It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Well no, not really. It's getting closer (12 days left) so it should look like it. Well, it's an Ohio Christmas. Cold and wet. Must start writing the Christmas missive soon. The kiddos have one more week before their break begins and Greg's folks are coming our way next Saturday. Christmas shopping is almost done--shopping for the kids should be easy, but for the first time we spending alot of time asking if we have enough or too much? It's so easy to go overboard. We are entering the year of more pricey items (ergo fewer as well). Today I realized a need a few days solid just to sort through stuff in the house and pass it along! It is so relaxing to have tidy spaces! But that also means letting go of things as well. What to do with the Thomas the Tank table that Greg's parents bought? How much stuff can we honestly keep for the grandchildren??

Ryan's tastes are getting more complex. He is still devoted to books but is also fascinated with his DS, and Legos. Today he planned and executed a carnival in the living room . There were four games (with prizes). It was a wonderful effort and I love his creativity. He also wants a Chinese New Year party. Since Chinese New Year falls on Valentine's Day next year (and it's a Sunday) we'll aim for Saturday.

Charlotte is still making books and gluing and taping and cutting. She is getting popsicle sticks, more glue, a hole punch and her own stapler. Today she got a stack of colored paper and sturdier tape dispenser. The love of Disney princesses continues and is indulged.

So the war between public school washout and creativity continues. I am sure it is a battle I am only imagining (just a little). Charlotte watches Dora at K for heaven's sake and is learning some cheer type songs to remember her ABCs etc. But I grit my teeth and breathe. It's hard! Ryan is learning so much about descriptive writing and is excelling in math. I am finally coming to grips with them in public for 2 more years. If we don't move, Ryan would still have 2 years at Antioch and Charlotte would have four. The current battle involves teaching Ryan (and Charlotte a little) how to be generous with their time (especially with each other). There are times Ryan definitely wants to be alone or seems to not want to be bothered by his sister. He can be mean in the way he tries to avoid her. He likes to make excuses, races ahead of her to be first and just in all frustrates her. However, while we can admonish him, modeling what he should do is definitely something we need to start. Patience again. It is not an easy thing when we are frequently rushed ourselves.

Curious kids

And a tired mom. It is official. Working full time sucks. I always had a suspicion it did and now I know it is true. I've been on a day schedule this week due to meetings for the electronic health record implementation. I mistakenly thought I would have more energy. Uh, no. I get home and the children are bursting with creative ideas and all I can think about is dinner, homework, teeth and bed--theirs, not mine. Though, after they are in bed, it doesn't take long for my mind to drift in the same direction! Ryan wants to do science, Charlotte wants to make another tornado out of water bottles, they both want to cook. So tonight while I was warming my meal, Greg had already fed them... I challenged Ryan to spelling words while doing Charlotte's flashcards. We didn't have a book home for her to read today so we worked on Ten Apples on Top. It is wonderful watching her make the beginning and end sounds and try to put it together. I gave Ryan words he didn't necessarily know--he played along for awhile and then gave up. Curious, curious children. Tired, tired mom.

Bookmakers

So the kids have started making books. I am not sure what has started this...Charlotte brings a collection of papers to be stapled. She fills hers with drawings. Ryan wrote another book today. It's about a ship called the Larson Dawson that gets hit by a tornado, catches fire and sinks. And is found 19 years later. You can definitely see what favorite subject is influencing this piece! But it is accompanied by pictures. And punctuation.

Charlotte is reading simple sentences now and is writing. The teacher encourages the children to spell by the sounds they hear--so some of Charlotte's words are very interesting! Today they spent some time in their fort. Ryan wanted to make a flag for it--literally wanted me to sew him the flag of England and mount it on a standard flag pole--I talked him in to a garden flag pole and he picked "Peace on Earth" flag--thank goodness. the kids' craft requests for fabric items are stacking up. I will have plenty of work to do on the sewing machine when school is done.

I am reading them Charlie and the Chocolate Factory--two chapters a night. I've never read it before now. We'll catch the Gene Wilder version after we're done. The Johnny Depp version looks creepy. It's my first time reading them a novel--I look forward to others.

Max's visit

We had a first sleepover since school started. After making root beer at Beth and Lori's they allowed us to take their son for an overnight! the goal was to get the kids to the train show at Hara today. Since I was working, Greg was volunteered to watch them all and got to spend the most tiem with them. Max is a delight--really a sweet boy. The kids loved having hiom here,. I thjink Ryan liked having a little guy around and Charlotte just liked having here period! So there was lots of playing, one head butt to a nose, staying up late and getting up early. The best opart for me though was when Ryan made a book called Captain Underpants and the dinosaur written and illustrated by Ryan R and Max H. It was hilarious. Such a sweet boy.

Aunt Martha is in town for a few days before she finishes her trek home. It's so nice having her here and the children just love her.

Back to work!

Sigh

I read my last post and had a quiet chuckle. It probably wasn't a week after I wrote that that Greg brought home some wretched respiratory ick that flattened him for days. He then gave it to Charlotte who gave it to me. Ryan was spared with only a cough. So Charlotte had a week off school, Greg several days off work, me off two nights. I still have a flipping cough. It's finally out of the house. Greg was tested for H1N1 and it came back negative, then we found out that the cultures aren't catching it at all and some docs are calling it H1n1 because no other flu is "out yet." There is some mild hysteria about the flu vaccine and the H1N1 vaccine. Mostly people are scrambling to find out where they are being given, waiting in god-awful long lines. Arguments abound about the flu mist versus the shot. Egads. I traditionally have not taken the flu shot. And I may for the first time this year. Their is a suspicion that H1N1 will be rounding again in a few months. Even though we may have had it, no one can really tell us, is it worth getting the shot? I hate that the media has this all jacked up and that there is so much suspicion about the vaccine. Our doc says that 40% of the kiddoes dying have no underlying health problems--they catch a secondary infection while their immune systems are knocked down with the flu. Oh, yay. It also has apparently peaked in our area without many places even having a vaccine to give yet. So the question abounds. to vaccinate or not. I hate this question.

I have started my last class before my practicum--project management. I like it. I liked workflows too so informatics seems to have been a promising choice:) I start my practicum in January!! The things I will do with no more school! Hmm...well, need to graduate first:)

Thanksgiving is a few weeks away. I cannot believe it. Christmas is soon too. Already picking up gifts. It is now getting dark before 6. Weird.

Fall

While walking Charlie tonight I noticed the vibrant leaves that have changed color are falling and are giving way to the brown more muted colors. More bare branches are visible now and I am once again aware that winter is on its way. It's neat though, we'll be ramping up for the holiday season soon which will carry us to January. Then the hard part hits. the stretch between January and April seems to take forever with little to break it up. Good news is, if everything goes the way it has been planned, I'll be graduating in April and will be in a new position. I cannot begin to express how excited I am at this prospect. I am restless at work, eager to be done and away. More and more things are getting on my nerves and I am tired of the constant ebb and flow of drama on the unit. Working alone sounds very appealing right now.

