It's hour three of potty training.
I just put on his 6th pair of underwear.
Sixth.
SIXTH.
SSSIIIIIXXXXXTTTTHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Taking a poll...
Here are a few things I've always wondered about...or need advice on...or just need ideas for.
1) Do you make your kids have a "rest" time even after they are past the point of taking naps? And if so, when does that end?
2) Do you tip your stylist? And if so, how do you know what an "appropriate" tip is?
3) Who tucks in the kids at your house?
4) What is one fun thing you are doing over Labor Day weekend?
5) Tonight when I was driving home, I had five things to ask...hmmm...I'll think of one...why does coffee taste so nasty?
1) Do you make your kids have a "rest" time even after they are past the point of taking naps? And if so, when does that end?
2) Do you tip your stylist? And if so, how do you know what an "appropriate" tip is?
3) Who tucks in the kids at your house?
4) What is one fun thing you are doing over Labor Day weekend?
5) Tonight when I was driving home, I had five things to ask...hmmm...I'll think of one...why does coffee taste so nasty?
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
What I've Done Today...
In no particular order...
**Watched a giant black bug crawl across my living.room.floor. It's one thing to see those occasionally in the basement, but that was about enough to make me move out until at least the first hard freeze.
**Caught up with two friends on the phone for the first time in several days. It was almost as nice as chatting with a mug (of hot cocoa) in my hands. Almost.
**Made 11 3D cylinders for algebra class tomorrow. Wondered the entire time what kind of insane teacher I have become. Verdict: I decided that 10 teenagers better think I am the best.teacher.ever by about 8:30 tomorrow morning.
**Fingerpainted with my 2 YO. 'Nough said.
**Cleaned the toilets and vacuumed the floors. Found a piece of glass from stemware I broke exactly two weeks ago. How does glass do that?
**Made dinner for my friends (and their adorable baby!) who are in the area for a couple of weeks.
**Got puked on by said adorable baby. It is true that it's easier to stomach when it's your own baby.
**Oh, and I must mention that when I kissed said adorable baby on the head (hours before he puked on me), he instantly screamed his head off. My husband and friends had all kinds of fun with that one.
**Chatted with two people on facebook. Look at me - I'm in the big-time techno world now.
**Got a phone call from the school about my nephew who wasn't feeling so well. His home phone was busy (off the hook). Cell phone went unanswered. Grandma was hours from home. Woke up my kids from their naps. Put puke bucket in vehicle. Traveled to school to pick up my nephew and delivered him to sister-in-law. Puke-free. Whew. Came home. Washed hands. Lysoled vehicle and children.
**Decided to post way-too-late-for-the-alarm-to-go-off-at-six. Betting I will regret this tomorrow.
**Watched a giant black bug crawl across my living.room.floor. It's one thing to see those occasionally in the basement, but that was about enough to make me move out until at least the first hard freeze.
**Caught up with two friends on the phone for the first time in several days. It was almost as nice as chatting with a mug (of hot cocoa) in my hands. Almost.
**Made 11 3D cylinders for algebra class tomorrow. Wondered the entire time what kind of insane teacher I have become. Verdict: I decided that 10 teenagers better think I am the best.teacher.ever by about 8:30 tomorrow morning.
**Fingerpainted with my 2 YO. 'Nough said.
**Cleaned the toilets and vacuumed the floors. Found a piece of glass from stemware I broke exactly two weeks ago. How does glass do that?
**Made dinner for my friends (and their adorable baby!) who are in the area for a couple of weeks.
**Got puked on by said adorable baby. It is true that it's easier to stomach when it's your own baby.
**Oh, and I must mention that when I kissed said adorable baby on the head (hours before he puked on me), he instantly screamed his head off. My husband and friends had all kinds of fun with that one.
**Chatted with two people on facebook. Look at me - I'm in the big-time techno world now.
**Got a phone call from the school about my nephew who wasn't feeling so well. His home phone was busy (off the hook). Cell phone went unanswered. Grandma was hours from home. Woke up my kids from their naps. Put puke bucket in vehicle. Traveled to school to pick up my nephew and delivered him to sister-in-law. Puke-free. Whew. Came home. Washed hands. Lysoled vehicle and children.
**Decided to post way-too-late-for-the-alarm-to-go-off-at-six. Betting I will regret this tomorrow.
Monday, August 25, 2008
My Prayer
When I can't seem to get a word in edgewise...help me be thankful that they are able to speak at all.
