few days. Here's hoping the next few weeks are a little less eventful!

2nd Grade Curriculum

Colby was so excited to tell me about school today. They took a test over a section in Social Studies called "The Way Cities Were". I asked him how he did since we weren't given anything to help them study. "I think I did pretty good, mom."

He continued, "The section was over the slaves that were here a long time ago...you know, like in 1980."

Ummmm, I hope that test didn't include dates!!

Changes and Risks

A week ago today, Chris resigned from the company that he had worked for for over 14 years. A company that hired him fresh out of college and who molded him and shaped him into the businessman he is today.

This last week I have been made aware of how big an impact Chris made on many people's lives. When he came home Wednesday afternoon, he was truly spent. It was probably one of the most emotional days he has ever had. He said the people streamed into his office after hearing he was leaving to tearfully tell him goodbye. The e-mails and phone calls we continue to still get are amazing to me. I guess, being the wife and not seeing my man in action at work, I always wondered what kind of a boss/co-worker he was. I have my answer and can say that I am so proud of him. He has left a positive mark on many.

Some may say we are crazy, especially in today's business climate. We also are not ones who like change or risk-taking. This might be why it took us three months to decide that this was a risk we should take.

When we went to Mt. Rushmore this past summer, a park ranger gave a talk on the four presidents and the risks that shaped them into the great men they became. This park ranger had a funny way of saying "risks" and would really emphasize the "sks" at the end. She also used the word "risks" at least twice per sentence. By the end of her presentation all four of us were hysterical. "Risks" has become a word we will say to each other and then will all laugh and be transported back to a great summer vacation.

Come Monday, Chris will start fresh at a new company. I know he will do great; but, it is a little nerve-racking for me and I am sure for him as well. The "what-if's" were too great not to try this risk...I am confident this risk will shape him into an even greater man.

In the meantime, Chris is off until next Monday and has been working on projects around the house. Remember my post a few months back, "All That's Left is the Finishing Up"? Well...he is "finishing things up"!!! It is also Spring Break and we all are loving having Daddy home with us!

What Have We Created??

Our oldest, Connor, will be 13 soon. We decided to get him his first cell phone for Christmas (because, you know he was the ONLY one without one!!). He doesn't get home from school until about 4:30 and every once in a while he will text me while he is on the bus with a question about practice or something. So about 4:10 on Friday, my phone goes off and I check the text which read: "Madre can u fix me a cup of tea now cuz I am rlly thirsty". Are you kidding me? What have we created??

Well, Saturday I got to see what we have truly created and it made me proud.

In the baseball league that Connor plays for, there is a group called The Superstars. These are the physically and mentally challenged kids who still love the game of baseball and want an opportunity to play. Connor's baseball team has adopted them and helps out sometimes at their games. Saturday was opening day for Spring/Klein beginning with a parade. The Hooks were asked by the Superstar's parents to march with the Superstars in the parade. They then went on to help them with their first game of the season.

Connor was so excited to be a part of this. A few of the boys were a little timid and not sure what to do; but, not Connor. He ran onto the field and started warming up with the kids and talked to them and showed them how to do things that come second-nature to him. As I stood next to all of these proud mothers whose kids are on the Superstars team, I also oozed with pride for Connor and the other Hooks who really were enjoying this Saturday morning.

My hope is that Connor will always have that kindness in his heart for others and a willingness to help and teach.



And, yes, Connor, mom would love to fix you a cup of tea!

What A Difference A Couple of Hours Makes

Right this minute, it sounds like my ceiling is going to come crashing down around me while I am serenaded by Aerosmith. And, every once in a while, there is an 8-year-old making this squealing noise as he is transported through the TV and Wii and into Guitar Hero!

Only a few hours ago, this rockin' dude was giving a dignified speech pretending to be Benjamin Franklin in his 2nd Grade Living Museum.



OK...maybe "dignified" is too strong a word!!

P.S. I'm not sure he will look great as a bald man...maybe that gene won't be passed to him!!

Do I Need To Introduce Myself??

Whew! I wasn't sure I even remembered my password to make a new post!! :) I can't believe it has almost been a month since my last post -- guess I am still having blogger's block or it could be that all I have to speak of is baseball!

We have now received both boy's practice and tournament schedules for the Spring season and it appears that we will be at a practice or game seven nights a week until June...oh, wait! We do get this Sunday off!! Yipee!!

All I have to say to that is that we better hire a yard man!

Connor's team has already competed in three tournaments and have taken first place in all three. That is a great way to begin the season! The past two years, his team has competed in Louisiana and Kansas for the World Series. This year, we are heading to Cooperstown, NY. There will be 94 teams from all over the United States. The boys will actually get to stay in a dorm at the park for the week with their coaches (makes me glad I am just a coaches wife!!). We are all very excited and hope they continue doing their best!

Big League Dreams, League City


Cy-Fair


Beaumont


Colby is on a new team and his tourneys begin in two weeks. I am anxious to see them play and know I will be putting some pictures of his team on my blog soon!!