The kids are excited about Halloween, Ryan wants me to put more decorations out, there are still a bunch in the bin, but that takes time and it's been busy. We are to go camping with the troop this weekend, pup and all. I love that Ryan can run through the woods with his cub scout buddies.

Ryan continues to inhale books. A Half price books opened nearby and it is a gold mine for kids books. Grown up books too I imagine, but I do okay at the library. We got him 4 Magic treehouse for what it would have cost to buy 2 at BN. Charlotte hs developed a passion for drawing. The characters are consistent but I love watching her as she changes what they wear and the stories that go with them. She is learning high frequency words in school and is spelling them. She also continues to absorb books. Recently she made flags out of origami paper. She has very specific plans and it is fascinating to listen to her.

The pup has bounced back from whatever his ailment was. He is getting into things again and his appetite is back to normal. He is a sweet pooch. I am eager to enroll him in the next set of training classes. He picks up things fast.

H1N1 seems to be making fewer headlines now. People around us are getting sick and passing around what seem to be garden variety colds. The hospital has instituted no visitors under 14--which has definitely made the unit a quieter place.

I've read through my email and FB, time to get to work on this week's post for school.

Black September

I understand from friends that there are times when you should just write the month off as a loss and good riddance. I have never experienced this phenomena. Now I have. I am calling it Black September and hope that as the month has passed that the black cloud firmly affixed above the house has moved on as well. It is difficult to catalog the events. Should it be consecutive or by what was the most expensive, or perhaps what required the most doctor visits? We of course start with the car accident, proceed to poison ivy, then onto a viral infection with only headache and atrocious fever as the symptom to just recently, the dog swallowing foreign objects and vomiting. At the end of all of this, I have a well but tired daughter, a new van, a lethargic but rebounding dog and a son with pink patches on his legs where the poison ivy continues to fade. I also have my life--which before would have seemed to be a fundamentally silly item to give attention to. We all have our lives, but like our heart that beats hundreds of times a day without us really acknowledging it, we don't often consider or appreciate this fact. So while the house is a shambles and we continue to move through our days at an often frenetic pace, I have to stop every once in awhile and acknowledge that I have my life. I have been stopped in my tracks more than once in the last few weeks with this realization. The richness and joy and companionship that I can embrace fills me to almost bursting. I am happy.

Kids and puppy go well together

So every once in a while I catch a snapshot moment, one that I will hold in my mind and heart forever. Today it was two kids playing in the wooded area in a neighbors yard--one of those perfect places for kids to have a hideout-- and running across his expansive lawn. The day is gorgeous, one of those days where the autumn sun is high in the sky and there are barely any clouds. So while my ragamuffin, mismatched clothed children run (Charlotte in a dress, shoes with no socks and Ryan with binoculars for spying pirates), there is a puppy gamboling along beside them with his tail high as he tries to keep up with his playmates. The kids are laughing as they run in the sun; I'm sure the puppy is too.

There are angels

There are indeed angels.

Tuesday morning I fell asleep while driving home from work. On the interstate. I "woke up" as I approached the guard rail to an overpass. I was in the grassy median between northbound and southbound traffic. I swung hard to the right, tried to get control, spun across the three or four lanes of traffic and slammed into the opposite cement wall on the overpass. I didn't hit anyone. No one hit me. The back end of the car rammed the cement wall, not the front. I didn't break anything. I never lost consciousness. I didn't kill anyone.

I did see the cars coming at me as I swung around in that circle and for a moment I prayed, let go of the wheel and closed my eyes. I felt the slam of the car into the wall and waited for others to come as traffic came. None did.

An angel woke me up before I went front first into a guardrail.
Another cleared the way as I fought for control of the car.
Another stopped oncoming drivers.
Another turned the car where I had the most support from flying out of it. The seat jerked back, but I stayed put at least.

I don't know how it was done. I went to the ER by squad in a c-collar and on a backboard. X-rays were negative for breaks. I walked out.

So today I am awed, am still shaky, stiff and sore. And minus a car.

Today I found out I won't be cited for failure to control since I didn't damage anything but myself.

We have our eye on Kia minivan. Which is good. It has enough room for me, a blanket and a pillow. I will never drive while tired again.

Chocolate chip pancakes

My mother in law once asked me why I bothered making chocolate chip pancakes every week for the kids as opposed to other quick fix breakfasts. "They don't appreciate it" she said. I replied, "I know, they'll appreciate it later."

I realize often that this is true. They can't appreciate what I do for them now, they have nothing to compare it to. It's like asking them to appreciate a tree converting carbon dioxide into oxygen. It's a fixture in their lives, like me. I realized not long after I was married that I didn't appreciate a single thing my mother did for me. Not one. It's not that I was an ill-mannered child, but I was her child. She was a fixture in my life, like the walls of our home. She was an awesome cook. She made us a hot breakfast every day until high school when we probably outgrew them. To this day, I remember her giving my brother the first pancake because it was always too greasy for me. I asked her to and she did. She made chocolate chip pancakes the size of dinner plates. I didn't see her as a extremely dissatisfied housewife until I was out on my own. I knew it but was always confused by it. She was Mom--not a person with needs, desires and frustrations (unless it dealt with us wearing our shoes in the house!) We never talked about it. We were never friends.

When my kids see me, what do they see? I am a fixture, a constant in their lives. I am Mom.

I now know what it takes to read a book "just one more time" when I can barely keep my eyes open and am so ready for them to go to bed. They have no idea what it takes. Nor should they. It's not an expectation I have. One day they'll remember--and hopefully make their kids chocolate chip pancakes.

a different life

It is 12:45 and the house is quiet. School for me has started and the kids are in school until a little after 3. I am learning to balance working out, napping, school and errands in the time they are gone. I have kept to working out at Curves 3 times a week for 2 weeks now. And of course, walks with Charlie. While I am learning how to slowly stretch to fill up the time, I am enjoying learning what I can do with it. There is a definite freedom with them in school all day, though I hate the school and the fact they have to go there.

Things I've learned with this time:
Mealplans for the week make life alot smoother and provide excellent leftovers!
How quickly time can go if I fill it up with many errands==drop-off, a trip to the goodwill, workout, walk Charlie and it's already 11:30! So I am spacing that out and am more patient with my productivity
Concentrate on school in the time after working out and before pick-up. Too tired at night and the kids deserve all of my attention when they are home.
Wash my face twice a day--including moisturizer!
Since they are in school, I don't have to work every Friday to cut down on babysitting. I am home 2 out of 4 whole weekends!


While I am enjoying the solitude of days home, night shift is getting harder and harder. I am impatient to switch.

The kids are moving along in school. It isn't what I want for them but there is nothing to be done about it for now. The first few weeks are always hard on me. I grit my teeth alot. Yes, they are fine. But why is fine okay?