When the laundry is stacked to the ceiling...help me be thankful for the clothes we have.
When the noise level is more than I can bear...help me be thankful that they both have two healthy lungs.
When there is "nothing to eat"...help me be thankful that we've never actually experienced having nothing to eat.
When I can't ever speak in complete sentences because "little ears are around"...help me be thankful that they can hear.
When the house is a disaster...help me be thankful that we have more house than we will ever really need.
When I can't ever just have my own snack, drink, or slice of ANYTHING...help me be thankful that we don't have to battle food allergies.
When the car breaks down...help me be thankful that we are fortunate enough to have vehicles.
When they beg me to play with them...help me be thankful for this time when they are young and innocent.
When the work load seems overwhelming...help me be thankful for the opportunity to teach.
When they develop an attitude that makes me want to scream...help me be thankful for the opportunity to mold their character.
When too many things pile up at once...help me be thankful for family who will help.
When the sibling rivalry just won't quit...help me be thankful that they both HAVE a sibling to fight with.
When the laundry is stacked to the ceiling...help me be thankful for the clothes we have.
When the noise level is more than I can bear...help me be thankful that they both have two healthy lungs.
When there is "nothing to eat"...help me be thankful that we've never actually experienced having nothing to eat.
When I can't ever speak in complete sentences because "little ears are around"...help me be thankful that they can hear.
When the house is a disaster...help me be thankful that we have more house than we will ever really need.
When I can't ever just have my own snack, drink, or slice of ANYTHING...help me be thankful that we don't have to battle food allergies.
When the car breaks down...help me be thankful that we are fortunate enough to have vehicles.
When they beg me to play with them...help me be thankful for this time when they are young and innocent.
When the work load seems overwhelming...help me be thankful for the opportunity to teach.
When they develop an attitude that makes me want to scream...help me be thankful for the opportunity to mold their character.
When too many things pile up at once...help me be thankful for family who will help.
When the sibling rivalry just won't quit...help me be thankful that they both HAVE a sibling to fight with.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
It's All About Perspective
Tonight we had a great lesson on perspective.
My husband had been thinking lately that maybe we should buy an elliptical machine. At first I about passed out in shock, because he does not usually make purchases like this. Or more accurately, HE is not usually the one who has the idea to make a purchase such as this one.
But...for a couple years now we have been working out at the weight room attached to the local high school. The weight room where loads and loads of stinky, sweaty, dirty football and basketball players work out. The weight room that smells freakishly similar to a boys' locker room. The weight room that has the same weights that I lifted in junior high 20 years ago. The weight room with the dinosaur-age elliptical machine. The weight room that's FREE.
However, much to our surprise, we arrived at there several weeks ago to see a sign posted on the door. "No public access to the weight room until security cameras are installed due to destruction of equipment." This, and the issues listed above, led us to the decision to use part of our economic stimulus check in the way it was intended.
And that, my friends, is a long rambling story to bring you up to speed to tonight. We arrived at the sporting goods store and found an elliptical machine we liked. It was a great deal - a $1,000 machine marked half off. We, of course, being the resourceful shoppers that we are decided to shop around a bit first. However, at each stop, we decided we liked the one at the first store best, and what a great deal we were going to get!
Three hours later we arrived back at the first store excited about our upcoming purchase. We had done our homework, shopped around, and made the best choice. But when we came to the line of machines we noticed something odd - all the sale signs had changed.
Three hours previously, our machine said "original price $999.98 - 50% off - now $499.98".
Now the sign read "original price $599.98 - $100 off - now $499.98."
HUH??? In three hours the original price dropped $400? That's serious depreciation.
It made me mad. I wanted to leave and take my business elsewhere. And then it hit me. This is the one we liked. This is the SAME MACHINE. It is still the SAME PRICE. Why then was this purchase now so depressing? I'm a grown adult. I should know by now how these sales gimmicks work. But, honestly, I'll never be able to look at that machine with quite as much excitement as I would have thinking we got it for half off.
It's all about perspective. But I wish we would have bought it the first time we walked in the store.
Ignorance IS bliss.
My husband had been thinking lately that maybe we should buy an elliptical machine. At first I about passed out in shock, because he does not usually make purchases like this. Or more accurately, HE is not usually the one who has the idea to make a purchase such as this one.
