John went to Curriculum Night and signed ME up for a bunch of stuff this year....
So Thursday morning, I got to go with Mary on an "Urban field trip" where we visited a bunch of parks/sites in the city of Rochester. But first--what to do with the other two kids?
Yeah, John wasn't thinking about day care issues for the other two when he signed me up for this stuff. So after many phone calls and panicking on my part and schedule rearranging and meeting-missing on his, we finally arranged it so that Izzy went to Leona's for the day and John stayed home and put Keith on the bus at 12:30.
I got up later than I intended (ugh) and got Izzy across town later than intended. John and Mary had violin lessons, so I had to drag Keith on the round trip, too. We got back late, and I had to drop off Keith with John, pick up our lunches, and then rush to Mary's school and attempt to find her classroom (labyrinth, people!). I was almost 15 minutes late--but still had 10 minutes until the bus left, at least. Mary was all in a panic because she didn't have her lunch in her backpack ('cause *I* have it, sweetie, you're OK!).
We first drove to Cobbs Hill Park to walk around and see the highest point in Rochester and the reservoir. Back into the bus for a trip to Highland Park (where we have our annual Lilac Festival) to see the conservatory (beautiful!). Back on the bus for a drive around and through the campus of University of Rochester (the reason John and I moved to this @#$% city in the first place). Then we drove to High Falls (Yes, Rochester has a waterfall DOWNTOWN where they used to mill grain--it's so cool! We have taken some of our visitors for a walk through there....). There we had a guided tour through the museum (I didn't even know it was there!). We ate at the museum then walked around and gawked at the Falls. Now it's back on the bus AGAIN (and this is where my head started HURTING) for a quick trip to the Charlotte Light House--which is on Lake Ontario. And if it weren't for this trip, I would never have known about it. The kids got to run around here and play tag (the lighthouse itself was closed) and expend some stuck-on-the-bus-for-too-many-trips energy. Then we went home--my head splitting the whole way through the bus fumes and bumps and noise--and Mary and I just cuddled together throughout....
Fun trip--despite the headache. I learned a lot about Rochester and its origins. Mary's favorite part was the museum, of course. Lots of hands-on stuff to do there.
After the trip, I had to go back across town to pick up Izzy, and after chatting a bit with my gf, I had to rush home to get Keith and Mary off the bus.
Busy, busy day.
Now I just have to figure out what I'm going to do with Izzy while I have to go to Keith's Halloween party next Wednesday. I'm hoping his teacher will let me bring her--just so that I don't have to make an extra trip to Leona's that day (as we're going there that evening to trick-or-treat with them, anyway....
Saturday, October 27, 2007
On Pictures
Just a side note to tell you about the kids' school pictures.
In Keith's poses, if we squinted very, very hard, John and I swore we could see the ketchup specks on his chin. But those sample photos are very, very grainy. Will the actual prints show more detail? We decided that his smile for BOTH poses was so wonderful that we would take that chance--and we bought some.
Only one of Mary's poses had her pretty (toothless!) smile, but her hair was indeed, well, TERRIBLE. The way she put her hair clips in did not suit her face, but that wasn't the bad part. One hair clip had a piece of hair with a big LOOP in it that stuck out and was indeed VERY noticeable. Scrap it, folks! Retake time! (And I know teachers and photographers aren't paid to be obsessive MOTHERS, but seriously? They can't attempt to smooth a kid's hair on PICTURE DAY?)
And I was good and non-obsessive and did NOT show up for retakes day. I just took more time with her hair and pulled it back in clips that hold better. She came home without the clips in her hair (and one lost)--but she claims she didn't mess with it until AFTER the pictures. We'll see....
In Keith's poses, if we squinted very, very hard, John and I swore we could see the ketchup specks on his chin. But those sample photos are very, very grainy. Will the actual prints show more detail? We decided that his smile for BOTH poses was so wonderful that we would take that chance--and we bought some.
