ArmyWifeToddlerMom

COOKING, and FAMILY is good medicine.

2009-11-21T20:30:00.002-06:00

The week was icky, and not much I can do about it now, I can just "be" right?

However, the week was so icky my eye started twitching Tuesday or Wednesday, and would not quit. When I addressed clients, the twitching would go WILD. It was weird. The last time I had that much twitching, my Mom was sick.

@ years ago, I would have been in a tree over this. I would have been on a branch and some dear friends, would have gotten phone calls and talked me off of my branch, you know who you are, and I owe you bunches. Because talking me out of my trees is silly.

My children are my Achilles heel if you will.

However cooking 2 huge meals, has cured me of my freak out, I am only on the trunk hanging on for dear life, and am too busy to start climbing branches and meowing about.

For the last 3 days I have cooked, and baked, and cooked.

tonight it was sweet roll dough, I kneaded and kneaded and smelled yeasty dough. I made a huge nutritious relish tray, cheese tray, tortilla roll ups, hot wings, bbq wings. I made cranberry relish last night for tomorrow. The treats for the Christmas Program, are made and attractively wrapped.

This week was not just stressful, because of SR. It is the holidays, there are programs, and obligations. Ours no different from other homes. WE are 3 days behind on our New Testament reading.

I will be honest with you I have never been one to read the Bible daily, but I am finding it sooo interesting, and learning new things all of the time. It has brought me peace, and I especially liked the night SR could not sleep, and he read an entire assignment, without trouble.

OK off folks...I am off to finish watching the Huskers play, finish watching this dough rise, so I can punch it down, and roll it out and make cinnamon rolls for my family in the morning....

I am lucky, and I know it, and this is a small bump. I need to smile, and treat others with care, and KNOW how could they know what my child needs, they are not his Mother...

3 days?

2009-11-21T00:17:00.003-06:00

Really, 3 bad days are possible?

Who knew?

First off there is nothing going on here, nothing new, or exciting. Frankly it is boring here. GO BORING. There is no drama in my house, it is not allowed. (Well other than me being upset about the dog)

Second, I think my suspicions are right. For those who have not been reading long. SR did go through IQ testing, he maxed it out. I also know IQ tests are one of those things that folks can argue all day about. However, until someone comes up with something better, it is a tool we decided to use to help our child. We did not use it to simply say WOW. We used it is a tool to show the educators what kind of child we are dealing with. We need to accommodate him, his learning style and his needs. Just like children who have other special needs.

Third it is almost painful to put anything down in the blog...as I am always waiting to defend myself or him.

As with all bloggers, this is where I cash my chips, it is a document of my life, and my feelings about it.

So with all of that said. I picked up SR today, this time in the principals office. Nothing bad, he told the teacher, he was sensitive, and headed down his bad path, and needed to leave the room. However I do not think he made it there nearly soon enough.

We will continue to work on this, and have a meeting with the school this week. The kid is BORED. He is sitting in a classroom in which he knows everything, they are going over. My request is simple. A science mentor.

The child needs confidence. He needs achievement, it is what drives him. Sitting with his peers is not working.

He is currently in swim, Cubscouts, and church activity. I think music lessons are next on the list.

3 bad days....I am exhausted, and I am not even him.

I will be busy this weekend, Thanksgiving here at the house, Christmas program at church, and PN's family birthday. Some company is already here...

Want to feel like a failure, become a mother. There are somedays, where even the best cheerleader wants to hang up her pom poms.

Another rough day @ school for SR

2009-11-20T06:51:00.002-06:00

Yesterday was yet another rough day for SR.

Once again I knew it when I picked him up. Head was down, etc.

First problem is boredom.

I got in touch with the school psychologist, the one who facilitated his IQ testing, she had a very good hold of things, as far as SR was concerned last year.

Hopefully we can get this sorted out. In good news his teacher is WONDERFUL, and on top of things, and doing what she can. The problem is, he is mainstreamed into his 2nd grade, and for now really that is the only alternative. His emotions have not caught up with his intellect, when this does happen maybe we will move him.

