I hate mornings. Absolutely hate mornings. You can ask my whole family, I don't do mornings well.
Monday mornings. Well, they are worse.
This morning surpassed the average horrible Monday morning.
A decided last week that she wanted to read the Harry Potter books. She began with book 1 last Monday and started book 4 yesterday. This morning she was "ready" for school, sitting at the kitchen table with her nose in her book. I asked her multiple times if she was ready for school. Shoes? Teeth brushed? Bed made? Each question made her madder because I was interrupting the book making her get ready for school.
I had flashbacks of myself in 5th grade sneaking a book on my lap while pretending to listen to social studies/science/math. I always got caught & got in trouble. I wasn't going to give her the chance. When we were finally gathering stuff to leave, I told her she had to leave the book at home. Oh man, it wasn't a good scene.
A did not agree with me at all. She tried to put the book in her bag while I was getting my keys. I removed it. She "told" me that I was wrong and she was taking the book no matter what. I repeated calmly that the book was staying home. She "told" me that she was not going to school without the book. I said fine and told J to get in the car so I could drive him to school. We got in, buckled up and backed halfway out of the driveway. At that point I was wondering what I should do. Was I really going to leave her at home over a book? Should I go back in and insist she get in the car? I stopped the car and was debating what to do. Luckily that was when she came storming out the back door. I didn't have to back down or scream at her and she went to school.
All I can say is that tomorrow morning must go better than this morning or I'm going to boycott mornings altogether. I'm not cut out for this. I'll kick DH out of bed to take care of the kids and pull the covers back over my head until 10am.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Friday, August 27, 2010
Time suck
I'm throwing a party next month for DH's 40th birthday. My "Old" man is a social kind of guy and, even though he debated whether or not he wanted to have a party, he is very excited. He has told every one he meets to save the date so they can attend. Our guest list keeps growing. Despite my fear of large crowds and small talk, I think it will be a very good time.
I'm saving my excitement for the little things like I get to craft!
Today it struck me that the party, which was weeks away when I started to plan, is now just 2 weeks and 1 day away. I have to figure out where to put food, where to have people sit, where to hide toys, where to get table cloths, etc.
I told DH today that he had to buy a desk. See, since we moved into this house almost 4 years ago, DH has been using one of my folding tables as his office desk. It was all temporary since we were also using the office for B's cribby room. Now that he is all grown up and moved into a real bed, the cribby room is now an office and I need the table for the party.
We headed out to that merchandising wonderland known as IKEA to find a desk. We spent who knows how much time comparing each and every possible desk combination for what seemed like a few minutes. After much debate, he ended up buying a table instead of a desk. He left to wander to the end of the store to find the table parts while B & I went to the kids section to play. After playing a bit, I convinced him to help me find daddy. I got to check out and realized that my phone volume was messed up again and DH had been trying to call me. It was after 3:00 and we had less than 10 minutes until J got out of school.
IKEA is the world's biggest time suck. They made you push your cart through that enormous maze and distract you with things like $3.00 power strips and $10.00 drawer organizers and $2.50 plastic utensils. Next thing you know 2.5 hours have gone by without you noticing. Luckily we got out of there with just those few things and the desk. We made it to the park to find J waiting without crying (he's growing up!) Best of all, I have the most organized utensil drawer in the world!
Anyone who has ever looked for a fork or a bottle opener in my kitchen before will be very impressed. I've decided that if I get stressed out getting things ready for the party, I can just open up my utensil drawer and breathe a huge sigh of relief!
I'm saving my excitement for the little things like I get to craft!
Today it struck me that the party, which was weeks away when I started to plan, is now just 2 weeks and 1 day away. I have to figure out where to put food, where to have people sit, where to hide toys, where to get table cloths, etc.
I told DH today that he had to buy a desk. See, since we moved into this house almost 4 years ago, DH has been using one of my folding tables as his office desk. It was all temporary since we were also using the office for B's cribby room. Now that he is all grown up and moved into a real bed, the cribby room is now an office and I need the table for the party.
We headed out to that merchandising wonderland known as IKEA to find a desk. We spent who knows how much time comparing each and every possible desk combination for what seemed like a few minutes. After much debate, he ended up buying a table instead of a desk. He left to wander to the end of the store to find the table parts while B & I went to the kids section to play. After playing a bit, I convinced him to help me find daddy. I got to check out and realized that my phone volume was messed up again and DH had been trying to call me. It was after 3:00 and we had less than 10 minutes until J got out of school.
IKEA is the world's biggest time suck. They made you push your cart through that enormous maze and distract you with things like $3.00 power strips and $10.00 drawer organizers and $2.50 plastic utensils. Next thing you know 2.5 hours have gone by without you noticing. Luckily we got out of there with just those few things and the desk. We made it to the park to find J waiting without crying (he's growing up!) Best of all, I have the most organized utensil drawer in the world!