But...for a couple years now we have been working out at the weight room attached to the local high school. The weight room where loads and loads of stinky, sweaty, dirty football and basketball players work out. The weight room that smells freakishly similar to a boys' locker room. The weight room that has the same weights that I lifted in junior high 20 years ago. The weight room with the dinosaur-age elliptical machine. The weight room that's FREE.
However, much to our surprise, we arrived at there several weeks ago to see a sign posted on the door. "No public access to the weight room until security cameras are installed due to destruction of equipment." This, and the issues listed above, led us to the decision to use part of our economic stimulus check in the way it was intended.
And that, my friends, is a long rambling story to bring you up to speed to tonight. We arrived at the sporting goods store and found an elliptical machine we liked. It was a great deal - a $1,000 machine marked half off. We, of course, being the resourceful shoppers that we are decided to shop around a bit first. However, at each stop, we decided we liked the one at the first store best, and what a great deal we were going to get!
Three hours later we arrived back at the first store excited about our upcoming purchase. We had done our homework, shopped around, and made the best choice. But when we came to the line of machines we noticed something odd - all the sale signs had changed.
Three hours previously, our machine said "original price $999.98 - 50% off - now $499.98".
Now the sign read "original price $599.98 - $100 off - now $499.98."
HUH??? In three hours the original price dropped $400? That's serious depreciation.
It made me mad. I wanted to leave and take my business elsewhere. And then it hit me. This is the one we liked. This is the SAME MACHINE. It is still the SAME PRICE. Why then was this purchase now so depressing? I'm a grown adult. I should know by now how these sales gimmicks work. But, honestly, I'll never be able to look at that machine with quite as much excitement as I would have thinking we got it for half off.
It's all about perspective. But I wish we would have bought it the first time we walked in the store.
Ignorance IS bliss.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Quotes from the Kindergartener
1st Day of School:
Me: How was school?
Him: Good. I'm the line leader!
2nd Day of School:
Me: How was school?
Him: She hasn't taught us how to read yet!
3rd Day of School:
Me: How was school?
Him: She said we would know how to read by the time we eat chicken on Mother's Day.
Me: Huuuuhhhhh? Oh, you mean by the time you eat turkey on Thanksgiving?
Him: Yeah! That's it!
(And to all my food-harrassing obnoxious friends...yes, I KNOW we probably eat CHICKEN on MOTHER'S DAY in this house, but that's not the point...)
Me: How was school?
Him: Good. I'm the line leader!
2nd Day of School:
Me: How was school?
Him: She hasn't taught us how to read yet!
3rd Day of School:
Me: How was school?
Him: She said we would know how to read by the time we eat chicken on Mother's Day.
Me: Huuuuhhhhh? Oh, you mean by the time you eat turkey on Thanksgiving?
Him: Yeah! That's it!
(And to all my food-harrassing obnoxious friends...yes, I KNOW we probably eat CHICKEN on MOTHER'S DAY in this house, but that's not the point...)
Thursday, August 21, 2008
SERVE
This week at teacher in-service, our administrator at school told us a story about three men who were incredibly close to reaching their lifelong dream of climbing Mt. Everest, when they came upon a man who was half-frozen, semi-delirious, and suffering from oxygen deprivation. They had a choice to make - abandon their dream or abandon this man. The man was already half-dead. Who even knew if he would survive the treacherous trip down the mountain? And even if he did, would he ever be "normal" again?
The men chose to let go of their dream in hopes of saving a human life. And, miraculously, the man survived, was reunited with his family, and recovered from his near-death experience. The whole point of the story centered on service. How willing are we to lay aside our own wants and desires to serve others? How willing are we to detour from our to-do lists and put the needs of someone else first? How willing are we to even take the time to stop and pick up the trash laying around?
After discussing the importance of serving one another, we were challenged to develop an acrostic for the word SERVE to create a theme for the school year.
Here it is:
S - Surrender Self
E - Encourage Others
R - Refuse to Complain
V - Volunteer for the 2nd Mile
E - Extend a Hand
I have to admit, this hit me pretty hard. I typically have an agenda, and a will to get it accomplished. I do not naturally or easily set aside what I have in mind to get done and let the needs of others take the place of my own. Oh, at times it may come across like I do this well, but usually only when I can fit it in neat and tidy with whatever else is going on in my life.
