Friday Pictures - The Day Full of Calories and the Color Red

First, I want to express my thoughts and prayers to those who are affected by the tragedy at Northern Illinois University. I can't believe that almost a year later, another tragedy has hit a college that is so much like Virginia Tech. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about what happened at Virginia Tech, and now we have another college campus tragedy with fatalities. I'm at a loss for words...


Anyway, here are some pictures from yesterday...

The balloons (I realize my windows need some treatments...I have a pattern, Edie and I need to make it to the fabric store...)
The Krispy Kreme donuts (we put them in here to keep them fresher overnight)
The cards for the teachers (they have microwave popcorn attached...see illustration here) and treats Ray bought them.
Breakfast of champions...Krispy Kreme donuts and chocolate covered marshmellows.
Audrey is obviously ready for school.

Patriot Day

Right after September 11, 2001, I purchased this book for multiple reasons. I wanted a good pictural description of the day and the days after. I also wanted something to be able to show my kids when they are old enough. Pictures often speak louder than words.

But when are they old enough? School age? Middle school? I know they won't really comprehend the entire thing until much older, but eventually in the coming years Ashley will hear about the memorials and moments of silence and ask questions. And because Ashley will ask questions, so will Audrey.

And I know we just finished a Fun Monday where we all did a good deed, but today, go do another good deed (check out this website). Smile at everyone you greet. Pick up lunch for a friend. Email someone and check up on them. Anything, something.

Happy Patriot Day.

How do we tell our kids?

Tonight I am leaving for a much needed scrapbooking weekend away with my neighbor and her friends. I have been looking forward to this weekend for a while now. Anyways, last night I was laying out Ashley's clothes for today and Friday (otherwise Lord knows what Ray would dress her in!). I told her she needed to wear her VT t-shirt on Friday to school.

"Why Mommy?"
"Because."
"Why?"
"Because something bad happened at Tech and we all are wearing our shirts on Friday, you, me, Audrey, Daddy..."
"Why did something bad happen?"
"I don't know."
"Why?"
"I don't know, but let's just wear our shirts okay? And you can tell your teachers at school tomorrow to wear orange and maroon too."
"What bad happened?"
(I can see at this point she isn't going to let it go...)
"Some people died."
"Why?"
"Because a not so nice person was not happy. Let's get pj's on..."

So how do we tell our kids about this? Ashley is too young to really grasp the events that happened, but I know some of you have older children. At what point do we shelter them from the news to letting them know what's going on? Should I have not told Ashley something bad happened?

Thanks...

Thanks for all the great comments and emails yesterday. You guys are great and definitely lifted my spirits when I felt like I couldn't watch the TV anymore or listen to the radio.

I watched the convocation at my desk at work and was luckily interrupted by a phone call from CPA Mom, otherwise I probably would have been a sobbing mess at work, and that would not have been good.

Friday has been deemed "Orange and Maroon" day. Hokies and non-Hokies alike are asked to join the Virginia Tech family and wear our school colors in support of those families who had loved ones who died.

I am also a huge sports fan...seeing this on the morning news this morning brought tears to my eyes...

Virginia Tech

Massacre, 33 dead, largest shooting....

I never thought I would hear those words attached to Virginia Tech, one of my favorite places on earth. I used to joke that when I die, I want my ashes spread in Disney World and at Virginia Tech.

Both Ray and I graduated from Virginia Tech as did my twin brother. What happened on that campus yesterday is scary, sad, disgusting, heart wrenching...I can't even imagine what the parents of those killed think.

I sat at work yesterday and many people emailed me about the tragedy. I am a huge Virginia Tech supporter. Every football game is watched, my kids have matching Virginia Tech cheerleading outfits, my Mom wears a Virginia Tech Mom shirt. Those four years at Tech were the best present my parents have ever given me.

I had one class in Norris Hall, I had friends who lived in West AJ. In fact, my biggest memory of Norris Hall? I was sitting in that classroom in Norris Hall when I decided to pledge the fraternity I ended up meeting Ray in.

It kills me to watch TV and see Virginia Tech Massacre and the VT logo all over the screen. What also kills me is how they are harping on the fact that the students weren't informed after the first shooting at West AJ, and how they are blaming Tech officials for the second shooting. Let's get all the facts and figure out exactly why, how, who. How in the hell are they supposed to contact all the students? 26,000 that live all over on campus and off? I think they did what they could with the information they had. 26,000 students over 2,600 acres and 100 buildings? I do not think the president should be fired.

Sorry for the rambling post...My prayers and thoughts to those involved. What a sad, tragic day. The Virginia Tech campus will never be the same.