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.
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