That is so sad. So, I am attempting to rise to the challenge. I know it's not going to be easy. I'm in way over my head with teaching (just added one more class to my schedule yesterday), accreditation work, keeping the family fed and the clothes clean, and still being a good wife to my husband, a good mother to my kids, and a good friend to my good friends. But I am going to attempt to filter it all through "SERVE" and see how it goes.
I may need a few gentle reminders along the way.
The men chose to let go of their dream in hopes of saving a human life. And, miraculously, the man survived, was reunited with his family, and recovered from his near-death experience. The whole point of the story centered on service. How willing are we to lay aside our own wants and desires to serve others? How willing are we to detour from our to-do lists and put the needs of someone else first? How willing are we to even take the time to stop and pick up the trash laying around?
After discussing the importance of serving one another, we were challenged to develop an acrostic for the word SERVE to create a theme for the school year.
Here it is:
S - Surrender Self
E - Encourage Others
R - Refuse to Complain
V - Volunteer for the 2nd Mile
E - Extend a Hand
I have to admit, this hit me pretty hard. I typically have an agenda, and a will to get it accomplished. I do not naturally or easily set aside what I have in mind to get done and let the needs of others take the place of my own. Oh, at times it may come across like I do this well, but usually only when I can fit it in neat and tidy with whatever else is going on in my life.
That is so sad. So, I am attempting to rise to the challenge. I know it's not going to be easy. I'm in way over my head with teaching (just added one more class to my schedule yesterday), accreditation work, keeping the family fed and the clothes clean, and still being a good wife to my husband, a good mother to my kids, and a good friend to my good friends. But I am going to attempt to filter it all through "SERVE" and see how it goes.
I may need a few gentle reminders along the way.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Ode to Free Time
Oh free time, how I miss thee
Let me count up the ways
I miss curling up to read a good book
And vacationing for days and days
Oh free time, how I miss thee
The TV is a thing of the past
My laundry is no longer caught up
And the dust is piling up fast
Oh free time, how I miss thee
I wish I could go to the pool
I miss my cell phone and all of my friends
Instead I spend hours at school
Oh free time, how I miss thee
My family wants a home cooked meal
I'm sure I'll get around to it soon
Is 8 days of hot dogs really a big deal?
Oh free time, how I miss thee
I don't have any more time to write
This page may feel very abandoned
Unless I drop in late at night.
Oh free time, how I miss thee
My scrapbooks all look really sad
But so does my desk and my shelves and my room
The organization has gotten quite bad.
Oh free time, how I miss thee
I will see you again come next May
The class will be taught and the work will be done.
Oh, what a glorious day!
Let me count up the ways
I miss curling up to read a good book
And vacationing for days and days
Oh free time, how I miss thee
The TV is a thing of the past
My laundry is no longer caught up
And the dust is piling up fast
Oh free time, how I miss thee
I wish I could go to the pool
I miss my cell phone and all of my friends
Instead I spend hours at school
Oh free time, how I miss thee
My family wants a home cooked meal
I'm sure I'll get around to it soon
Is 8 days of hot dogs really a big deal?
Oh free time, how I miss thee
I don't have any more time to write
This page may feel very abandoned
Unless I drop in late at night.
Oh free time, how I miss thee
My scrapbooks all look really sad
But so does my desk and my shelves and my room
The organization has gotten quite bad.
Oh free time, how I miss thee
I will see you again come next May
The class will be taught and the work will be done.
Oh, what a glorious day!
Thursday, August 14, 2008
TMI
35 minutes ago I tucked my little one in for a nap. 10 minutes ago I heard him upstairs talking in his room. There is absolutely nothing positive that can come from him being awake for nearly half an hour without me knowing about it. So, I walk into his room to see what's going on.
Him: "I have poop on my finger."
Yes he did. And all over his hand too.
Him: "And it's on the wall too."
Sure enough. Right there. Big streaks.
Him: "I wanted to get it off my finger."
No kidding. It sorta worked.
Him: "And there's poop on my bed."
Great. Cause when the wall doesn't work, one should always try the bed next.
Him: "I dug in my diaper and got poop."
This must be my genius child. At least he's honest.
Him: "I have poop on my finger."
Yes he did. And all over his hand too.
Him: "And it's on the wall too."
Sure enough. Right there. Big streaks.
Him: "I wanted to get it off my finger."
No kidding. It sorta worked.
Him: "And there's poop on my bed."