Only one of Mary's poses had her pretty (toothless!) smile, but her hair was indeed, well, TERRIBLE. The way she put her hair clips in did not suit her face, but that wasn't the bad part. One hair clip had a piece of hair with a big LOOP in it that stuck out and was indeed VERY noticeable. Scrap it, folks! Retake time! (And I know teachers and photographers aren't paid to be obsessive MOTHERS, but seriously? They can't attempt to smooth a kid's hair on PICTURE DAY?)
And I was good and non-obsessive and did NOT show up for retakes day. I just took more time with her hair and pulled it back in clips that hold better. She came home without the clips in her hair (and one lost)--but she claims she didn't mess with it until AFTER the pictures. We'll see....
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
How We're Doing
John and I have noticed a wonderful change in Mary. She's so much NICER now. Not so teen-agey, if you will. I mean, we still have issues with her talking back from time to time, and let's not get into the issue of when/how to get her homework done (seriously! you should SEE how much homework this poor little 2nd grader has!), BUT there is a marked difference. We contribute it to her getting more sleep.
Keith: he's still wavering. On the one hand, I can see definite improvement in the fact that he gets up and gets dressed on his own with absolutely NO yelling from me! Again: sleeping in is SUCH a good thing. On the other hand, we are still having problems with his behaviour. We assume part of it is the "middle child" thing. I'm trying SO hard to pay attention to the GOOD behaviour and IGNORE the whiny/crying/annoying behaviour, but it's just. so. hard. I've been working with his reading with him, and I'm hoping that this positive attention will be enough to stave off that bad attention he's trying to get. *sigh* We've got a long way to go.
(I got a note from his teacher that said, "Keith can READ!" *snicker* I've KNOWN that since this summer! But it would be rude and retort that back. I mean, it IS a new discovery to his new teacher! And she was just being all happy and sharing it with me, BUT...yes, he's been reading for a while now! Thank YOU!)
Izzy: she's just a good kid, period. I mean, she's not perfect. I've noticed more little temper tantrums lately. Usually due to Keith being mean to her or if I've asked her to do something she doesn't want to do. But she's so funny. When she gets all mad and crying, she will usually put HERSELF in time-out. "FINE! I go in time-out!" OK--you just DO that then! You showed ME! And I can even trust her to come OUT when she's all better without a word from me. WHERE did this child come from?!
I have to do a lot of work on MYSELF, too. I am trying not to resort to YELLING so quickly. I can tell I'm better THIS week than I was LAST week. Hmmmm....probably due more to the cycles of the moon rather than a conscious effort on my part, though. Oh well, will keep trying to work on that.
Keith: he's still wavering. On the one hand, I can see definite improvement in the fact that he gets up and gets dressed on his own with absolutely NO yelling from me! Again: sleeping in is SUCH a good thing. On the other hand, we are still having problems with his behaviour. We assume part of it is the "middle child" thing. I'm trying SO hard to pay attention to the GOOD behaviour and IGNORE the whiny/crying/annoying behaviour, but it's just. so. hard. I've been working with his reading with him, and I'm hoping that this positive attention will be enough to stave off that bad attention he's trying to get. *sigh* We've got a long way to go.
(I got a note from his teacher that said, "Keith can READ!" *snicker* I've KNOWN that since this summer! But it would be rude and retort that back. I mean, it IS a new discovery to his new teacher! And she was just being all happy and sharing it with me, BUT...yes, he's been reading for a while now! Thank YOU!)
Izzy: she's just a good kid, period. I mean, she's not perfect. I've noticed more little temper tantrums lately. Usually due to Keith being mean to her or if I've asked her to do something she doesn't want to do. But she's so funny. When she gets all mad and crying, she will usually put HERSELF in time-out. "FINE! I go in time-out!" OK--you just DO that then! You showed ME! And I can even trust her to come OUT when she's all better without a word from me. WHERE did this child come from?!
I have to do a lot of work on MYSELF, too. I am trying not to resort to YELLING so quickly. I can tell I'm better THIS week than I was LAST week. Hmmmm....probably due more to the cycles of the moon rather than a conscious effort on my part, though. Oh well, will keep trying to work on that.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
KEITH IS SLEEPING IN HIS OWN ROOM!!!