New adventure

Tomorrow marks the beginning of a new adventure for me..both kids in school all day. An event 5 years in the making! While I have work this week and won't truly have a day without it as I lose time taking naps or sleeping in, I have to seriously consider what I am going to do with my time. There isn't a shortage of things to do-believe me. I have about 2 weeks before my school starts in earnest and at some point must weigh the perks of shift work versus a 5 day a week kind of deal. Not today, though. There will be volunteering in the kid's classes and truly no excuse not to get on the elliptical on a regular basis. Do I quilt, do I cross-stitch, scrap book, read? So many things! Of course, there's cleaning:) I really need to go through some closets and clean off some of our flat surfaces. I need to paint the kid's closets and get their rooms organized.

But for now, I will just breathe.

Sad

Today the world is a bit sadder. One of our residents and his wife miscarried triplets at 20 weeks. They are a lovely couple and I can only imagine how this has devastated them. We have been aware of their efforts to conceive and have shared in their joy as the pregnancy was announced and progressed. Twin girls and a little boy are in Heaven tonight. How can we help them through this pain?
In every piece of misery there seems to be something to take away. Today I hugged my kids a bit longer and realized they are a miracle indeed.

School supplies

Today we bought school supplies as directed from the list provided by the school's website. Nevermind the ridiculousness of the requests--6 gluesticks, 3 Expo markers and a highlighter for example, more that school is starting in 17 short days for Ry and I am not ready. Not at all. I like summer. I like having them home. This summer has flown. We haven't even visited the June pool--it hasnt been hot enough. What a weird weather summer. Barely any days above 85. Ryan has asked no fewer than 5 times in two weeks to be homeschooled and when exactly I can do it. I told him 5 years--and I'm sure he's keeping track! He has instructed Charlotte on lunchroom rules "Charlotte, when they turn off the lights, you have to be quiet" He said it most earnestly and importantly and with a little worry. We hope to have Charlotte at the primary with him--they have four K classes there and the rest are down the road--making it a bear since we are driving them. I can't even imagine C at all day school this year. She melts at home at 5 pm--and this is with no school.

We have had a kickbutt summer-- just fast.

We are at the cusp of fastforwarding through another year. Maybe that's why I dislike this time so much. For 9 months there won't be alot of time to breathe. Just schedules and tasks and places to be.

Our I just have a common mom lament. They are getting so big, so fast. They are so beautiful and fun.

The pup is working out. He is settling in and the kids are getting used to him. It is a joy to hear their giggles as they play with him outside.

Hidden Mickeys

In looking for a Disneyland Guide, we came across this gem in the bookstore. Apparently the Disney folks have found ingenious ways of incorporating the Mickey ears in unusual areas through out the parks. The book tells you right where some are, the rest are set up like a scavenger hunt. We passed it over but then Ryan asked about it a few days later. So now it's ours--or more actually Ryan's. In addition to having every ride plotted out (thanks to the Disneyland Map from Grandma and Grandpa) Ryan has also plotted out where he will find the Hidden Mickeys. Ask him, he'll tell you. So I envision a day where he and Daddy will go searching--Greg can geocache and Ryan can find his Mickeys. I am hoping he'll take his camera so he can catalog them. Just two more days!

PKI with the Gauls (79 photos), by sara repasy

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Biannaul Ick and a trip to the ER

About twice a year I get a cold/flu that knocks me on my butt. Sore throat--think swallowing razorblades, body aches, congestion and headache. I started Sat night at work with a sore throat--I thought from swallowing the gallons of phlegm my body was producing. Motrin and lots of water and I knuckled through. Woke up Sunday and felt flat awful. Called in sick with plans to see the doc on Monday. Again would knuckle through with Motrin and Zyrtec D. I hate urgent cares. Took a Vicodin (bad nurse) left over from an ankle injury two years ago so I could get more than 2 hours of sleep with some pain relief. Woke up every two hours anyway because I needed a sip of water. Got up at 7:30, went to the kichen got lightheaded nearly passed out and went back to bed. Called Greg back from work. It was an awful feeling. I was scared. I couldn't have driven anywhere and I was in no shape to take care of the kids. Do you know how many times you need to swallow? And it hurt like hell every time. The doctor office line was busy the three times I called. Off to the ER. I can't swallow because it makes me want to cry--I'm spitting in a rag. Get to the ER and with a modest wait fom waiting room to doc, get an IV on the bottom of my frickin wrist again--I have NO veins-, morphine, zofran, solumedrol and 50 mg of benadryl. Declined the EKG-all i can see is dollar signs for something I don't need--I was just waiting for them to come in and tell me I needed one--NO--I know my patient rights!!! Looking back I must have been really dehydrated. Because I couldn't swallow without immense pain, I was only sipping and only when my mouth got too dry.

If you ever have to go to Kettering ER--Dr. Ray was awesome. Anyway, have a white count of 17000. They're out of rapid strep so we can't tell if it's viral or bacterial. Am sent home with Penicilin and a prednisone dose pack. The pain is better, still hurts and I am able to eat with just a little wincing. Greg must have noticed me swaying--the morphine and benadryl really like to hang on--and he sent me to bed--where I slept until 5 pm. To say I feel like a new person would be an understatement. I am able to talk now and for about 2 hours my energy was good. I'm starting to feel drained again, but thank goodness I was able to get treated. How do single moms do this??

Kings Island

Yesterday we went to King's Island as part of a celebration for Megan's Miranda's eighth birthday. We got there after 1 and left after 10. Needless to say, everyone except Greg (poor guy) slept in today. Ryan and Charlotte rode everything they could and loved all of it. We pretty much walked the whole 9 hours. It started out rainy and then stopped though we didn't actually get sun until dinnertime. Since there were four grown ups to trade kid duty, the we got to ride some big people stuff. I talked Megan into the Delerium--a Level 5 thrill ride, please see http://www.pki.com/attractions/detail.cfm?ai_id=154 and yes the thirteen stories up certainly felt accurate. It was awesome for the first minute and then it actually got scary. We were up so high and moving so fast all you could feel was the wind hitting you and listen to it screech by. I peaked an eye open a few times at the very top of the arc and then just prayed. It was awful for about thirty seconds. And thenit ruined every ride for the rest of the night. Even the loopy stuff at Coney made my stomach swirl. Eeesh. But we did it--and won't do it again. It was nice being able to ride Whitewater Canyon too. So going with other grownups has its perks. The kids were out before the interstate--and so was I:)

Summertime

Kids have been out of school for a little over a week and we are starting to settle into a routine. It is very liberating not to have to be somewhere at 9 am or 3 pm unless we want to. We have easy days with a trip to the coffeeshop (usually), a daily bike ride, watering flowers, reading. They have quiet time around 2 (I can do homeowrk) and a movie at 3 if I have to work (this way I can get my nap). It has all worked out well. The only issue seems to be there constant proximity to one another. I suppose they have gotten used to being apart for 6 hours a day while school is in so the all day contact with one other wears on their nerves (and mine). Ryan wants a say in where we go and do and gets sulky if he doesn't get his way. We are re-visiting "meetings" and no tattle-tailing--again a result of constant proximity. Greg bought us season passses to King's Island and we have already been once. The kids can ride most everything and love roller coasters. There are a few rides where I like to keep a hand on Charlotte but she insists she is fine. Ryan rode The Beast for the first time and declared he didn't like it. It is quite jerky.