Great. Cause when the wall doesn't work, one should always try the bed next.
Him: "I dug in my diaper and got poop."
This must be my genius child. At least he's honest.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Butterflies
I have all kinds of weird traits running around inside me. Sometimes I'm laid back about things, sometimes I'm way too detailed. Occasionally I'm overly perfectionistic, somedays I wish I was more perfectionistic. Today I'm nervous. Several things are running around my brain that I'm having trouble letting go of.
~I'm nervous that my son was misdiagnosed at the allergy doctor. Looking back, I realized that the doctor actually never looked at his puffy red back at all. Maybe that's normal, but the nurse had nearly the whole form filled out when she realized that she was an entire row off when analyzing all the little bumps and red spots on his back. She and the pre-med student observer studied it for awhile to make sure they were reading it correctly. That did not make me feel confident at all.
~I'm nervous that my children will be horrible this evening. Our dinner guests from England are sophisticated world-travelers with NO children of their own. Thankfully, she is an elementary teacher, but still...
~I'm nervous about teaching a high school class with no previous curriculum. If I had had the summer to prepare, I would be okay, but seven days is cramping my style.
~I'm nervous about going to the lake this weekend with six young children. When we planned this weekend, I thought it would be terribly hot. Now it is supposed to be 73. And rainy. When we planned this weekend, I was not teaching anything this year. Now all weekend long I will be thinking of everything I should be doing instead.
~Now I'm nervous there won't be enough hours in my day to get everything prepared for tonight. Thus ends my list for today.
~I'm nervous that my son was misdiagnosed at the allergy doctor. Looking back, I realized that the doctor actually never looked at his puffy red back at all. Maybe that's normal, but the nurse had nearly the whole form filled out when she realized that she was an entire row off when analyzing all the little bumps and red spots on his back. She and the pre-med student observer studied it for awhile to make sure they were reading it correctly. That did not make me feel confident at all.
~I'm nervous that my children will be horrible this evening. Our dinner guests from England are sophisticated world-travelers with NO children of their own. Thankfully, she is an elementary teacher, but still...
~I'm nervous about teaching a high school class with no previous curriculum. If I had had the summer to prepare, I would be okay, but seven days is cramping my style.
~I'm nervous about going to the lake this weekend with six young children. When we planned this weekend, I thought it would be terribly hot. Now it is supposed to be 73. And rainy. When we planned this weekend, I was not teaching anything this year. Now all weekend long I will be thinking of everything I should be doing instead.
~Now I'm nervous there won't be enough hours in my day to get everything prepared for tonight. Thus ends my list for today.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Playing Catch-Up
Life seems to be moving one step forward, two steps back. It's a bit overwhelming at the moment. Here's what I've been up to...
~I found out last week that I am returning to the classroom. The good news: one class, very part-time, only girls (Bible class), block schedule. The bad news: have to rewrite the curriculum, seven days until school starts.
~Last Friday my father's close friend passed away. I cannot remember a time when this man was not part of our lives. He and my dad went to high school together. They stood up for each other at their weddings. They worked together at the same company for nearly 35 years. Our family camped with his family practically every other weekend from April to October every year. He worked last Friday morning, went to lunch, drove back, and got out of his truck to walk back into the plant. He never made it. They found him on the ground in the parking lot. My husband was on the crew who responded to the call. He performed CPR on him, but it was too late. This morning we attended the funeral and said one final goodbye to a long-time family friend.
~Saturday was my 15 year class reunion. A part of me was dreading this event since I was in charge. I was a little nervous that too much time had passed and we would all stare at each other with nothing to say. Thankfully, I was wrong. We had a great evening together catching up and reminiscing years gone by.
~Monday I spent half the day at the doctor watching my 5 YO go through allergy testing. The verdict: allergic to cats, mulberry tree pollen, johnson grass, and a ton of mold spores. "Mold spores?", my non-allergy self innocently asked. "Tell me more about that." The doctor smiled that sympathetic smile and said, "Those are pretty much everywhere...crops, hay, grass, leaves...". Now I have to add one more thing to my to-do list: research allergies. That sounds like a party waiting to happen.
~Tomorrow we are having guests for dinner. Last November we had an amazing week in England. Amazing mostly because this wonderful couple took tons of time out of their busy lives to be our personal tour guides. Now they are in the states for six weeks and we get to see them again! I'm not sure we can reciprocate on the tour guide thing here in the wild and crazy midwest....maybe we can take them to see the world's largest ball of string.