Right now the school system is doing what they can. He is the only student in the school system that has 2 mentors. Mentors are expensive and I do appreciate the assistance. We just need to find a science specialty, instead of the Spanish. He told me last night he LOVES his math. Spanish ok. Last year his 2nd mentor worked off of several things, she changed it up often. This year his math mentor, is challenging him in math, and he is 1/2 finished with the 4th grade book. As bad as he is wants to move forward I know he needs the fundamentals.

I am relieved his teacher is so understanding.

Say a prayer, we could use it.

Last night I was sooo exhausted from the day that I was wiped, and had dreams of dog doctors

Before I go to the much deserved bubble bath...

2009-11-18T22:38:00.002-06:00

thought I would drop in.

The week is WILD, long days, long nights.

Work is soooo busy, the day is over before I know it. Poof.

PN helped me make the cookies, they turned out yummy.

SR missed the first word EVER on a spelling test, and absolutely fell apart today. Poor kid. When I picked him up, his head was down, and he was tearful. I stopped and talked to the teacher as she directed traffic...

The entire time we spoke, SR kept crying and saying "I am going to go home and lock myself in a box for an hour."

(The entire time he is saying this, I am thinking, holy crap, the teacher is going to think we punish him by putting him in a box)

I am not sure where he or why he was saying this. The teacher said the afternoon was very overwhelming for him....

He managed to collect himself on the drive home.

A perfectionist, inside and out...this is not a trait from DH and I, we also do not pressure him in academics. The kid just took it upon himself to memorize the entire periodic table in like 1 month. Alone, no help. He just was interested. We did not quiz him, or make flashcards. He even made a song out of the elements. He continues to study them, and is VERY interested. We have to google his questions to us, we are clueless.

Heck I should show him my blog, and all of the spelling errors. Heck maybe he can edit the blog...

Our first rule is RESPECT others and yourself. RESPECT.

Heck no where in our top 50 list of things we want them to do is PERFECT GRADES. He has never been in trouble for grades. NEVER. Probably because he always gets 100% on things. He has been in trouble for acting on impulse, and not RESPECTING people.

Maybe I can get him a book about mellowing out?

OK off to my bath, I forgot I have to make more cookies for Sunday!! I also have 2 20 something turkeys thawing out....

Tis going to be a busy week.

DH informed me the basement needs to be CLEANED up, the kids have a mess going on down there...

he said I would be mad if I saw it in its current state.

I am going to make the kids straighten it up before I enter...

Puppy is getting HUGE. LONG LEGS

Gingerbread men recipe

2009-11-16T23:06:00.000-06:00

Ingredients

* 1/2 cup butter, softened
* 1/2 cup brown sugar
* 2/3 cup molasses
* 2 eggs
* 4 cups all-purpose flour, divided
* 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
* 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
* 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

# Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
# In a large bowl, cream together the butter and brown sugar until smooth. Stir in the molasses and eggs. Combine 1 1/2 cups of the flour, baking soda, salt, allspice, cloves, cinnamon, and ginger; beat into the molasses mixture. Gradually stir in the remaining flour by hand to form a stiff dough.
# Divide dough into 2 pieces. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/8 inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes using cookie cutters. Place cookies 1 inch apart onto ungreased cookie sheets.
# Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Other than fresh bread, gingerbread is one of the best smells ever...

2009-11-16T22:00:00.003-06:00

It is late. 10:00pm too late to be making 49 or so gingerbread boys and girls. However it is Monday.

Mondays. I am not sure if anyone likes Mondays. If you do, good for you. Our Mondays have been doused by activity. So there is no time really spent thinking how horrid it is, it is a day spent getting ready for the next hour. Our Mondays make the rest of the week look like a breeze.

I have friends who have this schedule EVERYDAY. Bless you, I have no idea how you do it.

I am not complaining, so much as I cannot believe the speed of the day. Seriously.

I will be glad to see Tuesday arrive!

Things here are ok. SR seems to be walking straight, PN is fine she is learning to read. This is exciting.

The birthday party is booked at the gymnastics place, for December, this could be bad, as some folks might be headed out of town. We do have 8 guests RSVP at this time. They were ok having a combined party! This will make things so much easier. SR wants a carrot cake, PN wants some Littlest Pet Shop Cake she saw at the grocery store...Those weird little bratz looking animals with big eyes. I do not understand the attraction. I am thankful she did not pick bratz.