We went to Ikea a few days ago and Entertrainment Junction. On the way I had to get coffee so I pulled off. After getting my life-saving drink (I had worked the night before) Ryan recognised where we were and insisted we turn long before the GPS said to. It actually put me back on the interstate. So after a minute of driving, I turned the car around and went the way he suggested--and he was right. Brilliant and now validated child:)

We are re-connecting with friends as they have finished up with their schooling. The Greene is a favorite haunt of ours--Ryan likes the fountains, I like to sit and read and Charlotte usually ends up sitting next to me so I don't read at all. There are many free, pretty and wet places to play so I look forward to some good times with the kids. School is on-going--aiming to be done next Spring. The informatics dept is looking to expand alot this summer so I hope to be in a new position before summer's end (keep your fingers crossed!). Kids are back to school August 19--sigh.

Holding hands

As I've been walking Ryan to school these past weeks, I have noticed how big his hand has felt in mine. Maybe because it's the end of the school year and I am nostalgic anyway, how his hand feels in mine has been a distraction.
I held his hand as a baby, amazed at how little his hand was in my palm. As a toddler I held his hand for safety in parking lots, having to close my hand more to keep his secure. I remember him trying to twist away from my hand when he was angry with me. Now my heart leaps when he voluntarily takes my hand as we are walking along. For him, demonstrating affection is more rare and precious. The tips of his fingers would meet the edge of my palm, now they curl around it. His growth has been so much more than physical and holding his hand shows me how much he has grown. "I know, Mom" he says.
He quietly accepts my hand as we walk and sometimes I feel he is humoring me. I still need it. Hopefully, for awhile, he will too.

Every Sunday

Every Sunday should be like this Sunday. First, and maybe most importantly..I got to sleep in..until 9:20. This never happens. Up, eat, talk Greg out of bike ride (too cold). But he's rearing to do something, so he starts yardwork. I feel guilty, so I start work on the back porch. At the end of the yard work stretch, the lawn is mowed, front and back. The back patio is clean--it really does look nice and it has warmed up. Greg grills burgers and hot dogs for lunch after making a Kroger run for Stewart's orange cream (Ryan's favorite) and some grape soda (my favorite)--for some reason this tastes so good after yard work! We are all relaxed, Ryan is happy--he got to help grill. We also found a frog and 2 bunnies in the back yard. Charlotte rehoused some earthworms that were under the kids basketball hoop and held the frog.

We just have to go to Kettering for Trader Joe's run and to drop off a Little Tikes car for Levi. Playtime for kids at the Kuperman's. AJ and I check out an open house next door. Awesome room size, (great neighbors:), but hasn't been cosmetically updated in many many decades--read exposed insulation and scary dark basement. On the way we just have to stop and get some Coldstone. Did I mention it was gorgeous out at this point? And everyone is happy. I mean just relaxed and happy.

We get home and squeeze in a bike ride. Charlotte gets to use her new Camelbak--it's pink. Beautiful ride in Yellow Springs along a converted bike path. It still shows up on maps (on my iPhone!!) as a railroad. So Ryan and I played "what kind of train would you drive here" on the way home. We saw Young's in the distance which really helped the kids get an idea of how far we went. Lots of Honeysuckle in bloom. Charlotte insisted it was Daddy's turn to pull her on the trailer bike--my turn next time. On the drive to the bike tril Charlotte was talking about how she wanted to be a "mommy that stayed home" when she grew up so her "children would never be sad when she would go to work" Just twist the knife a little more sweetie.

Home, late dinner then promised smores over the fire out back. Showers, books and bed. The kids are out in 5 minutes. Fun, happy Sunday.

Can I put the winter stuff away?

73 today. Wonderful wonderful.

I am looking at the sea of papers on the desk--it's not even my desk, it's Greg's but I have totally taken it over since he has the totally great and huge monitor... anyway, it's all school stuff! Journal articles and assignment sheets and books! I now know more about social marketing and radon which I suppose would be useful if I were going into marketing or environmental health. Though I suppose you could apply social marketing to teaching. That would actually be useful and maybe a little fun. Sorry, tangent. Now I have to find a place to store all of it--though the floor seems to be working fine.

In two weeks I will get my first informatics class! Hooray. I'm trying not to worry about it. I wish I had gotten some computer certifications first!

In other news. Another bike ride today. We all went on the bike path between Bcreek and Xenia. Kilkare was open so we got to see some drag races form the bike path. I always forget how much i like those. Big engines loud noise. Greg doesn't get my fascination with monster trucks or tractor pulls either. Must be the Witt coming through. Ryan was fascinated and Charlotte was content picking flowers. She sang most of the bike ride--either Disney stuff or hummed Loreena McKinnit. She is such a hoot to listen to! She kept herself completely occupied. The trailer bike is working well and she loves it.

Ryan's second tooth is growing in. When he talks I am constantly reminded of a little old man missing his partial. He has the big gap on his bottom row:)

I hounded the rescue lady again. It's been 3 weeks (I think) since this adventure started and I am ready for a dog already. Word is the home visit folks will be calling soon! There won't be any word until after that I suppose. Area breeders of AKC pups are asking between $800 and $1200 for a golden puppy. That's nice. And for everyone saying there are dogs at the pound, yes I know. The last dog lived 11 years. I liked him. I picked him out as a puppy. If I am going to look at another dog for 10+ years I want to like it too. My conscience won't let me buy one from a pet store--though by golly it sure is easier than all of this!

George will be here Wednesday! Hooray! I don't know how long he's staying. Greg may or may not have another trip after this one.

No word on the job front. I will go ahead an enroll C for public K next year. Even f I don't get a day job in the next few weeks, one could come up in the next few months and I would have to move her anyway if we homeschooled. So now I will be depressed for awhile. It was so hard taking Ryan out of Antioch. It will be hard taking C out too. She talks to all the teachers and all the kids. This sucks. Damn money.

GPS and other tidbits

So I am back to work. Having a few days off was wonderful. It will be even more so when I do not have schoolwork to contend with! Trips in NC--the Scrap Exchange, a cool bookstore, 2 excellent ethnic restaurants, swimming. A night for RockBand and a night for movie night. Visited 2, yes 2! REI stores--ended up buying a trailer bike.

Learned a few things too. Using my GPS on the way home, I was looking for a McD's--Ryan asked very nicely for lunch there and I wanted to indulge them a little bit. They were so good eating their snacks and using their water bottles. So when the GPS says it's 7 miles away--it's not necessarily 7 miles up the road. This was 7 miles, I think perpendicular to the route I was on. So after spending way too much time getting there, I ended up on a different route home. We saw and entrance to the Blue Ridge parkway and I thought "Cool, won't that be pretty, we're not in a rush..." The next sign was for Roanoke 82 miles away. I eventually pulled off to see which way I was going--Roanoke was no where near the direction I needed to go. So I ended up driving thru different "gaps" before I could manag to turn around and I was reminded of some books I read that were set in a gap. It was absolutely beautiful country. I haven't seen an ugly part of Virginia yet. The kids continued to travel very well and it took a bit longer to get home. Ryan lost his second tooth in West Virginia--yeah--it caused him a lot of grief on the trip.