~I found out last week that I am returning to the classroom. The good news: one class, very part-time, only girls (Bible class), block schedule. The bad news: have to rewrite the curriculum, seven days until school starts.
~Last Friday my father's close friend passed away. I cannot remember a time when this man was not part of our lives. He and my dad went to high school together. They stood up for each other at their weddings. They worked together at the same company for nearly 35 years. Our family camped with his family practically every other weekend from April to October every year. He worked last Friday morning, went to lunch, drove back, and got out of his truck to walk back into the plant. He never made it. They found him on the ground in the parking lot. My husband was on the crew who responded to the call. He performed CPR on him, but it was too late. This morning we attended the funeral and said one final goodbye to a long-time family friend.
~Saturday was my 15 year class reunion. A part of me was dreading this event since I was in charge. I was a little nervous that too much time had passed and we would all stare at each other with nothing to say. Thankfully, I was wrong. We had a great evening together catching up and reminiscing years gone by.
~Monday I spent half the day at the doctor watching my 5 YO go through allergy testing. The verdict: allergic to cats, mulberry tree pollen, johnson grass, and a ton of mold spores. "Mold spores?", my non-allergy self innocently asked. "Tell me more about that." The doctor smiled that sympathetic smile and said, "Those are pretty much everywhere...crops, hay, grass, leaves...". Now I have to add one more thing to my to-do list: research allergies. That sounds like a party waiting to happen.
~Tomorrow we are having guests for dinner. Last November we had an amazing week in England. Amazing mostly because this wonderful couple took tons of time out of their busy lives to be our personal tour guides. Now they are in the states for six weeks and we get to see them again! I'm not sure we can reciprocate on the tour guide thing here in the wild and crazy midwest....maybe we can take them to see the world's largest ball of string.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
More dying brain cells...
Thirteen weeks ago I made a hair appointment. Yes, 13 weeks ago. I timed it all out, scheduled the haircut in the middle, and scheduled the coveted color date six weeks later with the girl with magic hands. See, my 15 year class reunion is Saturday, and since there's nothing I can do to look 22 anymore, I can at least have cute hair, right?
So I wrote my appointment on my calendar. Wednesday at 10:30. It's been there for weeks - 13 weeks to be exact. I've been looking forward to it for days - it's like a pampering session from heaven (other than the wax part, that hurts like...well, it hurts).
Yesterday, Tuesday, I walk in the door at 2:30 and play my messages. "Rhonda...is everything okay? I'm just calling because I have you down this morning for an appointment at 10:30 and wanted to check in with you since you are not here..."
WHAT?!?! I check my calendar - Wednesday. I check my appointment card - Tuesday. I want to scream. I want to cry.
Then it's my turn to leave a message. I grovel on and on..."I'm sooooo sorry. I had it written down for Wednesday...blah, blah, blah...I'm soooo sorry...call me so we can reschedule."
I felt way too guilty to even mention my reunion on Saturday. So much for the cute hair, I was just hoping she could get me in sometime in the next month.
This morning she called. Her first words: "Can you be here at 8:30 on Friday?"
I LOVE her. Guess who'll be getting a big 'ol tip.
So I wrote my appointment on my calendar. Wednesday at 10:30. It's been there for weeks - 13 weeks to be exact. I've been looking forward to it for days - it's like a pampering session from heaven (other than the wax part, that hurts like...well, it hurts).
Yesterday, Tuesday, I walk in the door at 2:30 and play my messages. "Rhonda...is everything okay? I'm just calling because I have you down this morning for an appointment at 10:30 and wanted to check in with you since you are not here..."
WHAT?!?! I check my calendar - Wednesday. I check my appointment card - Tuesday. I want to scream. I want to cry.
Then it's my turn to leave a message. I grovel on and on..."I'm sooooo sorry. I had it written down for Wednesday...blah, blah, blah...I'm soooo sorry...call me so we can reschedule."
I felt way too guilty to even mention my reunion on Saturday. So much for the cute hair, I was just hoping she could get me in sometime in the next month.
This morning she called. Her first words: "Can you be here at 8:30 on Friday?"
I LOVE her. Guess who'll be getting a big 'ol tip.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Vacation Through the Camera Lens
Day 1: Visiting the family
The 5 Yo ran away from the dog, the 2 YO could have been the dog's lunch.
