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Only two days till Walk day! : ) How exciting!
Today I drove all around delivering shirts-I love to get to see my friends! I made three new bows for a friends, and found a birthday present for Clay's friend for a party this weekend (he just adores this sweet friend!), and I got some games for our Bunko's contribution to the Silent Auction/International Dinner on Saturday night-I never just have one thing going on!
Clay had a great day too-he got to eat lunch with Gigi and Papa, and he got to sell tickets to all the grandparents! His teacher asked who should sell tickets-and one of his friends suggested him and said he was good with math and money (!). Awww, so sweet! (After his math last year, I was surprised!) He did fine, and sold for the other grades too. He was so proud of himself. He needed a self-esteem boost. : )
Ches took the kids swimming this afternoon while I worked on bows. He's good to take over when I need it sometimes. : ) He'd been home all day mowing and riding and sleeping-and I needed some quiet. It was perfect, and I'm thankful!
Ches was gone again tonight for a training, and we took it easy. (I'm so tired!) We had a smorgasbord for dinner (chicken nuggets, salad, fruit, leftover lasagna, sugar snap peas, etc.), then we read aloud for over an hour. I made some oatmeal raisin cookies, and they got jammied and brushed their teeth. It was good, except Ethan kept bouncing out of bed, and sneaking into my room. I finally let him get on the bed, and he just talked non-stop. He's a sweetie. Ches got home a little after ten, and took him to bed. He's finally asleep!
I just remembered that I forgot (does that sound funny?) to give the kids baths and wash their hair! In the summer when we swim every day, I skip days, and don't worry about stinky stiff pool hair-but NOT for school! I'll have to wake them up early tomorrow. I just can't do it all-I sure try though. Some things give me guilt, but not all of them. I did read lots and lots of books. Doesn't that make up for it!? :)
ps-and can I say I'm SO excited that we are still having people register for the JDRF Walk to Cure this Saturday? Yay! Come on out to Mary Claire's Party! (and wear turquoise or zebra stripes-we are out of shirts!) I pledge to buy extras to sell or use last-minute next year-I'm still getting requests, and I hate not having more!
Great day! I mean besides the storms, nearby tornadoes, broken umbrella in the pool, missed Park Day with friends, and stupid tough roast beef. : ) I'm still smiling-there was a lot of good today too!
We are getting into a pretty good pattern (less griping, more complying..) with our days home from school. Ches leaves by 8:30ish, and we already have a good two hours of breakfast and random playing under our belts by then! We've been settling down and doing some work. hehe. Today we did some math (see above griping) from their workbooks. Mary Claire loves it and always wants extra work (like Clay used to!), so I try to oblige. Today Clay had to write a word problem to go with a math problem: 9 + _ = 15. He just whined and complained and really didn't see the potential for fun! So I tried to get him involved writing a dinosaur story problem, but he did not want to play along.
I was in the midst of making snack: parfaits. I made butterscotch pudding first (lighter brown), then chocolate fudge pudding (darker, so as not to have to wash my beater/bowl in between!), then layered them in tall glasses for the kids' snack (okay, they sound big, but they weren't very full). After all that hard math work. Ethan helped me make them, and then ate most of his. Mary Claire ate hers as she finished up her math, and Clay finished mad (as he spends increasingly more time these days). He grabbed the glass, and headed toward the tv. I told him he had to eat it in the kitchen, and he *slammed* the glass down on the counter with a small slide, and walked off. (If he couldn't eat it where he wanted, he didn't want it.) Yeah, he didn't say that part, but the words were so loud and clear.
Well, our new slogan, "Be respectful or be in your room" (thanks to a friend!), started to play right in there. I got a notebook, and told him to go to his room and write 10 times "I will not slam my glass on the counter" before he came back down. I absolutely hated writing sentences when I was young (and had to do it allll the time: "I will not talk or my hand will ache" was Mrs. Bishop's favorite for me), but we both needed a time out. When he come back, I had some brains and patience back, and we talked. He again (only this time with words) told me he wanted to eat in front of the tv (we don't do this, but we have twice-and the second time was Sunday night-hot dogs on beach towels in front of Nemo, so did I cause this?). I had to go through what should be perfect common sense: I made you a yummy snack, took my valuable time, made it look pretty, could've given you pretzels, I even used a glass, and you couldn't even say thank you? And he just stared at me. ? Who is this kid (and didn't my mom tell me they'd get harder as they got older?)? So, I tried to be patient, and gave him the snack again, and he said thank you and ate it at the bar.