I am hosting our Families Thanksgiving this weekend, and attached to that, will be a small celebration of PN's birthday with family. We also have the Children's Christmas church program. (All on Sunday) I would love to tell you I am going all out, and setting a beautiful table etc. However I am doing darn chinet this year...I really do not want to stand doing dishes all day. I am sure there will be plenty of dishes to do. I am pretty sure this will rate as tacky with many of my readers, but I think my meal will make up for it.

Wednesday night while the kids are at CREW, DH and I are going to get the holiday shopping done. I did manage to find turkey for 40 cents a pound, lovely hens around 20 pounds each. I am cooking both, so my guests can enjoy leftovers! I told them to bring tupperware!

Nothing unusual on the menu, all my favorites, and it is my favorite meal to prepare.

Check in later...

Need to take some photos of the darn dog, and the kids. SR and PN are getting TALL! I adore them.

Cleaning....

2009-11-14T11:19:00.002-06:00

I have posted this about 20 times in almost 5 years....

I adore the lyrics in this...

A man in my shoes runs a light
and all the papers lied tonight
but falling over you
is the news of the day
Angels fall like rain
And love - is all of heaven away
(CHORUS)
Inside you the times moves
and she don't fade
The ghost in you
She don't fade
Inside you the time moves
and she don't fade
A race is on
I'm on your side
And here in you
my engines die
I'm in a mood for you
Or running away
Stars come down in you
and love - you can't give it away
(CHORUS)
Don't you go
it makes no sense
when all your talk
and supermen
just take away the time
and get in the way
Ain't it just like rain
And love - is only heaven away
(CHORUS)

Counting Blessings....

2009-11-13T23:44:00.003-06:00

Over the past couple of days I have had reminders of how blessed I am....

A friend I have not heard from for 2 years called last night, with horrid news. Her one son who is quite young was recently diagnosed with colon cancer that has spread to his liver, her other son was hit by an automobile while on his motorcycle, he is currently recovering. This has all happened in the last month. A gentleman I work with has a very young child is currently fighting cancer as well, he is 5 or 6 years of age....

Such devastating circumstances....and I cannot imagine.

Perspective in buckets within 48 hours. I must have needed it. Perspective.

I cannot imagine.

I asked the one gentleman how he is doing...and he smiled and said we are fine. I might add here, this young man is always smiling, always focused, always kind. And I told him we would be praying for him, and asked again how are you? He said he was fine, until he heard someone complain about a grumpy child, or a child that was up all night with the flu.

I understood immediately.

I will pray tonight for all of these folks. I will also remember not to complain and sweat over the small stuff.

Operation Christmas Child

2009-11-13T23:05:00.002-06:00

I am not sure how many of you have heard of Operation Christmas Child....This is our third year participating....

I would encourage each of you to participate, you have until the 23rd of November to get your boxes packed!

We are so BLESSED, pay it forward.

Go here and find out where you can drop off your box.

Laundry list

2009-11-11T23:39:00.004-06:00

some big some little. I am putting it here, so i am accountable.

This week, take library books back AGAIN tomorrow.
Buy Aunt Renae her official gift from the kiddos...Warmest, softest jammies i can find in town.
Buy teachers Yankee Candles while coupon is still 2 for 1! Otherwise you will feel bad.
Buy PN a tote for her ART Tomorrow, otherwise I will go crazy from looking at it.

Got through bills.

Sounds like an expensive week...

Update...so much for hitting it hard. DH worked late so I had to come home and take the dog for his crap and stroll...cut into my time to get crap done. I had to drive across town and book the gymanstics place for the Collective's birthday bash (they would not do it over the phone... Now to find everyone's address etc...

I have been out of normal commission for like 2 days because my red tent decided to pitch itself to close to the other red tent this month...I felt horrid. Pain sucks, and sucks the life out of you.

The week of dicombobulation continues.

Tissues...

2009-11-11T20:11:00.002-06:00

Today is Veteran's Day....

and I need a box of tissues.

I cry more every year.

This year I am crying harder than years past, all day off and on...

My Husband is home and safe, but several people I love are away. Away from home, and long to be "home", mowing the lawn, putting little ones to bed (even the cranky ones) ...