Da 2: The Brookfield Zoo
This polar bear had an amazing talent of stopping mere humans dead in their tracks to waste minutes upon minutes of their lives while he played with toys and swam.
Day 3: Shedd's Aquarium
Next Stop: Giordano's Pizza and a concert in Millennium Park.
Day 5, 6, and 7: Mike and Vicki's house. The kids swam and played, the adults hung out like old times.
Day 8: And finally, a stop at the T-Rex Cafe in Kansas City on the way home.
The 5 Yo ran away from the dog, the 2 YO could have been the dog's lunch.
Da 2: The Brookfield Zoo
This polar bear had an amazing talent of stopping mere humans dead in their tracks to waste minutes upon minutes of their lives while he played with toys and swam.
Day 3: Shedd's Aquarium
Where my son begged all day long to see "the su-su-suber-super guy, I mean the scuba diver, in the big fish tank!!"
Next Stop: Giordano's Pizza and a concert in Millennium Park.
Day 4: The guys took the kids to the Museum of Science and Industry and the Sears Tower while the girls went shopping on Michigan Avenue. They dropped us off 2 miles north of where the van would be, thinking we would meander down Michigan Ave. as we shopped. At 4:30 p.m. we were one block from where we were dropped off. Oops, bad planning.
Day 5, 6, and 7: Mike and Vicki's house. The kids swam and played, the adults hung out like old times.
Day 7: Decatur Children's Museum
Day 8: And finally, a stop at the T-Rex Cafe in Kansas City on the way home.
Monday, August 4, 2008
The Day After...
This pretty much sums up how we are feeling around here.
You know vacation was successful when you need an entire day to recover from it.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Off the road again...
I'm back home. It feels as if I have been gone forever. I even had to click on "older posts" just to catch up reading my friends' blogs from when I was gone. Good grief, that's a lot of happenings happening while I was away.
I have some vacation pics to post that I know everyone is dying to see, but for now I'll just leave you with the proof that my kids obviously do not get out enough.
The very first evening we stopped to stay at a hotel half way through Missouri. The boys were standing outside the hotel room door waiting in great anticipation for daddy to unlock the door so they could enter. The five year old was jumping up and down. The two year old stared in amazement at the door and asked in awe, "Mommy, is this Illinois?"
If only I had known a hotel room would bring so much excitement. Then we entered the room and the 5 YO began the investigation. Soon we hear, "Mom, look at this! Look! There's a skateboard in the closet!"
Here was saddened to learn that it was merely the ironing board and he would be doing no skating upon it. Then after noticing the microwave and fridge, he demanded to know where the stove was. We explained that hotel rooms typically do not have stoves. The next morning however, he woke up early to exclaim, "There is to a stove! It's right here between the two beds!"
Disappointment again reigned when he learned there would be no cooking happening in the safe deposit box.
And speaking of hotels, I am now a firm believer that every child should live in an apartment at some point in his early life. My children have NO concept that people are staying above, below, and on either side of hotel rooms. That, and somehow they have decided that hotel room = 3 ring circus.
Which brings me back full circle to exactly why my kids do not get out enough.
I have some vacation pics to post that I know everyone is dying to see, but for now I'll just leave you with the proof that my kids obviously do not get out enough.
The very first evening we stopped to stay at a hotel half way through Missouri. The boys were standing outside the hotel room door waiting in great anticipation for daddy to unlock the door so they could enter. The five year old was jumping up and down. The two year old stared in amazement at the door and asked in awe, "Mommy, is this Illinois?"
If only I had known a hotel room would bring so much excitement. Then we entered the room and the 5 YO began the investigation. Soon we hear, "Mom, look at this! Look! There's a skateboard in the closet!"
Here was saddened to learn that it was merely the ironing board and he would be doing no skating upon it. Then after noticing the microwave and fridge, he demanded to know where the stove was. We explained that hotel rooms typically do not have stoves. The next morning however, he woke up early to exclaim, "There is to a stove! It's right here between the two beds!"
Disappointment again reigned when he learned there would be no cooking happening in the safe deposit box.
And speaking of hotels, I am now a firm believer that every child should live in an apartment at some point in his early life. My children have NO concept that people are staying above, below, and on either side of hotel rooms. That, and somehow they have decided that hotel room = 3 ring circus.
Which brings me back full circle to exactly why my kids do not get out enough.
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