I finished most of the trim around the walls and started on the closet/doorway before I finally had to mail it in and just start clearing all the junk out of the room. I was going to mop the floor, but John said to skip it for now. So I vacuumed and swept and then Friday morning the furniture store guys showed up and put together Keith's loft. Wow. It's a lot BIGGER than I thought--er, actually, Keith's room is really, really small!
Keith was apprehensive at first. It's been over a year since we've had any kind of bunked bed around (and Mary usually slept on the top bunk), so he was a little nervous about going up and down the ladder. But Friday night, he got up in his bed (early!), and John and I told him just to call for us if he needed to get down (Keith ALWAYS has to use the bathroom around 11:00 at night--no matter how many times he's used it before he gets into bed). Keith made it through the bathroom break, and the drink-of-water break with help and by morning, he actually got out of the bed on his OWN. Victory!
He's one happy little boy.
John has NOW decided that he DOESN'T WANT the rest of the trim painted orange--this after I had already started DOING it. Now what?
Now we just gotta get Izzy moved into Mary's room. So, should we re-bunk those two beds (requiring the purchase of another twin mattress)? Or should we leave them separate (still requiring said purchase)? OR should we just take down the one bed and then move Izzy's toddler bed in it's place? Which--I reminded John--she really does need to move out of soon as she's almost three! *sigh* Should probably look at mattresses with next pay check....
Keith was apprehensive at first. It's been over a year since we've had any kind of bunked bed around (and Mary usually slept on the top bunk), so he was a little nervous about going up and down the ladder. But Friday night, he got up in his bed (early!), and John and I told him just to call for us if he needed to get down (Keith ALWAYS has to use the bathroom around 11:00 at night--no matter how many times he's used it before he gets into bed). Keith made it through the bathroom break, and the drink-of-water break with help and by morning, he actually got out of the bed on his OWN. Victory!
He's one happy little boy.
John has NOW decided that he DOESN'T WANT the rest of the trim painted orange--this after I had already started DOING it. Now what?
Now we just gotta get Izzy moved into Mary's room. So, should we re-bunk those two beds (requiring the purchase of another twin mattress)? Or should we leave them separate (still requiring said purchase)? OR should we just take down the one bed and then move Izzy's toddler bed in it's place? Which--I reminded John--she really does need to move out of soon as she's almost three! *sigh* Should probably look at mattresses with next pay check....
Tally
Number of times Mary has almost missed the bus: SIX
Times just last week: FOUR
Number of times she needed to ride the bus last week: FOUR
Number of times she has actually MISSED the bus: ONE
Number of times Keith has almost missed the bus: TWO
Number of times Keith and I were coming home from somewhere and ended up pulling up to the house DIRECTLY BEHIND THE BUS, therefore missing it: ONE
Number of times I've planned and showed up for a Girl Scout meeting that didn't actually exist: ONE
Number of times I've plotted our current Girl Scout meeting dates on the calendar: NONE
Number of times I've put Keith in time out for not listening, disobeying, and whining/crying: Well, I know HE can't count that high...!
Cups of coffee I'm swinging in a day: up to two.
Number of times I cooked a real breakfast of eggs and bacon: ONE
How many children complained about the eggs-and-bacon-instead-of-cold-cereal breakfast: THREE
Number of times a square meal has been planned, cooked, and ready by 6:00: FIVE
Number of times John didn't get home from work in time to eat it: THREE
Number of times I said "to heck with it" and made sandwiches: EVERY OTHER NIGHT
Loaves of bread we're going through: WOW
And Jugs of Milk: Might as well buy a cow
How many times I wished I were back at work: NONE
Times just last week: FOUR
Number of times she needed to ride the bus last week: FOUR
Number of times she has actually MISSED the bus: ONE
Number of times Keith has almost missed the bus: TWO
Number of times Keith and I were coming home from somewhere and ended up pulling up to the house DIRECTLY BEHIND THE BUS, therefore missing it: ONE
Number of times I've planned and showed up for a Girl Scout meeting that didn't actually exist: ONE
Number of times I've plotted our current Girl Scout meeting dates on the calendar: NONE
Number of times I've put Keith in time out for not listening, disobeying, and whining/crying: Well, I know HE can't count that high...!
