Or at least go admire my daughter's modeling skills (the goose egg on her forehead really makes the pictures, I think)!
In other news: My father is in town for a visit. He surprised me as I thought he wasn't coming until the END of the week. Ah well--at least now he's in town for his birthday! The kids are home with him now. I wonder what hijinks they are all up to? He didn't answer when I called at lunchtime.... Hmmmm....
Monday, August 31, 2009
Craziness
The childcare situation has been SOLVED. And...well, I'm very excited to tell you that I'm going to start working PART-TIME, now! And although I wish it could have been an announcement that I was just outright quitting my job to join the ranks of bon-bon eaters everywhere again, it's just not fiscally possible this year.
My company was nice and granted me this part-time wish so that I could go home and get the kids off the bus. In addition to my own darlings, I'm also taking on two sisters whose mother was ALSO pretty frustrated with the lack of affordable day care options in this town.
Izzy has been moved BACK to AM kindergarten and will be spending her afternoons with the nice Mom whom I happened to talk to last week and who happened to want a few extra bucks--and was willing.
It's kind of a crazy set-up. It will probably only be for a year--I'll have to go back to full-time by the summer (or hopefully find a better position in the company)--but I'm pretty happy about it.
So...funds will be a smidge tighter than last year, but I think the saving of my sanity will be well worth it!
The kids start school next Tuesday. I can hardly wait for my shorter hours! And to maybe get dinner ready at a reasonable hour! And to have a bit of breathing room before after-school activities. And....YAY!
...NOW I just gotta go get all those darn school supplies! NEXT PAYCHECK!
My company was nice and granted me this part-time wish so that I could go home and get the kids off the bus. In addition to my own darlings, I'm also taking on two sisters whose mother was ALSO pretty frustrated with the lack of affordable day care options in this town.
Izzy has been moved BACK to AM kindergarten and will be spending her afternoons with the nice Mom whom I happened to talk to last week and who happened to want a few extra bucks--and was willing.
It's kind of a crazy set-up. It will probably only be for a year--I'll have to go back to full-time by the summer (or hopefully find a better position in the company)--but I'm pretty happy about it.
So...funds will be a smidge tighter than last year, but I think the saving of my sanity will be well worth it!
The kids start school next Tuesday. I can hardly wait for my shorter hours! And to maybe get dinner ready at a reasonable hour! And to have a bit of breathing room before after-school activities. And....YAY!
...NOW I just gotta go get all those darn school supplies! NEXT PAYCHECK!
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Dazed and Confused
The daycare decisions just keep getting more and more confusing!
After submitting to the fact that we will have to send Izzy to a daycare center this year--and then having to switch her from AM to PM kindergarten due to busing, Izzy has NOW been offered a spot with an acquaintance--but I'd have to switch her BACK to AM. (Still brewing over this decision....)
And then on top of that, John and I are attempting some work schedule finagling to take care of the morning/afternoon bus for the other two--and it's a freakin' nightmare.
It's. Just. NOT. Easy.
Only 12 more days until school starts, and I STILL don't have an answer!
ugh
After submitting to the fact that we will have to send Izzy to a daycare center this year--and then having to switch her from AM to PM kindergarten due to busing, Izzy has NOW been offered a spot with an acquaintance--but I'd have to switch her BACK to AM. (Still brewing over this decision....)
And then on top of that, John and I are attempting some work schedule finagling to take care of the morning/afternoon bus for the other two--and it's a freakin' nightmare.
It's. Just. NOT. Easy.
Only 12 more days until school starts, and I STILL don't have an answer!
ugh
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Do I HAVE to post?
I don't feel like blogging lately. No, I feel like reading everyone else's blogs, and I grow quite impatient when you all are off working or on vacation or playing in the sun or having a LIFE or whatever it is you're doing instead of posting. Post more! Tell me about that "life" thing so that my voyeuristic self can sponge off of it instead of working on my own.
So! Yes! On to the post....
My SIL Lynn and her friend Michelle (and Taser--the most, bestest dog EVER!) made a visit last weekend, and of course it was a great time. We took them around downtown ROC (Look! We have a waterfall in our deadly quiet downtown!), and to get the GOOD ice cream and enjoyed a wonderful lunch at the hibachi. Then Michelle spoiled me by cooking a yummy dinner for everyone (the leftovers of which has been my lunch for the last two days--yum!). And LOTS of playing with the cutest, bestest dog in the world. It was a short visit, but the kids and John and I were thrilled to see them even for the short time they could make it. Sis--you need to come visit more often!