That's just one incident. Ahh, to list or not to list? Not.
So. We are still in Potty-Training Land. It's a great land. I had no idea it'd involve so much Thomas the Tank Engine (why he's called this, I don't know, as he is a steam engine...tank of water?). Ethan immediately sits on the potty chair, and says, "Watch Train!" Which helps with the potty-ing. My research has proven he will sit longer, and produce lots of #1's and increase the likelihood of a #2, if he is engrossed in Thomas. And that helps my bottom line (and his, heehee). So, now I go around humming the Thomas song. (If you clicked, sorry to do that to you. Good luck with the rest of your day!)
Ok, so on to the rest of my great day! Ethan actually WORE UNDERWEAR MOST OF THE DAY today! Had to emphasize my enormous excitement at this great achievement! (Maybe you too have a young child? You will one day understand this pride and excitement. Hopefully before age 4?) So, I was over the moon when I found him ON the potty chair, Sans underwear, Peeing, By Himself! : D Woo Hoo! This is real news, because, if you've been following along, he was only 'trained naked. Then, we progressed to undies too soon, and he peed them. Then he sat on the potty chair and peed in them (small progress, yes?), but now. The Real Thing!! So, that alone makes my day. And I was so excited (and surprised, really), that I hung up on Mom (on the phone). Sorry, Mom. Then when I tried to give him two M&M's to share my excitement, he wouldn't even take his eyes off Thomas. So, maybe I should thank Thomas for potty-training my baby.
So, in all my home-ness, I've really been a better (friendless) Mom. I have made a nice, nourishing meal every evening, fresh hot lunches (except for Bagel Bites today...), and today was no exception! I put a roast beef in the Crockpot this morning with some carrots and onions, and set it on low to cook slowly all day. Well. It was tough. I used to have roast beef mastered, back of my hand, didn't even think about it. Now, it's work all of a sudden. I screwed up somewhere along the way, and can't figure out what I'm doing wrong now. It used to be all fork-tender, fall apart. But now-I have to use a knife. Geez, who has time for that? And I made mashed potatoes (my newest learning expedition: this morning when I wasn't four-o'clock-crazy, I cut the potatoes, rinsed off the excess starch-that causes browning-put them in cold water, and when I was ready this afternoon, put them on to boil!), and gravy (but, not enough). We hurried through dinner, got a few compliments-second greatest thing today!- and then Mary Claire and I went to the movies!
We went to see Imagine That! It was very sweet, and was a great story about a father and daughter, and was pretty clean! Mary Claire laughed at the word poop-twice in there, I think? What was hardest (besides the longing for popcorn when she was almost 300 and having to take her to the bathroom during a good part), was all the talk about the daughter, Olivia, and where she lived. She lived with her mom, but her dad was keeping her for the week. She just couldn't understand the living arrangements, and Olivia had told her dad she wanted to go home. That was tough to explain, well, why she couldn't go home yet. We've talked about divorce-came up last week actually-but, it was hard to describe. But the movie was great, and I'd recommend it! Not just for kids, but for busy dads. Yes, Ches was going to take her, but he's taken the kids to the last few kid flicks, so he figured it was my turn. Awww.
Afterward, when her b.s. had stabilized, we got some ice cream for a late night snack (9pm!-I never thought I'd see the day I'd take a child to a late/regular movie!!). Ches was out of ice cream, so we got him some too. Just plain chocolate, as he didn't feel like branching out (or maybe knowing I'd eat the rest?). We got to talk, and she's a little nervous about second grade (again). She thinks it'll be hard. She's so ready-and still an awesome reader! She read a Junie B. Jones (Jingle Bells, Batman Smells) on Wednesday-in one afternoon! She said she just wanted to know how it ended. It makes me happy to see her love reading! Sometimes I miss not having shared the book with her. But she's growing up.
Clay read in a huge Lionel train book, then started the third Indian in the Cupboard book (The Secret of the Indian) today. I'm not sure how long he read-we need to chat! I'd guess 2 or 3 hours. I eventually sent them outside after the storms cleared. I mean, who better to run mail out to the box, and where better to make necessary kid-noise? Heehee-outside! Yay, summer!