Cups of coffee I'm swinging in a day: up to two.
Number of times I cooked a real breakfast of eggs and bacon: ONE
How many children complained about the eggs-and-bacon-instead-of-cold-cereal breakfast: THREE
Number of times a square meal has been planned, cooked, and ready by 6:00: FIVE
Number of times John didn't get home from work in time to eat it: THREE
Number of times I said "to heck with it" and made sandwiches: EVERY OTHER NIGHT
Loaves of bread we're going through: WOW
And Jugs of Milk: Might as well buy a cow
How many times I wished I were back at work: NONE
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Number of outfits worn today:
THREE
1: Not-so-favorite jeans and long-sleeved shirt with sweater--for general outfit of the day and for neighborhood appearance of putting kids on buses.
2: VERY ill-fitting jeans and crappy t-shirt for painting Keith's room. (Got ONE wall of trim done, by the way.)
3: Favorite jeans and new layered sweater--for meeting tonight (I won't be putting this on until after dinner as I don't want to get it all "cooked on").
Three outfits a day? I'm starting to feel like a movie star--without the perks of the money, GOOD clothes, and entourage--oh, and the paparazzi, of course.
1: Not-so-favorite jeans and long-sleeved shirt with sweater--for general outfit of the day and for neighborhood appearance of putting kids on buses.
2: VERY ill-fitting jeans and crappy t-shirt for painting Keith's room. (Got ONE wall of trim done, by the way.)
3: Favorite jeans and new layered sweater--for meeting tonight (I won't be putting this on until after dinner as I don't want to get it all "cooked on").
Three outfits a day? I'm starting to feel like a movie star--without the perks of the money, GOOD clothes, and entourage--oh, and the paparazzi, of course.
High Hopes
John bought Keith a new loft with a desk underneath for his room. You know, the one that we haven't finished painting yet in what, 15 months? John scheduled delivery (and installation!) for Friday. So I guess my new mission, if I choose to accept it, is to finish painting the trim, clear out all the decorating paraphernalia, and sweep and mop the floors BY FRIDAY.
I have to write some important Girl Scout emails today.
I have a Service Team meeting tonight.
I have to finish preparing for our next Girl Scout meeting.
Which is Wednesday night.
Uh oh.
Wish me luck.
I have to write some important Girl Scout emails today.
I have a Service Team meeting tonight.
I have to finish preparing for our next Girl Scout meeting.
Which is Wednesday night.
Uh oh.
Wish me luck.
And THIS is why I'm doing it
Yesterday I took Keith and Izzy to visit a friend of mine across town. The kids all played, and my friend and I got caught up and exchanged "how-to-cope" advice (she's been doing this longer--and she home-schools to boot). We ended our outing with all six kids sitting outside enjoying a nice fall picnic. While everyone was sitting eating their pb&j contentedly and enjoying the fresh fall breeze (What on EARTH would I do if one of my kids were allergic to peanuts?!), Izzy, sitting next to me, leans over and pats me on the shoulder, then gives me the sweetest grin while trying to wink at me (which constitutes of her blinking both eyes, but I knew what she meant).
Yeah. THAT'S why I'm doing this.
Yeah. THAT'S why I'm doing this.
Friday, October 12, 2007
Adjustments to be made
I know that FlyLady suggests that you "dress down to your shoes," and I completely get the concept, but I have a problem with it. Wearing my shoes inside the house is causing my kitchen floor to get prematurely dirty. By sweeping like a mad woman after EVERY meal, I am able to get my kitchen floor to last a week without mopping. Wearing shoes? Now I've got these grimy, big SPOTS in front of the fridge and the sink. And I want to mop more often. NO! MUST NOT! Too much time spent on cleaning as it is! Will rugs help? Or will they just be new hazards to the running-through-the-kitchen children?
Also, I've been trying to wrap my head about how to dress in my new lifestyle for quite a while now. I want to be comfortable and yet not look FRUMPY.