From now on, the kids will either be read books made into movies before seeing the movies or read them themselves. We listened to The Tale of Desperaux and Nim's Island on CD and they were wonderful. Tale was a little much I think for the kids--I liked it. Ryan like the part where the shark blew up in Nim's Island--so he was listening. Skippyjohn Jones was a favorite of Charlotte's.

In other exciting news, Charlotte can ride a two-wheeler! We took her to the same lot that Ryan learned on. She does great with the balance, it's just getting her to pedal hard enough to keep up her momentum. We also tried out the trailer bike. Greg isn't sold on it yet, but I think it will be good for long bike rides since Charlotte won't even fit in a trailer.

All in all , it was a wonderful time to spend with the kids. Not being distracted by house stuff let me focus on them and I think we are closer. I just have to tell myself to sit down with them at home. There is always something to be done. Sitting with them, reading to them, playing games with them is my job too:) Not that I don't do that. I need to do it more.

BTW, Greg's trip is finally set. He is out of town the week I am off school. Don't you just love irony?? Now what to do...scrapbook, quilt, clean, catch up on series and movies I want to see...

Waiting to hear back on job app. It will determine if we will consider homeschooling or not. Antioch is our first choice but we just can't afford it:( Public has been beneficial to Ryan in many ways, but so much is missing too.

The wait for a rescue pup continues. We haven't heard back from a rescue yet, but 2 of our "references" have been called:)

We made it!

The kids and I made it safe and sound to NC. The trip was great--the children traveled so well. Ryan enjoyed the landscape changes, from flat to hills to mountains. We went through two tunnels and the weather was perfect. Ryan also helped "find" the exits we needed. The invisible pen coloring books were a huge hit. We didn't stop nearly as often as I thought we would. We listened to books on CD, but often the radio stayed at a low hum. We had snacks in the car, no fast food stuff-thanks Greg. Two gas fill-ups and three bathroom breaks. The GPS only had an issue once--an apparent black hole just west of Durham.

So the kids saw Kristin and Kaylynn and it was like old times in no time flat. Kal is so beautiful. He cooes and smiles and loves his Mama. The Dungans have a light but delightful schedule planned, it took little time to feel at home. A treat for me was watching part (a very small part) of Transformers on the really big screen with really big speakers. The jalapeno cheese burgers were good too--we need to find a recipe for those! The kids however, did not want to go to sleep. Ryan was so tired but they were so chatty--hence the abbreviated viewing of the movie. We divided them up and they finally fell asleep. I laid down withthe kids. Schoolwork will involve a few phonecalls tomorrow and some more reading on social marketing. But it should be manageable--I just can't panic.

Near as I can tell, I only forgot the camera--not bad really. I bought a disposable to get us through tomorrow and Greg will overnight the digital.

All in all, I am glad we came. I'm just starting to realize I'm not working for a few days. I am ready to have some fun!! And we have been so welcomed.

iPhone versus Blackberry

I was due to upgrade my phone with Verizon. I like my phone. I like the texting and all the ringtones I have collected--the Peanuts stuff is great! But the iPhone looks so cool!! And the apps look amazing! They have a Kindle reader app now! Anyway, because the iphone costs some money and my verizon upgrade is essentially free, I went with the Samsung Omnia. I test drove it for 29 days and took it back. The applications were pitiful and the touchscreen problematic. So now I am down to a Blackberry or iPhone. There are raves about both so I am really torn. I will test drive the iPhone while I am on break from school and see how it goes. The Blackberry will still be free....

So in a few hours, the kids and I will head to NC. I have made some headway in schoolwork, so hopefully I can relax! And still do schoolwork--the last spring break I will ever have to do so! We will make the trip sans DVD player. Feel free to pray for me during the 9 hour trip there and back:) We have a couple of books on CD and I uploaded a couple to the ipod. Ryan loves to read and will be engrossed in his books most of the time. Charlotte has some sticker books, reading books and a paper doll kit. We'll see how that works in the car!

The first retriever rescue turned us down. The vet couldn't dig out Snicker's records so not all of the info they wanted was complete. Sigh... we applied to 2 others so we will be patient. I am applying to adopt a dog and hate waiting. How do people adopting children stand it? If the rescues do not work out, we will reconsider our options. Who knows, we may end up with a puppy anyway!

No work until next Saturday. Haven't goten used to that idea yet!

A Dog Journey

After about a year and a half, we are ready (we think) for another dog. The kids have been asking forever. We were looking at summer, then Greg capitulated and said we could look now (thanks honey!!). After looking through rescues and talking to friends, we seem to be leaning toward a golden retriever. We just keep coming back to them! We applied a few days ago at a golden rescue. Yes, applied. They have already talked to our vet--and I am actually worried we may not be accepted! The vet tech said they were very ah-hem..."thorough". Code for zealot(?)...anyway. We wait. Ryan helped me fill out the application on-line and we discussed getting a dog that could have puppies (no), getting a puppy (probably not) and had an interesting talk about a 3 legged pooch up for adoption. "I do not want a 3-legged dog" Ryan says. Then we had a talk about whys and why nots. Each kiddo has picked out a dog toy--Ryan is giddy about a toy that helps through a ball for fetching--Reagan has one for her shepherds at the AS and she lets Ryan play with her dogs with it. Charlotte picked out a squeaky squirrel. The kids can't wait to pick out a leash and collar--they have to wait until we get a boy or girl and see how big they are. So we are back in the land of nylabones, treats and dog baggies. I am looking at dog crates, beds and brushes. And yes, I am considering a puppy shower:)

I am excited about a warm furry beast to pet every day. I am anxious to get back in the routine of taking daily walks with a pooch. And I absolutely cannot wait to hear the kids squeal in delight as they play with a new member of the family.

Anniversary

14 years ago, Greg met me at the altar of a pretty church and agreed before God and everyone to love, honor and cherish me until death. Yesterday we celebrated another year of loving, honoring and cherishing. It wasn't a candlelit dinner with roses, glittery jewelry or limo. It was us, the kids, dinner at Fridays (one of the few places the kids will eat that isn't Steak and Shake). It was a busy day followed by chores and outside time since the weather was nice. After dinner I told Ryan I had a treat for him. How many 6 year olds would be excited about a wedding album? Ryan was delighted and we went through and identified everyone. He has always been fascinated with family pictures. We saw Grandpa David and Grandma Pat, GG Sally, GG Christine and others whose names he knows but faces he doesn't.
An anniversary is a good a time as any to look back and see where you have been and what you have done. We have two kids--wonderful, delightful really. I have a lover, a best friend, a tower of strength when I fall--I never knew how much I would need him the day I walked down the aisle. We have memories of good times together. We have the same goals and long for the same adventures. What builds a marriage--I'm sure it's unique to everyone. Ours is happy and strong and happens in quiet moments. I am loved, honored and cherished. And I know it, like when we were driving home from dinner and ice cream and he reaches over, takes my hand, looks into my eyes and say's "I love you."