Just a nice, normal, average day. But good. All my kids being themselves. It doesn't happen so often-I have to clear my agenda to see it.
Last night we all went to Fun City for pizza and a little fun. Ches had to start his spring break right! We had to track all the kids, watch the purse! and keep the tokens coming in the ride-on toys! I also tried to keep up and take some pictures. Ethan was so fast-so hard to catch! Clay didn't want any pictures unless they were upside-down, and Mary Claire wanted to take my pictures, or flip over the play equipment! They got lots of crazy time and exercise!
When we got home, I got to read to Clay for a while. We almost finished the third book in My Father's Dragon. It is good-we found out that Boris is the dragon's name and it's the good part of the story. His family (16 dragons) have been found, and trapped in a cave. He's going for help, and Clay wanted to finish the story, even after the 8 or 9 chapters we'd already read. I think he finished it. He went upstairs, and I fell asleep! Ches woke me up around 12, I washed my face, and went back to bed. Ahh, Friday. It seems like we all let-down after a long week.
I got to clean a little this morning, then Ches ran Clay out to pick up the bags (the ones they dropped off in our neighborhood last Saturday) for boy scouts-they had to get the food donations and turn them in (turns out they were going to OUR church food pantry! They were loading them when we went to church this afternoon!). Then I took the kids and ran to WM to get a bday gift. Clay had a great time at the football-themed party! We got home, unloaded the groceries, and headed to church.
Then afterwards, in the midst of indecision, we went to Lenny's Subs. They are always so sweet, got the kids balloons, and took great care of us! Mary Claire surprised me and ordered a philly cheesesteak! (well, minus the cheese, and add lettuce) We went by Sam's to peruse new software...for the pc, of course! We decided against the pc version, and Ches'll get the mac version when the UA gets the license. We're still waiting... I think it's been about two months now!
I got a scrapbooking mag and a book, and Mary Claire didn't want to let me look at it (in the store or on the way home!) I asked to see it for a little bit, and said I'd just flip through it. When I was deep into reading, she said, "Flipping is fast." Of course, I said. "What?" and I didn't get it. She wanted it back! We both have bookmarks in it now. This is the first book we've ever BOtH been interested in.
At home, they played in the garage with the big new ball net thingy, then jammies, lots of snacking, a game of Pretty Princess, Hi-Ho-Cheerio, and lots of singing and tickling! Then I read to Mary Claire: we finished Junie B. Jones' Big Fat Mouth. She was so cute: she wanted to be a janitor when she grew up (and for very good reasons!) and all the kids laughed at her, and didn't show "courtesy". Mary Claire just loves her. She is funny. Barbara Park has a classic!
Then, some time playing on Facebook: just enough time to get frustrated! All things take time to get the hang of, and I haven't got it yet! There's so much to learn, and I don't know if I am willing to commit. I'm still in the 'just playing' status.
Okay, tomorrow, more fun and GS!
You know, when I start writing I just never know where I'm going to go. I can't write a title until I'm done! I'm a freestyle writer. Not working my way to a point... : )
Hmm. At the end of the day I had four cordless phones and my cell phone on my desk. I spent most of the day on one of them. Every time one would ring, I'd grab it and somehow meander back to my desk (my clean and happy place now!).
Phone Calls:
Mom: 5 (not counting my calls to her), Calwell Landscaping, School, Newly Diagnosed diabetes child's mom, Stephanie (so sweet!), WIC Call (my number is very close to theirs), Ches, Colliers, A&A Electric: 2, Pruden Construction, maybe that's it?
Mom is helping out our construction/repair effort. I am too busy and hate to receive bidders while alone in the house. She's planning to come Friday and Monday mornings to be here/receive paint, appliance, carpet, sheetrock people. She's made appointments with 3 painters, and people to do the other jobs! Go, Mom! I always needed one more person/assistant to make me look more efficient! and to cover more territory in less time. My fence-sharing neighbor said he wanted to repair the fence and he has time this week, so I mailed him the insurance money for that. Hopefully, he get that taken care of easily. One down, eighteen to go!