Sunday night Mary and I had an "unofficial" GS camp-out in my co-leader's back yard. We roasted hot dogs, went around the neighborhood on a scavenger hunt, and then sat around the fire roasting marshmallows and singing campfire songs. All the girls tucked into their sleeping bags and quieted down quite easily. J and I were pleasantly surprised. In fact, when we went to peek on them and say goodnight some time later, Mary was already FAST asleep (too many late nights up with Aunt Lynnie and Michelle, I'm thinking). Despite the fact that it pretty much rained allll night, the girls and leaders slept pretty well. Huh. Can't wait to do some REAL tent-camping with them sometime next spring!
Of course, Monday morning, I had to get up at the crack of dawn to rush home and wash out the campfire smell and go to work--leaving J all alone to deal with breakfast and packing up. Dunno WHAT J was thinking scheduling this on a SUNDAY--I definitely had a few problems keeping my eyes open yesterday!
Today I had to drag all three kids and myself to the dentist for our check-ups. Of course, Keith already had a cavity on a tooth that we never got around to filling from last time--but now his cavity count is up to TWO. I'm gritting my (now clean) teeth about this--I still have a problem with filling baby teeth and am hoping to ignore this as long as possible. And they want to put sealants on his back teeth (now, I'm all about the sealants). Mary, Izzy, and I all passed with flying colors. Hygienist: Wow! Your gums are so clean! I'm so impressed! Me: Um.... Thanks...? They do want to give me crowns on two of my teeth which are like 99% fillings, but insurance has to approve first. (The dentist is afraid they'll crumble one of these days.) FINE. WHATEVER.
We THINK we may have finally figured out the day care dilemma. It's still not the GREATEST plan, and we may have to tweak it again before Friday, but I'm liking it for the most part. I'll keep you posted on what really comes to fruition, here. (ugh)
So! Yes! On to the post....
My SIL Lynn and her friend Michelle (and Taser--the most, bestest dog EVER!) made a visit last weekend, and of course it was a great time. We took them around downtown ROC (Look! We have a waterfall in our deadly quiet downtown!), and to get the GOOD ice cream and enjoyed a wonderful lunch at the hibachi. Then Michelle spoiled me by cooking a yummy dinner for everyone (the leftovers of which has been my lunch for the last two days--yum!). And LOTS of playing with the cutest, bestest dog in the world. It was a short visit, but the kids and John and I were thrilled to see them even for the short time they could make it. Sis--you need to come visit more often!
Sunday night Mary and I had an "unofficial" GS camp-out in my co-leader's back yard. We roasted hot dogs, went around the neighborhood on a scavenger hunt, and then sat around the fire roasting marshmallows and singing campfire songs. All the girls tucked into their sleeping bags and quieted down quite easily. J and I were pleasantly surprised. In fact, when we went to peek on them and say goodnight some time later, Mary was already FAST asleep (too many late nights up with Aunt Lynnie and Michelle, I'm thinking). Despite the fact that it pretty much rained allll night, the girls and leaders slept pretty well. Huh. Can't wait to do some REAL tent-camping with them sometime next spring!
Of course, Monday morning, I had to get up at the crack of dawn to rush home and wash out the campfire smell and go to work--leaving J all alone to deal with breakfast and packing up. Dunno WHAT J was thinking scheduling this on a SUNDAY--I definitely had a few problems keeping my eyes open yesterday!
Today I had to drag all three kids and myself to the dentist for our check-ups. Of course, Keith already had a cavity on a tooth that we never got around to filling from last time--but now his cavity count is up to TWO. I'm gritting my (now clean) teeth about this--I still have a problem with filling baby teeth and am hoping to ignore this as long as possible. And they want to put sealants on his back teeth (now, I'm all about the sealants). Mary, Izzy, and I all passed with flying colors. Hygienist: Wow! Your gums are so clean! I'm so impressed! Me: Um.... Thanks...? They do want to give me crowns on two of my teeth which are like 99% fillings, but insurance has to approve first. (The dentist is afraid they'll crumble one of these days.) FINE. WHATEVER.
We THINK we may have finally figured out the day care dilemma. It's still not the GREATEST plan, and we may have to tweak it again before Friday, but I'm liking it for the most part. I'll keep you posted on what really comes to fruition, here. (ugh)
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Weekends
Last weekend we went to the neighbors' house for a little cookout. Good food. Great company. And some very happy kiddie pool kids slurping down the watermelon! (Look at all those outties!)
THIS weekend we have visitors, and while I'm SOOOO excited that my SIL is FINALLY coming for a visit, I'm panicking about all the cleaning that I did NOT get done even though I've been parceling it all out for the last 2 weeks. Tonight I will be one FREAKED OUT Mommy. (And John has golf tonight--SO not fair!)
And THEN my father is supposed to come for HIS annual visit sometime the week after that. Can I keep what little cleaning I got done up to scratch before he gets here? Well, maybe *I* can, but I doubt my husband and kids can. URGH.