It must be a recession...

I don't follow finance much. I don't understand it and appreciate that a great deal goes on with an economy booming or crashing. As an adult, this will be my first experience with a recession. I'm not enjoying it. Today I learned I will be losing a few flourishes in my paycheck. Nothing awful. the dollars lost don't bother me as much as the fear the changes within my corporation are engendering. Kettering Health Network is a top notch financially saavy place--at least they try very hard to give that impression. We get bonuses at Christmas--small ones but hey across 5 hospitals it does add up. They're building new stuff and upgrading old stuff. They've laid people off recently. No nurses but the mood is certainly cautious. the holiday dinner is no more. If you have a spouse on your insurance and they are eligible to get insured in their workplace, you have to pay a surcharge to keep them on yours. Who thinks of this stuff? Of course, the DDN published a story about how much the CEOs take home and our network presidents $180,000 housing allowance. That helps:( The executives are not taking a raise this year. While the morale certainly takes a hit when faced with all of that, to be told that the cuts they are making are to save everyone's jobs is scary. Reality but scary all the same. No one is looking to rock the boat anytime soon. This will be the first time in my career that this is starting to hit home. We are all walking around saying "at least we can work". Part of HR is taking a forced day off every week. At any rate, it is sobering.

In better news, Ryan's first new tooth is coming in. He only checks on it about 20 times a day now. He is also the proud new owner of a Nintendo DS Lite. He has a super mario game something. He is learning how to use it and I imagine it will take awhile. It'll be a bit before he can play Lego Indiana Jones which is really what he wants! We're going very slow with it.

Charlotte mastered a headstand with some furniture support. Her trick was to show me she was eating a pepper while upside down. Pretty nifty really. She is so amazing and delightful.

Greg's intinerary has changed. I don't even remember when he's leaving now and when he's coming back. But he won't be leaving March 25!

Time to write a report about radon:)

Lost tooth and other things

Ryan lost his first tooth this week and it is a major event for him. He is cataloging things like, "mommy, this is my first mac and cheese with my tooth gone." Oddly enough, he didn't want to give it to the tooth fairy and actually teared up with worry that the tooth fairy would take it even if it wasn't under his pillow. It has something to do with a book he read at school. So, it is in a jar and he wants to show it to his friends. I hope they find it as cool as he does. I refuse to look at it. It's gross and I have no idea why parents want to to keep their kids teeth. EEEWWW! My friend Charlotte find it amusing that I don't do teeth. I really don't. I had nightmares about teeth falling out of my mouth growing up--I mean ghoulish horror movie gaping and bleeding. A dream book said it meant that something bad would happen. I was just glad when the dreams stopped. Anyway, if you have a wiggly tooth, I am okay not to see it. I will not help you pull it. I am feigning enthusiasm for Ryan. He has so many questions. He checks several times a day to see his new tooth and has decided he won't play football because his new teeth won't grow back if they're knocked out. I didn't really want my extremely slender kid getting knocked around the football field anyway, so for now, our goals mesh:)
My first 8 week class this rotation is done and I got an A--in case you missed the Facebook entry:) My next class opens today. I did not turn on the computer for 24 hours, read awful romance novels yesterday and pretty much relaxed and recharged. I work all weekend. I am so looking forward to my break in April. I am making a list of shows on DVD I want to rent and catch up on.
Greg has a business trip or 2 coming up and George has graciously offerred to come out an be our nanny while Greg is gone. What a blessing that will be!!

We are getting notices about kindergarten registration thru Fairborn and I am putting it off as long as possible! All day K will wipe her out--they don't do naps or rest periods. As always, the lottery remains a prayer:)

Time for pick up.

Yes, we're still alive

Ah, so far behind on the blog. Joined Facebook and I kill some webtime there when I need a break from schoolwork so I have been remiss in updating the blog! What's new.? No snow. 50 degree weather. Mud. Sleep deprivation. Oh, yeah, that's not new. Am in week 6 of 8 in my current class and all is well. Am looking forward to a break in April. Am tentatively planning a trip to North Carolina, however, Greg dropped a bomb last night that he may be going to New Mexico from April 10-24. Which would be do-able if I worked days! So we'll see what the word ends up being. I may have to scrap my much anticiptaed vacation plans and take time off while he is gone so the kids have someone in the house with them at night. He says he won't know for sure for a few more days.

Ryan's Pinewood Derby was last Sunday. I imagined a low key affair with a plywood track. Oh, was I wrong. There was a 4 lane incline, complete with starting boxes, lights and timers. There were four heats. There were basic sanded and painted cars and there were intricate rocket launcher looking cars. Ryan took 2nd in his troop, 23rd overall. Greg told me the differences in times were seconds. So I had a great time helping Ryan sand and paint the car. Greg cut it out and the finished construction complete with weights. We went to Michaels to get the right paint etc and since Ryan can read now, he has discovered rockets. And has noted they can fly over 700 feet up. Guess what we're doing this summer? His love of Legos continues. And he has a new fascination with the Titanic. Ships and pirates receive alot of attention too. Charlotte is building with the big blocks and the build your own clubhouse kit continues to be a favorite. She loves telling stories. She often arrives early enough at the AS to help Ann with copies, so she is quite comfortable in the office and now includes hugging MJ in her daily activities. She is so comfortable there and valued.

Another sled day

School was cancelled for Ryan again, most cities around us were on a delay. But after getting on the road, cancelling was probably a good idea. Charlotte was home as AS was closed or conferences today. I realized I missed hers about two hours after I was supposed to be there. The snow days have thrown me off! So Charlotte is home again tomorrow (Friday) and Fairborn is already on a 2 hour delay. Since we are supposed to get another 2 inches tonight, I reckon it'll be closed again. All of which is wreaking havoc with my homework!! Luckily, this seems to be a lightweight class!

Anyway. Sledding. Pictures sent to most of you will show our sled trip yesterday. Let me say that it,or the weather, or my impending cold totally kicked my butt yesterday. Greg and I were exhausted by 8pm. We held out til 10 because we're grown-ups and not supposed to be in bed at 8:30.

Today Rebecca, (Tahlia and Evelyn's mom) invited us over for lunch and sledding. Some cool things came out of this. One is I have to take Ryan to Mad River Mountain. Evelyn showed him her skies and very graciously told him all about them. He soaked it all up. She also let him try them out, but his feet were too big for the boots. He really wants to try skiing. I've never been. So I'll shoot for a trip in late Feb--any takers? The second thing was the hill at Gant park in Yellow Springs--totally perfect for sledding!!! Wright Brothers has the hill --and lots of trees. Gant has a slightly smaller hill--but NO trees! We rocketed down the hill! Charlotte's tolerance of sledding was characteristically low. She does not like snow in her face, so she usually rode behind me. But man, we flew!