My job had a VERY lax dress code. We could wear jeans every day--and I did. But I noticed that I would start to get too relaxed, and look more and more like I did in college--sweatshirt and jeans--which just didn't look RIGHT on a woman with three children in her *cough* mid-thirties. So, now I've got a new outlook on life, where I could possibly get away with the same wardrobe.... But the problem is still there. I don't want to be frumpy, yet I want to be comfortable. I don't want to wear those J-Lo-like velor suits, but I want to be able to PLAY with my kids in comfort.
I think I've decided jeans are a no go. As much as I like them, sitting on the floor playing blocks with Izzy for hours in them is not conducive to comfort. And then jeans can wrinkle in funny ways when you wear them ALL DAY like that.
So, I turned to one of my favorite programs for inspiration: What Not To Wear. Sure, not every episode does apply to me, but surely there is something there I can use?
So today, I went and spent $100.00 on two new pairs of slacks (tweed-like and comfy) and three shirts (two layered, one henley). Now I'm thinking, "Gosh, am I now OVER-DRESSED?" I will be chic. I will be comfortable. I will be able to go to my Girl Scout meetings and Parent-Teacher conferences and playdates at least LOOKING put-together. But what about baking? And finishing the painting in Keith's room? And spending two hours pulling the moon flowers out of our garden (like I did yesterday--yipes!)? Obviously, I can't wear those clothes to do THAT stuff. Am I going to have to spend my day changing my clothes all day? A different outfit for each different purpose? OH GOD, THE LAUNDRY!!!!
So, I'm begging all you SAHers. HELP ME! Can it be done? Comfort, style, PLUS utility--and yet reasonably keeping the laundry load the same ('cause I can't POSSIBLY do more laundry than I'm doing now, I tell you!).
(And I won't even START on the freakish style that my hair has turned into. THAT needs a post of its own--and a stylist to come to my house EVERY DAY and do my hair for me.)
Also, I've been trying to wrap my head about how to dress in my new lifestyle for quite a while now. I want to be comfortable and yet not look FRUMPY.
My job had a VERY lax dress code. We could wear jeans every day--and I did. But I noticed that I would start to get too relaxed, and look more and more like I did in college--sweatshirt and jeans--which just didn't look RIGHT on a woman with three children in her *cough* mid-thirties. So, now I've got a new outlook on life, where I could possibly get away with the same wardrobe.... But the problem is still there. I don't want to be frumpy, yet I want to be comfortable. I don't want to wear those J-Lo-like velor suits, but I want to be able to PLAY with my kids in comfort.
I think I've decided jeans are a no go. As much as I like them, sitting on the floor playing blocks with Izzy for hours in them is not conducive to comfort. And then jeans can wrinkle in funny ways when you wear them ALL DAY like that.
So, I turned to one of my favorite programs for inspiration: What Not To Wear. Sure, not every episode does apply to me, but surely there is something there I can use?
So today, I went and spent $100.00 on two new pairs of slacks (tweed-like and comfy) and three shirts (two layered, one henley). Now I'm thinking, "Gosh, am I now OVER-DRESSED?" I will be chic. I will be comfortable. I will be able to go to my Girl Scout meetings and Parent-Teacher conferences and playdates at least LOOKING put-together. But what about baking? And finishing the painting in Keith's room? And spending two hours pulling the moon flowers out of our garden (like I did yesterday--yipes!)? Obviously, I can't wear those clothes to do THAT stuff. Am I going to have to spend my day changing my clothes all day? A different outfit for each different purpose? OH GOD, THE LAUNDRY!!!!
So, I'm begging all you SAHers. HELP ME! Can it be done? Comfort, style, PLUS utility--and yet reasonably keeping the laundry load the same ('cause I can't POSSIBLY do more laundry than I'm doing now, I tell you!).
(And I won't even START on the freakish style that my hair has turned into. THAT needs a post of its own--and a stylist to come to my house EVERY DAY and do my hair for me.)