And it lends perspective.

We are blessed that so many do our fighting for us, so I can work behind a desk, and sleep in a warm house with a full tummy, and see my children so often that I will never know what it is like to be away.

I have not missed first crawl, first tooth, first smile.

And there are thousands of people who have done our fighting and have missed those things. And there is no making up for lost time.

What do they want in return?

I would venture to guess, a simple thank you would suffice.

If that does not make you tear up out of humility, really I have no idea what will move you....

To all of my family and friends that are serving our great Nation. I thank you, we thank you....

God's Blessings to each of you.

ton of bricks...

2009-11-10T20:46:00.002-06:00

May they rest in peace.

Fort Hood weighed heavy on my hear this week.

IT was not shocking, and frankly it should have been. It hurt, more than it shocked me.

A cowardly act. An act that has been done before on a grander scale, on a smaller scale.

The immediate blame on "PTSD", the implications it was anything but what it was.

A cowardly Jihadist.

How many people have to die before it is called exactly what it is?

It worries me......

Why? Because cells of terrorism are broken all of the time in the United States.

What else weighed heavily this week? The health care bill. What is domed to be another epic fail of the United States. We have a government that now pays farmers, car manufacturers, and numerous other things.

Just for the record, we already have socialism in medicine.

I have worked in the medical field since I was 15. I work in an office now, and daily we treat people with no job, we treat people who have no money, no insurance. And if you can pay and do not have insurance, well you are paying for 4 patients to be seen, out of pocket. If you have insurance, you are paying for 2 patients to be seen. If you are not working, and do not have insurance you are paying for nothing...

Amazing really.

So now instead of folks paying for 2-4 people to have insurance, my guess is we will pay for 8.

We cannot pay for 8 people.

Very sad, and I have no idea how I will be able to look at my children in the face when they are 40

PROOF. How much more is needed?

2009-11-09T22:39:00.002-06:00

I pray to God, my children do not have to suffer at the ramifications of our silence as a generation of appeasers.

I do not care what religion you practice. If you do not practice it in a civil manner. If you shoot at unarmed people, if you shoot women in the back, if you use your children as a shield...

More horrific findings.

The new don't ask don't tell....

2009-11-08T11:03:00.000-06:00

Because no one wants to be called a bigot.

Radical

2009-11-08T08:43:00.000-06:00

Looks like the UK has found a 9-11 connection for shooter Major Hasan.

Rest In Peace

2009-11-07T20:13:00.000-06:00

And the list grows...

2009-11-04T22:29:00.002-06:00

That list in my head I have been working on. What list? Oh you know the list. That ughhhhh LIST.

In good news, I am trying to combo activities. What do you mean?

Well for instance Thanksgiving, we are having it on Sunday November 22. Why? Well it just makes sense at this time. We have our Church Christmas program that night, no one in the extended immediate family has ever been to a Christmas program. It thought it would be so nice for the entire family to go and enjoy. So I invited all down for Thanksgiving/Christmas program/PN's 6 birthday combo.

Which leads me to this...holy cow, my BABY is 6. My baby. My itty girl.....is 6. PN and SR both wanted birthday parties this year. In bad news, both children have birthdays around the holidays. This means...oye vey. Hard to book a place, hard to find anyone in town...etc...So I have asked the kids to have a combo party, and a local gymnastic joint down the road. This seemed to be an OK decision. Now I have to figure out how many kids, and if this idea will fly...Neither have had big parties before as we were pretty much separated from family, and frankly they were too small.

Must think on this one...

Next problem, Christmas break is around the corner which means we need to beg our employers to flex our schedules (not fun, or popular with coworkers) or put them in a "camp" for the break. Both said they would love "camp". It would include swimming, crafts, games, etc..not as expensive as I would have imagined. However, there are only 10 slots left. So now DH has to run down there early in the am to seal our spot...

This is the stuff that makes me nuts, just when we have our routine down, boom....

My son pointed out a gorgeous Harvest Moon tonight

2009-11-04T20:07:00.001-06:00

and I am glad I have a child who notice such things...

Impersonating a tooth fairy, and dog owner...