On the funny side. Rebecca tried to set her stove on fire. She turned on the wrong burner and cooked her wooden cutting board--we wondered why we smelled smoke. Her husband Frank shook his head and nicely took the cutting board downstairs and threw it in the fireplace. Also, Rebecca's car was completely iced over, and then we found out her battery was dead. I gave her a jump (she didn't have cables). She was very happy I was there. I felt quite handy--until I backed over her lightpost. She was very cool about it and we bent it back upright. Maybe Frank won't notice??

All in all, a great day. The snow is here to stay for a bit. It won't get above freezing until Sunday.

More snow!!

Ah, the predictions of snow snow snow continue!. We've had about 4 inches so far (?). I've been asleep for most of the day because I worked last night, but I pushed a solid 3 inches off the car this morning, solid powder!! Schools were closed all over--even the Antioch school closed in the afternoon which almost never happens. They closed once last year because someone left the kiln on and melted stuff--but it is very rare for them to close for weather. Predictions are for 6 more inches tonight. I hit Trader Joes and DLM yesterday, so we are stocked on food. The only snag in making this a perfect winter holiday is our water heater. It's not working well and we are having trouble getting a new one in. The old one is a gas water heater that went in before '97 when we moved in. Electric is cheaper in product and power. Turns out we need an electrician to re-wire something first, so the new electric tank is sitting in the plumbers garage until the electrician can come. With more snow on the way, we aren't holding our breath. I washed my hair in the sink yesterday using warm water off the stove! We get hot water intermittently, so everyone bathed today, but there's no telling when it will run out--hopefully not during the kid's bath!

Yesterday was Chinese New Year, which goes unmarked in the public school, but is celebrated with zeal at AS. Each class contributed to the making of the food--which was all very good. The kindergartners manned the dragon and there were cymbals and tambourines too. It was lovely. Charlotte is very at home there, easy with the teachers and students. Ryan is still welcomed and recognised. He likes to visit with Brain in art and Science and Ann is so gracious to listen to him as he asks to read her a book. She sits and listens to the whole thing. Sitting at the table yesterday, it was easy to see the birds darting through the snow covered trees and then watch the kids go out and play in the snow.

Ahh, isn't it cute. It must die.

Today, Charlotte adopted a ladybug. She found it while she and Ryan were playing with trains. I vaguely remember Charlotte saying: "The ladybug needs food." It was a simple statement as she walked past me in the hallway. A few minutes later I found her outside with her snow boots on and a snow shovel, the garage door halfway open: "The ladybug needs a leaf." Okay...
I help her find a dried up leaf, the only kind we have after two inches of snow. She takes it upstairs and all is well. She comes back down, and the ladybug has started walking across Charlotte's hands and arms. Charlotte is fascinated by the whole experience. I have to call Grandma Jo and share the Cute-Moment(TM).
Fast forward a scant five minutes. From the basement, I can hear the Screech Of Horror(TM) and the stomping of panicked feet. She comes running down as I come running up. Her first explanation of the horror that was the ladybug was indecipherable, but eventually we discover that ladybugs can fly.
-as told by Greg

Snow...Part 2

It was positively balmy Thursday. While it only hit 52, it was declared a heat wave--no coats!! It really felt so warm. When you consider lately it has been below zero with the windchill, it was a significant boost! Today, the snow returned. Pretty snow. Sometimes it fell in big heavy flakes, sometimes light, but all straight down. So today was a Sunday at home. No work for me. A special treat was going to a breakfast buffet. This is our second time out to Frisch's for the buffet and the kids just plow through their food. It was a delight to watch. They got a kick out of getting theor own food from the buffet--Ryan was better with the tongs. Charlotte really tried. I was good--I ordered a Eggbeaters spanish omelet and fruit. No fried potatoes, bacon or sausage. I am drinking tons of water and eating more salad, fruits and veggies than ever. I feel better when I move around. I can't call it working out yet. I did 2 sets of push ups today--the modified kind and I'll get on the elliptical tonight. I still have to log my food for the day, my exercise and goals. The nice thing about this plan is I am taking it slower this time. I am meeting the goals for the first stage which is really cool. In case this is Greek--I am doing Bob Green's The Best Life plan.

I have found a new source of joy. Last night was movie night so we had Pizza Hut and went to Blockbuster. The kids picked a Tom and Jerry movie. I balanced the occasional guilt I felt by letting them watch something so ridiculous with the fact I watched Tom and Jerry as a kid, along with many others. They got to pick, so that was it. I settled down with them under a blanket, holding a book--totally planning to read while they watched. The first giggles killed that idea. I mean all out squeals and giggles. I didn't watch the movie, I watched them. It was ultimately so relaxing. I laughed at their laughing.

Had a brilliant idea today. The kids were playing nicely in the living room, Greg was busy in the den. Clothes needed to be washed, folded and put away. I do all of these better with music--but the boom box was out because I didn't want to disturb the kids playing. So I hooked into my ipod and got to listen to all my grown up music (read not kid friendly) while I boogied and shimmied all around the house. Ah, fun and productive (and loud).

School is blessedly low-key this rotation. My instructor is a very busy woman it seems. She has a link to her professional website in our course info (tacky, I thought). I'm not sure why she teaches on top of being a lawyer, forensic nurse, disaster nurse and I forget what else. She has been a very absent instructor, which really bugged me the first week, now I am calmer. Grades are very late and her contributions to our discussion threads are almost nil. I am learning a great deal thru self-study. What a difference from last rotation. But I still would like more interaction and direction. I am so much better at managing time for school now. Getting stuff done early really is the key!

Charlotte is writing her name. She knows the letters and I can recognise what she writes--even if the letters form a circle or travel up the side of the page. She was tracing her hand and my hand today. She is drawing more. She spends big hunks of time just looking thru her books. Ryan is reading like a fiend. He is still fixated on numbers, their value, putting sums together in his head, figuring out how it all works. the next purchase for him will be a joke book. He is reading jokes off his juice boxes now and tries his own knock knock jokes on us. His curiosity and sweetness have not been dampened. I hope they won't. Public school for both next year. Charlotte will go to all day kindergarten. She'll be so wiped out. I will be glad for the money in the bank, who knows how much longer the Toyota will last? But I am sad all the same. The Antioch school will remain a goal. Such a wonderful community of people and no freaking whistles!

In other fantastic news--Greg has consented to a pooch! We are planning for a trip to California this summer, so we will aim for a new family member mid to late summer after we get home. The kids talk about a pet or Snickyy daily. A golden retriever seems to be in the lead at the moment--and likely a rescued one at that. I would love a puppy, but realistically (and this is a big step for me folks!) we can't handle a pup. We haven't told the kids. We'll wait a bit for that. I am excited but it will be so hard to be patient! Reality is, though, we really don't have someone to watch an animal while we are gone, so it is better to wait.