Sunday, October 07, 2007
Not missing it AT ALL
I figured I would miss going to work. I thought I would have this over-whelming urge that I was in the wrong place--that I was supposed to BE somewhere else. Like this was just a vacation and I was due back to work any day.
I didn't.
I felt I was exactly where I should be--temper tantrums and all.
It was nice.
I didn't.
I felt I was exactly where I should be--temper tantrums and all.
It was nice.
First Week
Monday: Keith got up and got dressed ALL BY HIMSELF. It was a beautiful day, so after I put Mary on the bus (and verified the driver knew to pick up Keith later and that yes, they were being dropped off, too), I took Keith and Izzy to the park that's two blocks down the street. It was great--until Keith got upset that he couldn't swing himself high enough (he's still learning to swing himself) which culminated into a temper tantrum. This, of course, led to our hasty retrieval--which led to another fit from Izzy. Yeah. Real great job on the first day. After Keith went to school, and I put Izzy down for her nap, I spent two hours getting a ton of my work done for Girl Scouts (yes, I actually do have "work" I have to do in my little service team position). Got pretty disgusted at the inner-politics of it all and wondered if Campfire Girls were still around?
Tuesday: Keith got up and got dressed ALL BY HIMSELF! It turned out to be a rainy, overcast day, so I spent most of it working with Keith with his reading and working with Izzy and her letter recognition (she knows "W" and "O" and sometimes "H"). I spent the whole precious afternoon naptime getting acquainted with the 100 channels we just got from Dish Network. Getting Dish was probably a big mistake--spent all afternoon watching a movie and getting nothing done. Mary came home and complained that she had "nothing to read" for homework (She has to read 20 minutes every night. She just finished reading the first two Harry Potters, but I won't let her go any further than that for fear of recurring dementor nightmares. And everything else seems "boring" to her after being exposed to Harry Potter!). Took all three kids to library--giving them the "Rules of Going to the Library" along the way. 1) Be quiet. 2) NO RUNNING. 3) NO WHINING (this directed at Keith, the cranky boy). 4) LISTEN AND FOLLOW MOMMY'S INSTRUCTIONS. We hadn't been there two minutes and Keith had broken all four. After his "WARNING" was issued, he behaved, and we all got a bunch of new books to read--that hopefully aren't boring. Had more fun with G.S. politics at Service Unit meeting that night.
Wednesday: Keith got up at 6:30 for some strange reason. First day I actually had to goad him a little to get motivated (he was cranky from getting up too early). Another nice day. We played kickball outside and worked more on reading and letters. Naptime spent getting prepared for our first G.S. meeting that night. Thankfully new co-leader did most of the work. I wasn't in the mood after dealing with some immature, little leaders for the last couple of days. Fun meeting, though. Mary enjoyed herself, too.
Thursday: Keith got up and got dressed ALL BY HIMSELF (I'm sorry, but this is REALLY a big deal. When I was working, getting him up and dressed was teeth-clenching!). Another nice day outside. I took the kids for a surprise visit to see Leona, our friend and previous care-giver. Keith was so excited to see his best buddy, Jack. The kids all played while Leona and I caught up (and I got a sympathetic ear for all my G.S. troubles). Keith was filthy by the time we left, and I ended up having to change his shirt before the bus came.
Friday: The kids didn't have school. The whole day felt like a Saturday. I got some reading done and some laundry done. Friday night was the "Girl Scout Cookie Kick-Off." Tons of girls and leaders/moms in a stuffy/hot gymnasium for an hour. I was supposed to perform a song with the Service Team, but I left early. Mary was getting bored, and I was glad to get out of that hot gym. But at least I behaved myself.