We had Clay's play tonight. So cute. All the fairy tale characters. And Clay had to be Jack (Jack and Jill) with no real costume. He did well, and remembered his lines. The ones I got to see. Ethan was having none of that sit-down-and-watch stuff. He had seen water fountains! and had to taste them. You know taller ones taste different than the lower ones. and the ones in the first hallway taste different than the second set. And there were science experiments and backboards to look at. (He liked the one with moldy bread, the banana one, and the bubble gum one.) They were very interesting! I liked the ones the kids had done themselves-and you could tell who'd had help! One was color coordinated with scrapbook paper and chipboard letters, all fancy. Yep, she had help. I learned that Alka-Seltzer dissolves almost twice as fast in hot water than room temp. water. I learned that bakery bread molds faster than packaged bread, bananas in zipocs mold faster than those not in bags, more sugar made yeast bread rise higher, and there were two egg experiments that had too many pictures, tiny writing, and it was hard to distiguish/find the conclusion. Ethan and I left early. I was seeing too many experiments, and not enough of my actor. Ethan would yell when we'd go back to the dark cafeteria. He laid on the floor once. Yeah, cool. We came home, and Ches came with the kids shortly after. He'd met us there at 6:45, so he was hungry. He asked what we'd had for dinner (laugh, laugh!), and there was nothing left. (Tyson Dino Nuggets, broccoli with cheese, and muffins from last night.) If there's not another adult here, we have whatever's fastest and easiest. No gourmet for 3 small kids! And I'd eat soup or cereal (yum!) if left alone.
So the kids are tucked away, and I'm making my list for tomorrow. Our scrapbooking group is meeting, but I don't know if I can go. I'm tallying up my list. I would LOVE to (especially since I have another trip to do: Houston!), but it's the errands eating at me. Mary Claire has a formal daddy/daughter Valentine's dance on Saturday afternoon, so I really need to get her a nice dress to wear and maybe some shoes if the dress isn't pink. She's ruined the toes of almost all her shoes (except the crocs and the pink Barbie sparkly ones). She crawls around on the concrete and ground, and grinds off the leather-they just look gross now. I would only let her play in them. In fact, I find that when I'm picking out her clothes to wear the next day, my decision rests on which shoes she should wear. I can't wait till summer and sandal and flip-flop days!
And I need to get my paint sample, my pansies, go to WM (my second home..), Gymboree (sale coupon, dress there?), Yankee Candle (to replace my bathroom candle), LIghting Emporium for a kitchen rug and maybe laundry room. I just keep putting off everything. It all gets to me. Nothing is life or death (except WM and the dress for Mary Claire). Well, not really life and death, just A priority. All others are B's.
Oh, and Ethan decided not to nap till around 2:45! It was yuck. He screamed the first time because his "didi" (pacifier) wasn't clipped to his shirt, then screamed because he pottied, then played for a while since I was on the phone (surprise!) with the sweet mom that has just had a child diagnosed. Ugh, do I remember that well. I cried for a year. It's so emotional, and you wonder why me? and fight it, and try to learn, and don't have time for other things in your life, and have guilt, and stay up late and get up early to check them, it just sucks. You finally decide this thing you didn't invite in is staying over, and you have to play nice with it. Anyway, he finally went down, then the kids came in: bang, slam, yell, slam, clank, noisy Wii, slam door, crunchy snack wrappers, slam, yell, lots of shushing, and he slept thru it all. Amazing. Then I woke him up making (faux!) dinner.
I got lunches made, Mary Claire's (carb count) note for school, filled her meter case/purse with supplies, but I haven't finished checking the kids' Monday folders. There are so many things to look at, sign, talk to the kids about, etc. They did well overall last week. One of Mary Claire's pieces of art will be on Artsonia.com, her teacher thought it was good. They made E's on their spelling tests, and Clay didn't do so well on his "book report". (Remember the one we did late on Thursday?) He didn't write the beginning, middle, and end (it's a book full of comic strips!), he wrote his favorite part (she didn't want to know), and he wrote he felt he was a good reader (but he wasn't specific enough). I just think if you have to write about your reading all the time, it makes the reading work and not just for enjoyment. I mean he loves to read, and hates to write. I don't want him to start picking books that are short and easy to write about. He is reading fifth grade books-it takes him more than a week to finish one. I just think he's Written Out.
Ok, so I got great sleep last night, almost fell asleep several times today, so it wasn't enough. Early to bed again tonight. Maybe I'm still fighting this cold?
See, I couldn't have known what I'd write about. It's random thinking-well, my journal. You are just privileged enough to read it! heehee
