Thanksgiving Break Rundown

I had a few goals for Thanksgiving Break.  They looked something like this:

1. Finish paper, group project, and speech for class.

2. Spend time with family and friends.

3. Clean the house top to bottom.

4. Catch up on laundry.

5. Go Christmas shopping.

Any guess on which one of these did not get accomplished?

Here's how I did:

Shopping - check.  This should have been goal #1.  Mom and I went for roughly 10 hours on Monday, and my hubby and I logged about 12 hours on Black Friday.  Christmas shopping is nearly done.  The biggest hold-up is whether or not we are getting something live for the 5 yo.  I cannot believe I am even considering it.

Spend time with family - check.  Two family Thanksgivings   +   Two afternoons of hanging out with friends  = One very happy me!

Catch up on laundry - check.  Although that will change in a matter of hours, and I will be starting all over again.

Finish paper, group project, and speech for class - semi-check.  The paper is the only thing that was due this week, and it is done.  The project and speech are due on Wednesday and I am making good progress.

Surprise, Surprise....the house is not clean from top to bottom.  In my defense, I had Wednesday completely blocked off for this monumental task.  No plans, nowhere to go.  I was planning to fly into hyper-focus cleaning mode.  At 9:00 in the morning I got a text that went something like this - "The weather is beautiful today.  Do you want to get your family pics taken?" 

I have been trying to figure out how to get this done for months.  I had pretty much given up since the weather has turned cold and we have been so busy that my husband and I hardly remember what each other looks like. 

I called my husband to make sure he could get off early, said "Yes!" to pictures, and began the flurry of trying to figure out how to pull together outfits, showers for everyone, getting myself ready, and not wanting to kill anyone in the process.  Some people love the picture planning part. I HATE it.  As in despise.  Loathe.  Abhor. 

Not one inch of the house got cleaned.  Instead, it looked like our closets threw up all over the living room. 

However, the whole day was worth it once we arrived for pictures.  We had a great time laughing together while one friend was busy taking pics and another friend was busy making my kids look cute and smile.

I'd trade this for a clean house any day.

NINE

My oldest child turned nine a couple of weeks ago.  I just now realized that I never wrote a birthday post for him.  I had great intentions.....really. 

NINE. 

Last year of single digits.

Halfway to 18. 

That's just OLD.

This birthday had a little less hoopla than the past couple of years.  This was mostly because his birthday present arrived a little early this year.  Remember the innocent conversation in Walmart that started this whole deal?  It has taken on a life of its own.

Therefore, in honor of my son's 9th birthday, here are 9 reasons why this mama gets a little more nervous each day that goes by.

1.  What started as a "Can we go look at a dirt bike, dad?" quickly became a motorcycle, helmet, and a dirt bike track.  Complete with hills and jumps.

 

2.  I'm feeling the need to start a cookie jar fund for ER visits.

3.  I should have known trouble was coming when he said that it would be much more fun if he had someone to ride with.

4.  Enter grandpa's four wheeler.  {Sigh.}  Why is this more fun?  Because they can have deep, meaningful converations while driving??

5.  Enter 5 year old on four wheeler.  Yeah, that makes me feel lots better.

6.  I'm gonna need to get a 2nd job to pay for ER visits.

7.  Enter new toy for daddy. 

8. Did anyone else notice that there is a helmet missing?  And a license plate....and insurance, although that would be difficult to detect in a picture.  Those will be coming shortly.

9.  This is not exactly what I had in mind when I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that my devotion time was lacking and I needed to be more intentional about prayer. 

However, it worked.

And my boys are loving.every.minute, so I'm good with it.

Until we are on our way to the ER.  Then....possibly....not so much.

Fall Back

Dear 5 Year Old Son,

The time change does it to you every time.

I know you were adamant that you did not need a nap.  You were "not tired."  You said it, you whined it, you cried it.

You created a five-star tantrum to try to convince us of it.

But I have proof. 

You were tired.

I win.

Love,

Mom

What's In A Word

I have 58 pages left to read for class tomorrow.

I need to find a couple of "motivational websites for teachers".  That is a fairly broad category with way too much open-ended-ness.  I'm guessing those websites are supposed to have at least a little to do with school.

I need to locate a picture of my son with his grandparents for Grandparent's Day. 

I need to pack lunches.

I need to sign planners.

Instead I am blogging.  Honestly, I have no idea why.

Let's just call it a brain break.  Tomorrow's going to be a fairly busy day.

One person in our office had a baby tonight.

Another person is sick.

The third person is drowning in the planning of two huge school events on Friday and Saturday.

That just leaves me and the person who handles the money.  I  think we may just go shopping.

Otherwise we will be juggling calendars, substitutes and schedules.  I may even have to teach P.E.  This ought to be interesting.  And possibly a little bit crazy.

The good thing about crazy is there is no chance of being bored.  I intensely dislike doing the same thing over and over.  Thankfully, I rarely have to worry about that.

Speaking of crazy, this pic is the whole reason I came to my little blogging world.  The rest of my rambling nonsense is just a bonus.  Or a cure for insomnia.  Either way, it's a win-win.

I love this.  I love words, reading, grammar, vocabulary, and did I mention reading?  This little sign just made me laugh.  It's been floating around on facebook, so I had to steal it. 

Good night!