Anyone who has ever looked for a fork or a bottle opener in my kitchen before will be very impressed. I've decided that if I get stressed out getting things ready for the party, I can just open up my utensil drawer and breathe a huge sigh of relief!
homemade gifts
The kids all made me a gift for my birthday. They worked on it one afternoon in secret in A's room. I knew something was going on because they were all in her room with the door shut and no screaming. It was a once in a lifetime 30 minutes of getting along.
Here is my gift
I'm all about reduce/reuse/recycle crafting so I love this gift. They cut up a shoe box to make the frame and used a leftover christmas photo card. DH helped A figure out how to just the back piece to make a stand for the frame.
On my birthday J made me a card. He was going to make it elaborate but he got distracted. I love it!
Since J was making a card, B wanted to make one too. He cried because he doesn't know how to spell. I helped him out by writing the letters for him and he copied and drew the birthday cake. For a kid who refuses to (or has a bad learning disability which I fear I am ignoring and cannot) remember his letters, he does a good job of copying them.
Here is my gift
I'm all about reduce/reuse/recycle crafting so I love this gift. They cut up a shoe box to make the frame and used a leftover christmas photo card. DH helped A figure out how to just the back piece to make a stand for the frame.
On my birthday J made me a card. He was going to make it elaborate but he got distracted. I love it!
Since J was making a card, B wanted to make one too. He cried because he doesn't know how to spell. I helped him out by writing the letters for him and he copied and drew the birthday cake. For a kid who refuses to (or has a bad learning disability which I fear I am ignoring and cannot) remember his letters, he does a good job of copying them.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
My very own Death Star
My birthday present:
>
It's a rolling ball composter. I have a rectangular bin one but I needed another one. Now I can have a starting composter and a finishing composter! I'm excited. DH is happy because it reminds him of Star Wars.
He also bought me the BOOK
It has been sitting there since lunch time taunting me while I worked. I decided I couldn't start it because if I did, I would finish it and I wouldn't work. I vowed to wait. Then I had to wait until the kids went to bed because I didn't want to be interrupted and get really irritated. So as soon as I'm done with this post and have another piece of chocolate mocha cake, I'm starting it. I probably won't sleep much tonight!
We were going to stay home and have leftovers but the kids said we couldn't do on my birthday so we headed out to Fish City Grill.
We had oyster nachos for appetizer
And DH & I split fish tacos for dinner
It was a great finale for my 39th birthday.
>It's a rolling ball composter. I have a rectangular bin one but I needed another one. Now I can have a starting composter and a finishing composter! I'm excited. DH is happy because it reminds him of Star Wars.
He also bought me the BOOK
It has been sitting there since lunch time taunting me while I worked. I decided I couldn't start it because if I did, I would finish it and I wouldn't work. I vowed to wait. Then I had to wait until the kids went to bed because I didn't want to be interrupted and get really irritated. So as soon as I'm done with this post and have another piece of chocolate mocha cake, I'm starting it. I probably won't sleep much tonight!
We were going to stay home and have leftovers but the kids said we couldn't do on my birthday so we headed out to Fish City Grill.
We had oyster nachos for appetizer
And DH & I split fish tacos for dinner
It was a great finale for my 39th birthday.
birthday #2
Mom, S#1 & S#5 made me birthday dinner last night.
Butter Chicken with rice & broccoli
mexican beer with key limes
chocolate mocha cake
Yum!!! Thanks for the delicious meal!
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Family weekend
The first week of school went fine for A&J. Friday after school we put them to work cleaning the house. S#1 was coming into town for an engagement party for S#5. We had to get things ready since she was staying here with us.
Saturday the kids went with the ILs for the night. We picked up S#1 at the airport, ate lunch, went shopping, relaxed and went to the party. S#4 came into town for the party too so we had 4 of the 5 of us together. It doesn't happen very often. Too bad S#2 moved to Kazakhstan on Friday. It was a lovely party and we all had fun.
Today the whole family joined us for a late lunch/early dinner. My birthday is on Tuesday and we started talking about what cake I would have for my birthday. S#1 (who is here until Tues) said we should have cake on Monday so we can celebrate with her. Then S#4 said we should have cake today so she could celebrate too. So S#1 & S#5 ran to the grocery for a grocery store white sheet cake with buttercream icing (one if S#1's favorite indulgences) and we had Birthday Celebration #1.
Tomorrow Mom is making chocolate mocha cake & we'll have Birthday Celebration #2. Then Tuesday is the actual birthday and I'll have Birthday Celebration #3. That's the one I'm most excited about because Mockingjay
is released on my birthday! Everybody needs 3 days of birthday, right???