Saturday: HOT! Mary and I spent an hour and a half going up and down the block trying to sell Girl Scout cookies. She sold about 12 boxes. Then, while talking to our next-door neighbor who was having a garage sale, a truck stops by--and it's the person who used to own our house (BEFORE the people who sold it to us)! We've heard from our neighbors what nice people they were, and had a treat meeting him and talking about the house with him. Only the thought of how cluttered the house was with TOYS EVERYWHERE prevented me from inviting him in. After putting Izzy down for a nap, I took Mary to a friend's house for a play date. I stayed for a while, getting acquainted with the Mom. I then went home and picked up the house feverishly. I straightened up the toy room, the den, the living room, and the kitchen--all in about an hour and a half. It was the most housework I'd gotten done ALL WEEK. We picked up Mary from her playdate and headed to a furniture store looking for a dining room table. The kids were going from chair to sofa to loveseat to bed "testing" them. John and I got frustrated with trying to keep the kids in check while looking at furniture. We threw in the towel, threw the kids back in the car, and headed home.
Tuesday: Keith got up and got dressed ALL BY HIMSELF! It turned out to be a rainy, overcast day, so I spent most of it working with Keith with his reading and working with Izzy and her letter recognition (she knows "W" and "O" and sometimes "H"). I spent the whole precious afternoon naptime getting acquainted with the 100 channels we just got from Dish Network. Getting Dish was probably a big mistake--spent all afternoon watching a movie and getting nothing done. Mary came home and complained that she had "nothing to read" for homework (She has to read 20 minutes every night. She just finished reading the first two Harry Potters, but I won't let her go any further than that for fear of recurring dementor nightmares. And everything else seems "boring" to her after being exposed to Harry Potter!). Took all three kids to library--giving them the "Rules of Going to the Library" along the way. 1) Be quiet. 2) NO RUNNING. 3) NO WHINING (this directed at Keith, the cranky boy). 4) LISTEN AND FOLLOW MOMMY'S INSTRUCTIONS. We hadn't been there two minutes and Keith had broken all four. After his "WARNING" was issued, he behaved, and we all got a bunch of new books to read--that hopefully aren't boring. Had more fun with G.S. politics at Service Unit meeting that night.
Wednesday: Keith got up at 6:30 for some strange reason. First day I actually had to goad him a little to get motivated (he was cranky from getting up too early). Another nice day. We played kickball outside and worked more on reading and letters. Naptime spent getting prepared for our first G.S. meeting that night. Thankfully new co-leader did most of the work. I wasn't in the mood after dealing with some immature, little leaders for the last couple of days. Fun meeting, though. Mary enjoyed herself, too.
Thursday: Keith got up and got dressed ALL BY HIMSELF (I'm sorry, but this is REALLY a big deal. When I was working, getting him up and dressed was teeth-clenching!). Another nice day outside. I took the kids for a surprise visit to see Leona, our friend and previous care-giver. Keith was so excited to see his best buddy, Jack. The kids all played while Leona and I caught up (and I got a sympathetic ear for all my G.S. troubles). Keith was filthy by the time we left, and I ended up having to change his shirt before the bus came.
Friday: The kids didn't have school. The whole day felt like a Saturday. I got some reading done and some laundry done. Friday night was the "Girl Scout Cookie Kick-Off." Tons of girls and leaders/moms in a stuffy/hot gymnasium for an hour. I was supposed to perform a song with the Service Team, but I left early. Mary was getting bored, and I was glad to get out of that hot gym. But at least I behaved myself.
Saturday: HOT! Mary and I spent an hour and a half going up and down the block trying to sell Girl Scout cookies. She sold about 12 boxes. Then, while talking to our next-door neighbor who was having a garage sale, a truck stops by--and it's the person who used to own our house (BEFORE the people who sold it to us)! We've heard from our neighbors what nice people they were, and had a treat meeting him and talking about the house with him. Only the thought of how cluttered the house was with TOYS EVERYWHERE prevented me from inviting him in. After putting Izzy down for a nap, I took Mary to a friend's house for a play date. I stayed for a while, getting acquainted with the Mom. I then went home and picked up the house feverishly. I straightened up the toy room, the den, the living room, and the kitchen--all in about an hour and a half. It was the most housework I'd gotten done ALL WEEK. We picked up Mary from her playdate and headed to a furniture store looking for a dining room table. The kids were going from chair to sofa to loveseat to bed "testing" them. John and I got frustrated with trying to keep the kids in check while looking at furniture. We threw in the towel, threw the kids back in the car, and headed home.
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