2009-11-03T23:25:00.002-06:00

My son lost his third tooth tonight. He actually did not loose it, I helped extract it, with my fingers and a paper towel. He immediately went to the bathroom to see if he could shoot water out of the space. (Thanks Gramma)

I just remembered to put four quarter under his pillow, while in there I read a note that said, tooth fairy, do not take tooth.

Earlier tonight SR asked me if it was me "who impersonated the legend of the tooth fairy. I did not answer....

Also note to apply WD 40 the childrens door hinges soon, they squeak when you open the door trying to be sneaky. I never noticed this with putting laundry away, but did notice this evening...

PN doing well. Excited to have a puppy to rule about and boss, although it is much harder than she thought.

Poncho AKA bleach, is doing well, I think he doubled in size. He needs 2 long walks a day and DH has been taking him to the dog park in town. He is flying like the wind, and racing other dogs. His paws are huge, he looks like a clydesdale horse.

IF it was 60 degrees at night, I would not mind taking the dog out, I know i could use a long and brisk walk, but darn it is cool. I must find a balaclava for myself. Because the cold hits my ears, and then i feel like I have an earache for the rest of the day. I also think it is imperative that I do not volunteer to do much with the pup for about 40 days. That means everyoe here will have a routine, I am not sole part of.

Pooped, headed to bed..it is only Tuesday

This is for the dogs...

2009-11-02T06:05:00.002-06:00

This is the second morning I am up before 6am.

Why? Barking.

I have a wide awake puppy @ my feet, that gets his rush from playing in the morning...

DH woke took him out to do his business, brought him in, put him in his kennel.

DH went into the bathroom and whammo bark city.

I of course got up.

The problem?

I think the puppy wakes and wants to play.

Why?

Because for the last 2 mornings this has repeated. The puppy wants to run, chew and cavort.

I am not happy....

I just wanted my other hour of sleep.

just an hour.

I am starting to dig sleep since I had none for years. It is documented partially on the blog.....

I only get 5-7 hours a night. Let me sleep.

DH got the stinkeye from me this morning after he got out of the shower and was headed out to church.

(This is part of the reason I was not thrilled with the idea) I want to sleep.

A well rested Mom is underrated. Mothers who have went through VAST amounts of sleep deprivation will agree.

That is my thing right now.

The children will sleep, I want my sleep.

I also MUST get up in the morning to deal with the barking or certainly the kids will awaken, unless I want 2 GRUMPY children by 3pm (which is already She is done by 1pm. When I pick her up, she is more alley cat than loverly sweet girl. I do not need the I wanna play barking to cause the children to rise at 5:40am....

No. Sleeping children are better behaved, than tired counter parts.

A conundrum to be sure...and I am letting DH fix this.

This is not going to work.

Periodic

2009-10-28T07:16:00.002-05:00

SR is currently fascinated by the periodic table. He is reading whatever he can get his hands on. Memorizing the table, and learning about them. I took chemistry 2 times, and he is doing better than I ever did. The amazing thing. He understands it on a level I never did. He currently has the first 15 memorized, and he starts mixing them up. IT is strange that at 7 he would even be interested.

PN, has been busy training the puppy with DH, while on break. She is doing well. The puppy makes SR nervous. The puppy does know the command whoa, and has learned to fetch. You can throw his toy, say whoa and he will wait until you say ok, before he goes after his toy. DH is trying to get some things around the house done while he is off. I think he is learning how hard it can be, especially with kids around.

Work is fair. I am nervous about starting school in January, and am sure I will be exhausted. I am not nervous about content, or learning, I am nervous about the time it will take from us...

My Father needs help cutting some trees out on his property, and this weekend would be a good time to do it. Finding adult children and spouses with similar schedules to help, is the problem.

He and his fiancee will be getting married soon, supposedly in the next month or so. they had planned to have it done by now, and the kidney stone thing happened. That required 3 surgeries, and put the kabosh on things. They are going to either church, or the judge, and just doing it....

PN wants to live in her princess costume and cannot wait for Halloween. I hope the weather is nice. SR could really care less.

Both children are getting tall! I notice this especially with SR, he hit a spurt.....

Why so reluctant about the puppy meanie...?

2009-10-25T23:48:00.002-05:00

Oh the reluctance of becoming a pet owner.