Saturday the kids went with the ILs for the night. We picked up S#1 at the airport, ate lunch, went shopping, relaxed and went to the party. S#4 came into town for the party too so we had 4 of the 5 of us together. It doesn't happen very often. Too bad S#2 moved to Kazakhstan on Friday. It was a lovely party and we all had fun.
Today the whole family joined us for a late lunch/early dinner. My birthday is on Tuesday and we started talking about what cake I would have for my birthday. S#1 (who is here until Tues) said we should have cake on Monday so we can celebrate with her. Then S#4 said we should have cake today so she could celebrate too. So S#1 & S#5 ran to the grocery for a grocery store white sheet cake with buttercream icing (one if S#1's favorite indulgences) and we had Birthday Celebration #1.
Tomorrow Mom is making chocolate mocha cake & we'll have Birthday Celebration #2. Then Tuesday is the actual birthday and I'll have Birthday Celebration #3. That's the one I'm most excited about because Mockingjay
is released on my birthday! Everybody needs 3 days of birthday, right???
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
First Day of School 2010
This morning I returned to my life of drudgery, waking up children, forcing them to dress in uniforms, making lunches and driving them to school. I don't think I was any more ready for the kids to return to school then they were. Luckily this morning went very well for all.
Entering 5th grade and 2nd grade
A lick for good luck from Frankie the Dog
A stopped long enough to snap a picture . . .
and took off down the hall. Moms do not walk 5th graders to their room on the first day of school!
J waves goodbye!
A lick for good luck from Frankie the Dog
A stopped long enough to snap a picture . . .
and took off down the hall. Moms do not walk 5th graders to their room on the first day of school!
J waves goodbye!
Monday, August 16, 2010
End of summer treat
Tomorrow is the last day of summer. Wednesday, A & J start back to school. At the beginning of summer, I got the July issue of Martha Stewart Living. One recipe, Marshmallow Cookie Sandwiches, had A drooling and I promised her she could make it later in the summer. Of course I waited until the last minute but at least I didn't break my pinky swear.
Making marshmallows
The gelatin smells like hooves!
Today cousin E came over and we made the actual sandwiches. It was a big mess with chocolate ending up all over the girls' fingers, necks, elbows & noses. They had fun and made with these yummy looking treats.
This afternoon we're eagerly awaiting the announcement of class lists so we find out what teachers they will have for next year. Once the lists are out, we're meeting a few families up at the pool for one last hurrah. It should be a nice end to our summer.
The gelatin smells like hooves!
Today cousin E came over and we made the actual sandwiches. It was a big mess with chocolate ending up all over the girls' fingers, necks, elbows & noses. They had fun and made with these yummy looking treats.
This afternoon we're eagerly awaiting the announcement of class lists so we find out what teachers they will have for next year. Once the lists are out, we're meeting a few families up at the pool for one last hurrah. It should be a nice end to our summer.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Bye, bye cribby!
One of my goals for the summer was to move B into the room with J. We've tried this before and it has never worked. Last weekend I suddenly realized that I only had 3 weeks of summer left and if I didn't do it now, it wasn't going to happen. I sprang the news on the boys late on Sunday night. I told them they were going to share and there was going to be no whining. B would have his nightlight and J would have to cover his head if B was being too loud. They begged to put it off but I stood my ground and they adjusted.
It has been a week and half and so far it's not too bad. In fact, it went pretty well and we actually gave B's beloved cribby away.
B took one last jump in it and then he waved goodbye as DH carried it away. I guess he's a big boy now!
It has been a week and half and so far it's not too bad. In fact, it went pretty well and we actually gave B's beloved cribby away.
B took one last jump in it and then he waved goodbye as DH carried it away. I guess he's a big boy now!
Friday, August 6, 2010
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Dog Days of Summer
It's August in Texas and it is stinkin' hot. It has been 100+ for the past week. It is sweltering. I haven't felt like doing much, even blogging.
Despite the heat, life goes on. Both boys were in soccer camp this week. B was so excited to go to soccer camp. He asked me to come today to watch him. Of course, I didn't think about bringing my camera. I blame it on the heat. I should have because he is pretty darn cute when he skips.
Since I am blogging now, I have proof that the moth was an io moth. J blew on it and it opened its wings. Aren't the "eyes" on the hind wings cool?
Despite the heat, life goes on. Both boys were in soccer camp this week. B was so excited to go to soccer camp. He asked me to come today to watch him. Of course, I didn't think about bringing my camera. I blame it on the heat. I should have because he is pretty darn cute when he skips.
Since I am blogging now, I have proof that the moth was an io moth. J blew on it and it opened its wings. Aren't the "eyes" on the hind wings cool?
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