Lots going on, as always:)

Reasons to be hopeful

Yesterday was Inauguration Day. I was invited to a brunch at my friend Rebecca's house to watch the event. She and a handful of her acquaintances watched as the new vice president and president were sworn in--verbal blunders and all and Aretha's fabulous hat! I was struck by the the lack od red whte and blue among the clothing and the fact that the musicians featured (Yo-yo- ma et. al weren't wearing winter coats!!

But as President Obama, Yes President Obama!! gave his speech, I was filled with hope. I imagined how different John McCain's speech would have been--I think I would have left half way through--the same talk, the same relentless policies. I hope that blacks and whites can continue to move forward. The feeling I get from some is that blacks feel like they have been set free again. One of my co-workers, while talking about Kwanzaa told me "you, people..." referring to whites. I did not enslave anyone, nor did my parents or grandparents. I work hard, very hard, really for everything I have. We live in a country where all faiths, ethnicities and sexes have a right to live, preach, pray as they like. I hope we as a country exercise more tolerance to those who are different from us. I hope that President Obama can change how we live. Our schools aren't working, our mortality rate for children is insane for an industrialized country. Not everyone is Christian and that is really okay.

I am hopeful.

My friend Charlotte has had her baby. She had him her way. It was safe, natural and so beautiful. I am filled with joy!!!

I am hopeful for all that we can become. I am overjoyed that someone has stepped up. I am thrilled that this courageous, charismatic man has stepped up and is willing to change our future.

Thursday

Cold, cold, cold. Pretty much if a body part isn't covered, it goes numb. It's that cold. I have started parking at ACE hardware for Ryan's pickup and drop off because I hate the idea of sitting in an idling car FOREVER. So Charlotte has been traipsing back and forth in her snow suit. I went without a hat yesterday..not smart. Ryan is making noises about wanting to ride the bus agan. We'll see. We are hoping to put Charlotte in full days in the nursery, if that happens, he'll have to ride the bus for sheer logistics--unless Charlotte stays over a few minutes... Anyway. Greg has a plague--probably the same one I had last week. Lots of being tired, cramping and the runs. I had it for four days. Amazingly I didn't lose any weight--damn it.
The Antioch School has had a resident artist this week, a harpist. All of the classes have had lessons. The nursery went for 30 minutes for two days. The adult sized harp is standing majestically in the art and science room while the little harps are gathered around it. Way cool. Charlotte took her sled to school today "To pull Marin around on it" she said. There is just enough snow to make it work. the kids still go out. Some are on roller blades-even in the snow and some continue on the trikes. Ryan has had indoor recess for the last month or so--they stay in the room and do quiet stuff. Time to throw kids in the tub. Greg is zonked out, so I get bath, bed and book duty tonight. Dinner was fun. It was just the three of us in the kitchen and we had some fun conversations. Charlotte discovered she likes Cuban style black beans--Ryan doesn't.

Oh the weather outside...

We have snow! Not enough to build a snowman, or even sled on really. But enough that the kids didn't hesitate to pull on snowsuits and go outside. Ryan has already made a plan for hot chocolate. So I am siting in the living room with the laptop, looking out the back window as they play together. It's nice that they are old enough to do that. Ryan has his pirate ship outside...

Where I want to be

A friend sent me an email that had 6 questions--one of those informative, things you didn't know about me kind of questions. I started doing it for kicks, then stopped. One question was what 4 places would you rather be. Since I would ruin the fun, I opted to stop. Because I don't want to be anywhere--at least on a map. I don't want to be at the beach, or the Bahamas. I want to be a stay at home mom. I want to be debt free-ish. I want to be satisfied with my life and not constantly striving to make it better for tomorrow. I don't want to look forward to something. I want to be happy exactly where I am now. I think in looking forward all the time, I am missing some of the cool now stuff. Folks at work are talking about losing weight, planning vacations, things they will do this year. And that's cool. I mind being heavy, but not as much if my hubby still wants to snuggle, I like the idea of going out of town--if it's to have a good visit with someone we care about, I'd be just as happy to stay here. School has started up and for the first time I am resenting it. I want to learn and I want to go where it will take me--more money, better school for the kids, off night shift that is really taking a toll on me. But good lord, it's getting hard. It's been 10 months of not watching the tv shows I want to watch, not quilting, not reading what I want to read, not scrapbooking. I question if it will be worth it. So I have a plan and I keep it in front of me. Greg knows about it and hopefully accepts it. I have been working since I was 15. 12 if you count babysitting. I'm tired.

Birthday and Beginnings

Happy Birthday, Sweetheart. Today Greg is 38. And every year I promise myself I will make it more special as it comes at the tail end of the holidays and every year I don't do as well as I would like. Luckily, I am married to a low key guy that finds happiness at home. We started with breakfast in bed. Ryan was up early, but did not wake me until after 7 as promised (it was 7:09). He and Charlotte were up and ready to get started. I baked the cake last night but forgot to check for frosting. So, clothes on, off to Krogers at 7:25. Chocoloate frosting, numbers 3 and 8, cards, check. I also considered that he would be pretending sleep and making breakfast on top of the cake would be very time consuming--so off to Tim Hortons--where requests for donuts were denied. They frosted and sprinkled the cake, applied the numbers, signed cards and we toted plates etc (very quietly) to the bedroom and a had a still warm breakfast in bed. Greg graciously pretended to sleep thru the preparations. We piddled around until 1:30 and went on to Cheesecake Factory for an overly long--why do we take them to restaurants?-meal.

We had been looking forward to an Imax show at the AF museum called Deep sea. The kids have asked tons of questions about sea life since reading A Whale of a Tale so this seemed perfect. And it was for 4 minutes. That's how long it took for the first fish to get eaten and not just eaten, but jump out of the coral and grabbed eaten. So about every 4 minutes, something got eaten and Ryan was curled up in a ball with his ears covered with Greg's hands over his eyes. The beauty of the film and soothing narration by Kate Winslet and Johnny Depp were completely lost on him as he waited anxiously for the next thing to be bitten. We left early (due to strident requests that we had to leave NOW) and are taking bets on how long it will be before he is a vegetarian.

We came home, put in a much safer (supposedly) Bee movie and relaxed. Greg insists he had a lovely birthday. What a sweet man I have married.

All of this is overshadowed by the reality that reality resumes tomorrow. The kids are back to school (I hate school because of the whistles and want to say home--Ryan), the shuttling of children, starting schoolwork (I started tonight) and Greg is back to work. We have plans for April, I am taking the week of Spring break off with a possible trip to Great Wolf, and tentative plans for California in July. This will keep us going as we jump back on the busy wheel of things to keep up with. Scouts starts and somewhere I will sign Charlotte up for the next gymnastics/dance session.

It's been a lovely couple of weeks. The trees will be recycled this week. Ryan literally cried when we told him we couldn't plant Thomas and we took a picture of him hugging the tree. About 75% of the decorations are back in their bins. We still have returns and exchanges. But they aren't going anywhere and can wait.