EDITED to add: Keith lost his second tooth not long after this photo was taken. The thing had been dangling there for ages.... We wondered why he got so quiet all of a sudden. The hot dog he bit into finally did the poor little tooth in! ...THEN--he wakes me up that night around midnight crying because he had woken up, and the tooth fairy hadn't visited yet. Well, um, she just hasn't gotten to our house yet, bud! Give her some time! 15 minutes later--"Mom! She STILL hasn't come!" Buddy, she's not coming until everyone's asleep! Now, go lay down! He finally settled down and made it through till about 6:30 AM, where he was ecstatic to find the 8 quarters--yes, ALL American--in an envelope under his pillow.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Another One
Dearest, darling Sleep,
Thank you for visiting for a short while last night. But the psycho-killer nightmare at four AM? Completely rude and unnecessary! And then giving Izzy an apparent nightmare just minutes before the alarm went off? WRONG. Let's try this again tonight, shall we? Get it RIGHT this time, mkay?
Your humble (somewhat rested, yet still bleary-eyed) servant,
Q
Thank you for visiting for a short while last night. But the psycho-killer nightmare at four AM? Completely rude and unnecessary! And then giving Izzy an apparent nightmare just minutes before the alarm went off? WRONG. Let's try this again tonight, shall we? Get it RIGHT this time, mkay?
Your humble (somewhat rested, yet still bleary-eyed) servant,
Q
Monday, August 17, 2009
Letter
Dear Sleep,
Please come back to me! I know I sometimes took advantage of you because I have been known to prefer the company of a good book from time to time, but staying out of my life for three nights straight is a bit much! Yes, I know my panicky thoughts about what the blazes I'm going to do about childcare and/or my job and LIFE right now are taking precedence in my mind, but I'm trying my best to shut them out! And don't try to blame the horrendously hot weather, Sleep! I know you can manage to visit in ANY weather.
Thanks,
Sleepless (next to the Snoring Husband)
Please come back to me! I know I sometimes took advantage of you because I have been known to prefer the company of a good book from time to time, but staying out of my life for three nights straight is a bit much! Yes, I know my panicky thoughts about what the blazes I'm going to do about childcare and/or my job and LIFE right now are taking precedence in my mind, but I'm trying my best to shut them out! And don't try to blame the horrendously hot weather, Sleep! I know you can manage to visit in ANY weather.
Thanks,
Sleepless (next to the Snoring Husband)
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Daycare Dilemmas
Nothing is appealing. Everything is too expensive or off the bus line or too inconvenient or a scheduling nightmare or....
I hate this.
I hate this.
Thursday, August 06, 2009
A few small, 90 second-increment runs for woman
I finally did as I've been promising for weeks. I joined my neighbor on her run last night. B is trying the Couch to 5K program. I figured I would join her to 1) support her and 2) get off my fat @$$ for once.
After doing the program for a few weeks, she went out of town for a while and...got distracted from it, so she sorta started over, and last night she was only on week 2. Hoping that skipping week 1 wouldn't be such a big deal, I joined in.
I don't think I've done any running since we had the treadmill, and I feebly attempted getting up at 5:00 in the morning to run on it before getting ready for work--right after my maternity leave from Keith. That would be, what? Aught 2??? (That only lasted a few weeks--and frankly, I'm impressed it lasted THAT long.) Yeah. It's been awhile.
I'm happy to announce that I made it. The first 90 second run immediately caused a stitch in my side, but the two minute walk calmed it down again. The next few 90 second runs were pretty easy.
When we finished, I could only think, "Is that all?" Of course, if we had RUN the whole time we were out, I would have been dead at the end of the block. I felt great (I imagine it was all the endorphins). (And we'll see how I feel by the end of today when the soreness peaks.) I'm happy that I did something good for my body for a change--and that I had a friend to do it with. As much as I like the ease of mall-walking (convenient!), it gets boring after a while when I don't have someone walking with me (and I haven't had a mall-walking buddy since....aught four?).
Don't know if I'll be able to keep it up. The time of day B runs is not always convenient for me. And I can already tell the days are starting to get shorter (NOOOOO!). I just CANNOT see myself pulling this off during the winter. No sidewalks? Snow? Ice? COLD?! Yeah--I don't see it. Ah well--maybe I'll actually get the Wii Fit out this winter. heh.
EDITED: To change horrible, horrible typos. Sorry. THAT was even more pathetic than normal!
After doing the program for a few weeks, she went out of town for a while and...got distracted from it, so she sorta started over, and last night she was only on week 2. Hoping that skipping week 1 wouldn't be such a big deal, I joined in.