First off, if you know me, I DO NOT LIKE SURPRISES. (Unless it is a windfall of cash or something, which is never bound to happen)

Second, I am a preparer.

Third, I am pooped most days.

Fourth, I really do a lot around here already. (Fixing toilets, wash machines, parenting etc)

Fifth, I take owning a DOG SERIOUSLY. My childhood was spent caring for other peoples discarded animals. Not a joke.

We had 16 cats at one time, because my neighbor had a cat ( sans tail because of severe frostbite) , they did not feed, spay etc. My Father and I took pity on her, and several kittens and cared for her for years. She was the best hunter, and best momma cat ever.....

I also had an old part Pomeranian adopted dog, that had 3 good legs. WE are unsure of why it only had 3 legs, he had either been beaten or hit by a car.

There was another cat that we had to care for a while, another stray that no one would care for.

So my childhood was a sort of isle of misfit animals if you will. I take pet ownership SERIOUSLY, I have seen what happens to animals when someone "thinks" a puppy or kitty sounds like fun for a minute.

I know it is serious.

Heck why do you think we waited 10 years to have babies...

DH has admitted that he went about bringing this puppy home as a surprise was not the wisest decision he ever made.

I am guessing he did it that way because for almost our entire marriage I have SAID no to one.

I have acquiesced. There are rules, and they WILL be followed.

The puppy is very affectionate, and loves to snuggle. He is not full of crazy puppy energy, although I am guessing that will come soon. He seems laid back for this breed, which can be a little excitable and high strung. He is learning new tricks and so are we.

In good news DH and the kids have the week off, I am working an actually week with overtime! Just in time for Christmas shopping I am sort of excited at the prospect of actually having money this Christmas!

Work is BUSY, and the days go by soooo amazingly FAST.

Your name will be bleach

2009-10-25T00:20:00.003-05:00

This evening my Father and his fiancee were here, after attending a terrible Nebraska Husker game.

We had eaten, and DH volunteered to run some errands.

I said, DH I need bleach.

When DH left, I sat in the recliner speaking to my Father and his fiancee about the dog conversation that occurred just the other night. Yeah there was a long and healthy debate over dogs. One in which SR and I did understand why PN and DH felt a dog was soooo Necessary. No overlap. A Venn Diagram with NO overlap. As I am trying to explain this to my Father...

DH returned 1 1/2 hours later with this...

Uh, yeah not bleach.

God has a good sense of humor and DH does too........

This is 8 week old Poncho, the newest member of Casa De Dust.

Poncho is a male German Shorthaired Pointer.

Uh, yeah not bleach.

It is a living and breathing puppy, who misses his siblings, and Mother tonight.

So far it seems as if he understand the word no, and has a healthy howl, and bark.

He also needs to be taking to whiz every 3-4 hours...

Not my job...I nursed humans for 15 months and survived 3 plus years sleep deprived.

Halo Moon...

2009-10-23T22:02:00.003-05:00

Tonight there is a halo around the moon. This is an indicator of bad weather...ick.

Today was the kindergarten party. DH left work early and went to volunteer in SR's class, and showed up to find the kid in the Principals office. Oye. I am glad DH took the afternoon off, just in time to be there for this...Why was SR in the OFFICE? He pulled a chair out from under a kid in music. Yea, I know, the kid really could have gotten hurt.

WE are sensing a trend here. Homeroom teacher, we adore. He listens to her, respects her. Not a problem generally. The other day, I came home to a note from the art teacher. I guess SR thought it would funny to put his hand in front of the projector. He got into trouble, and then proceeded to say the following "Have Mercy on me", about 15 times. Today the chair thing happened in music. DH and Vice Principal (who also is the director of the gifted program, and KNOWS SR) had a chat. In good news, they are keeping on his tail, and are going to modify things a bit for him. Why? Because the minute anyone lets guard down with this kid, well it will be like a house of cards. I am glad they care enough to keep working on this with us. I think one of the culprits at this time might be boredom. He only gets mentors for a brief part of the day. He is currently doing algebra, basic 4th grade algebra, but he is 7. He doe not sho his work, he does it in his head. The other mentor is Spanish. Frankly, he is not excited about this...AT ALL. He can do it, no problem, it is a memorization game for him, but he does not care, is not excited about this. (You might be saying, big deal no one is excited about school or learning) Oh he loves learning. He is currently studying the periodic table and is EXCITED. He is talking about free radicals, etc. I think we need to get rid of the Spanish mentor, keep the math mentor, and add a science mentor.

I am disappointed in his choices right now. I am hoping this will pass. And quite frankly, we are in a better place right now than I would have thought 2-3 years ago.

Still, it is exhausting. And when I hear of other folks having similar problems, I am grateful we are not the only ones.

PN's fall party went off with out a hitch. Time FLEW. Seriously. The kids were well behaved. The boys loved pumpkin bowling. LOVED it! The craft, whatever. The boys used a lot of google eyes. The girls would have made spiders all day, and could have cared less about the bowling. I was lucky enough to have 4 Moms show up to help! It was actually nice. I do not have much experience with 23 kindergarten children at one time. It was lots of bouncing, jumping, nothing big. None of the kids were bad. The story was a hit. I had lots of left over crafting supplies to school. I promised her books this year. And I need to get that DONE ASAP.

I am pooped.

My Dad called tonight, he and his girlfriend are coming down for the football game. Now I need to clean tonight and tomorrow. Yuck...I did not want to hurry....

Maybe I wont have to be #1 for how to get dog poop out of the carpet, even if i might be now...

2009-10-18T00:24:00.003-05:00

DH has the weekend off! Thank God! The amount of stuff to do on the amazing never ending list of things driving me crazy.

So instead of actually spending the day together, we separated into the boy team, and girl team and hit the town running.

Actually DH and the kids were peaches and cleaned my gardens out. Booo Hiss winter! Considering bringing my asparagus ferns that are on the front porch into the house. ( Has anyone done this?)

Errands commenced for 3-4 hours....seriously. Uck. In good news both of us enjoyed hanging with each child tremendously.

PN and I had to go to Micheal's craft store to buy some fall holiday items for the house, and supplies for the school fall party I agreed to head for PN's class. I had a terrible time with a fall party, because I did not want to offend anyone. I thought trick or treat bags might be fun to make, probably not a good idea. I thought a couple of other things might be fun, and nixed them as well. I settled on some spider door candy thing...which ended up evolving today into an entirely different project.

How?

We had to run to the library to return books....

I decided since it is school, I should probably read a story, the Collective LOVE when we read nightly here.

SO I thought I should pick up a spider book.

I picked up this one.

So while shopping I decided to pick up pipe cleaners of different colors ( now called chenille stems I was TOLD, by the helpful but stern helper I needed to find all of my craft crap), different colored google eyes, different colors of tissue paper, paper plates,...tah dah! Spiders, that are not scary. I will let you know how they turn out, and if the kids had fun. WE are also pumpkin bowling.

DH is chaperoning the pumpkin trip (that got called off the other day because of weather) Monday! He has also said, if his day Friday goes well, he will help me Friday.

PN LOVED the craft store, probably because she creates all day. No joke. you folks have not seen the likes of this level of crafting from a child. If she is not painting, she is drawing, or making a book, or a bracelet.....I think she would move into Micheals.

It was off to the beauty salon to purchase hair care stuff, the grocery store....long day.

Watched the Huskers loose.

Ate dinner, and while dining, an impromptu meeting was called to order.

It was the "we need a dog meeting"....

Discussion time 1 hour.

The kids hilarious. They were serious as heart attacks. PN, and her Father on the Yea team. SR and I on the Nay. It was a long and serious debate. The kids soooo serious, DH and I had tears in our eyes from trying not to laugh. I wish i had it on video.....both children are soooo animated. I have no clue as to where they get it.

Looks like SR and I lost. Heck I had all kinds of animals growing up, and I loved them all. I had snakes, frogs, a mouse, turtles, fish, (in a jar, only for 3 days) cats, dogs....you name it. I loved them all, they made good friends when people did not. I did warn folks about this entire arrangement. I will not wake up in the middle of the night to take a dog out to pee or poop....not MY JOB. I woke for 3 years alone with infants...no thanks, the sleep deprivation almost drove me insane. No feeding the dog human food, the minute I see anyone feed the dog from the table, the dog will be gone.

SR and I lost the discussion......it is probably time......