I don't think I've done any running since we had the treadmill, and I feebly attempted getting up at 5:00 in the morning to run on it before getting ready for work--right after my maternity leave from Keith. That would be, what? Aught 2??? (That only lasted a few weeks--and frankly, I'm impressed it lasted THAT long.) Yeah. It's been awhile.
I'm happy to announce that I made it. The first 90 second run immediately caused a stitch in my side, but the two minute walk calmed it down again. The next few 90 second runs were pretty easy.
When we finished, I could only think, "Is that all?" Of course, if we had RUN the whole time we were out, I would have been dead at the end of the block. I felt great (I imagine it was all the endorphins). (And we'll see how I feel by the end of today when the soreness peaks.) I'm happy that I did something good for my body for a change--and that I had a friend to do it with. As much as I like the ease of mall-walking (convenient!), it gets boring after a while when I don't have someone walking with me (and I haven't had a mall-walking buddy since....aught four?).
Don't know if I'll be able to keep it up. The time of day B runs is not always convenient for me. And I can already tell the days are starting to get shorter (NOOOOO!). I just CANNOT see myself pulling this off during the winter. No sidewalks? Snow? Ice? COLD?! Yeah--I don't see it. Ah well--maybe I'll actually get the Wii Fit out this winter. heh.
EDITED: To change horrible, horrible typos. Sorry. THAT was even more pathetic than normal!
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
Not Much Going On
...about which I can POST, anyway. Idiotic happenings at work. Acceptance of unfairness. Shoulders shrugged. Life moves on.
The good news is that Baseball and Softball are finally OVAH! We have our weekends BACK again! And now that we have them back--and are completely broke--we haven't a CLUE what to do with them. Oh yes! Housework! And Maintenance! How's that for some summer excitement, kids?!
Actually, Mary got to go to Girl Scout camp last week. She stayed the night on Thursday, and she was FINE (Me to John: TOLD YOU!). She really enjoyed herself. Then of course, she left my mess kit there. *sigh*
Keith got invited to a pool party from one of his classmates. He spent the ENTIRE time in the pool. He wasn't tempted one bit by the trampoline or the swings. Nope: pool, pool, pool. It's so nice to see him so comfortable in the water, and having so much fun!
The classroom assignments came out while we were out of town--along with a buzz of phone calls and email alerts. Everyone dying to know who's in whose class. I am feeling more "networked" now in this school system--not so much like the "new" family. Mary is happy her BFF is in her class (although we will miss her OTHER BFF). Keith is happy to get the same teacher Mary had for second grade--AND the fact that one of his buddies is in his class. Izzy is still trying to learn her teacher's name. Lot's of syllables there--we're hoping she gets it down before September!
I keep putting off the daycare decisions. At first it was because I wanted to know whether Izzy has morning or afternoon kindergarten (AM!). Now...as usual, the logistics and PRICES of it all overwhelms me. I will force myself to make firm decisions/arrangements this week. *sigh*
And...I leave you with a goofy Keith quote. Upon hearing some metal/thrash music on the radio, "Mom, is that Cookie Monster singing?" He THINKS he's funny. (He is!)
The good news is that Baseball and Softball are finally OVAH! We have our weekends BACK again! And now that we have them back--and are completely broke--we haven't a CLUE what to do with them. Oh yes! Housework! And Maintenance! How's that for some summer excitement, kids?!
Actually, Mary got to go to Girl Scout camp last week. She stayed the night on Thursday, and she was FINE (Me to John: TOLD YOU!). She really enjoyed herself. Then of course, she left my mess kit there. *sigh*
Keith got invited to a pool party from one of his classmates. He spent the ENTIRE time in the pool. He wasn't tempted one bit by the trampoline or the swings. Nope: pool, pool, pool. It's so nice to see him so comfortable in the water, and having so much fun!
The classroom assignments came out while we were out of town--along with a buzz of phone calls and email alerts. Everyone dying to know who's in whose class. I am feeling more "networked" now in this school system--not so much like the "new" family. Mary is happy her BFF is in her class (although we will miss her OTHER BFF). Keith is happy to get the same teacher Mary had for second grade--AND the fact that one of his buddies is in his class. Izzy is still trying to learn her teacher's name. Lot's of syllables there--we're hoping she gets it down before September!
I keep putting off the daycare decisions. At first it was because I wanted to know whether Izzy has morning or afternoon kindergarten (AM!). Now...as usual, the logistics and PRICES of it all overwhelms me. I will force myself to make firm decisions/arrangements this week. *sigh*
And...I leave you with a goofy Keith quote. Upon hearing some metal/thrash music on the radio, "Mom, is that Cookie Monster singing?" He THINKS he's funny. (He is!)
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