I began the arduous process of sorting through J's clothes to weed out the 2T and bring out the 3T. I finished pulling out all her adorable 2T clothing that she will not wear again, folded them neatly and carefully placed them in a bag to pass on to my sister. I then opened the boxes labeled 3T girls, almost giddy with anticipation at what her new set of hand-me-down clothing will look like, only to discover that I had MISlabeled them oh so long ago - they were atually all 2T!!!
Any chance any of you have any 3T girl's clothing lying about, ready to be passed on?!!
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Highlights at Home
Haven't really been updating much recently, and I know you faithful readers are just dying to know what's been going on. I've heard from a few of you that you've been trying to leave comments and blogger hasn't been cooperating. Could you please e-mail me if that has happened to you? I'm trying to figure out how widespread a problem this is. Thanks!
Anyway, just got back from the first storytime that I led. So much fun! The children's librarian at my local library had called me a few weeks ago to see if I would be willing to lead an infant/toddler storytime this summer for eight weeks. Uh, YEAH!!! I know I'm weird, but this is my idea of fun! And it was - I had a great time. Today is my day to myself (love having DH home for the summer) so I had a bunch of errands to run after the library. Only problem was that DH accidentally took BOTH sets of keys this morning when he left to take all three kids to the zoo. I know, how angry can I get at a man willing to take three children under the age of six to the zoo by himself? But still! Luckily the library is close enough that I could walk, and since I slept in later than I had wanted and missed taking my morning walk, it all worked out as it should. But that didn't stop me from thinking of multiple ways I can seek my revenge after I ransacked my house looking for the keys that I KNEW I had put in the basket where they belonged last night and was now hurridly walking to the library so I wouldn't be late to my first storytime ever when DH called to apologetically tell me that he had both sets of keys. Did you follow that sentence? I'm not sure I did, but I don't feel like going back to revise it. Moving on.
Had A's IEP meeting for kindergarten and was pleasantly surprised. They will provide him with a 1 on 1 aide (YES!) to help him with transitions and social cues and focusing, and lots of other stuff, plus OT, PT, social skills instruction will all be given during the school day so I won't have to drive him anywhere in the afternoon. Since I'm not concerned with his academics at this point, I have no problem with him being pulled for about 20% of the week for help with these other areas. It might be a problem later down the line, but I'm trying to focus on one thing at a time.
Camp starts Monday (YES!) and while we had some concern about a screw-up, A will have a full-time shadow while at camp. All three kids will be going and I think they're going to love it, though I have some concern about J since she was still having a problem in June with me dropping her off in the morning at school. She was fine within minutes, but that initial drop off was tough. Maybe it will be easier since the counselors pick up the kids from the car, and she'll be getting out with her brothers. There is a BBQ tonight at the camp so the kids can see what it looks like and meet their counselors and the other kids. Hopefully it goes smoothly since DH has to work and I'll be flying solo.
I have lots more that I could write about but have a lot I want to try to do at home since I have the house to myself for the time being. Loyal readers, I'll try to get back in the habit of writing every day. It's better for me, and for all of you living vicariously through me.
Anyway, just got back from the first storytime that I led. So much fun! The children's librarian at my local library had called me a few weeks ago to see if I would be willing to lead an infant/toddler storytime this summer for eight weeks. Uh, YEAH!!! I know I'm weird, but this is my idea of fun! And it was - I had a great time. Today is my day to myself (love having DH home for the summer) so I had a bunch of errands to run after the library. Only problem was that DH accidentally took BOTH sets of keys this morning when he left to take all three kids to the zoo. I know, how angry can I get at a man willing to take three children under the age of six to the zoo by himself? But still! Luckily the library is close enough that I could walk, and since I slept in later than I had wanted and missed taking my morning walk, it all worked out as it should. But that didn't stop me from thinking of multiple ways I can seek my revenge after I ransacked my house looking for the keys that I KNEW I had put in the basket where they belonged last night and was now hurridly walking to the library so I wouldn't be late to my first storytime ever when DH called to apologetically tell me that he had both sets of keys. Did you follow that sentence? I'm not sure I did, but I don't feel like going back to revise it. Moving on.
Had A's IEP meeting for kindergarten and was pleasantly surprised. They will provide him with a 1 on 1 aide (YES!) to help him with transitions and social cues and focusing, and lots of other stuff, plus OT, PT, social skills instruction will all be given during the school day so I won't have to drive him anywhere in the afternoon. Since I'm not concerned with his academics at this point, I have no problem with him being pulled for about 20% of the week for help with these other areas. It might be a problem later down the line, but I'm trying to focus on one thing at a time.
Camp starts Monday (YES!) and while we had some concern about a screw-up, A will have a full-time shadow while at camp. All three kids will be going and I think they're going to love it, though I have some concern about J since she was still having a problem in June with me dropping her off in the morning at school. She was fine within minutes, but that initial drop off was tough. Maybe it will be easier since the counselors pick up the kids from the car, and she'll be getting out with her brothers. There is a BBQ tonight at the camp so the kids can see what it looks like and meet their counselors and the other kids. Hopefully it goes smoothly since DH has to work and I'll be flying solo.
I have lots more that I could write about but have a lot I want to try to do at home since I have the house to myself for the time being. Loyal readers, I'll try to get back in the habit of writing every day. It's better for me, and for all of you living vicariously through me.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Kid song
Does anyone else remember learning this song in school? I'm looking for the second verse.
Batteries Not Included
I saw a talking dolly
On my tv screen
She danced around in her pretty clothes
Like you have never seen
I asked my mom to order one
What came was just absurd
She lay on her back in a bathing suit
And never said a doggone word
Batteries not included
Accessories sold separately
Somehow things don't look the same
As they show you on tv.
I think the next verse has to do with an army truck for the brother but I can't remember. Anyone know this song?
Batteries Not Included
I saw a talking dolly
On my tv screen
She danced around in her pretty clothes
Like you have never seen
I asked my mom to order one
What came was just absurd
She lay on her back in a bathing suit
And never said a doggone word
Batteries not included
Accessories sold separately
Somehow things don't look the same
As they show you on tv.
I think the next verse has to do with an army truck for the brother but I can't remember. Anyone know this song?
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Lots and lots of goals
After reading this post on The Domestic Goddess' blog I decided to create some goals for myself as well, beyond the goals I wrote about in my last post. So here goes:
Business Goals
1) Four parties and/or shows per month (preferably two parties on two Saturdays a month)
2) Pay back original investment from our checking account
3) Devote at least 30 minutes a day to business (during the kids' "quiet time")
4) Return all phone calls/e-mails within 24 hours (I hate using the phone, but I have to get over it - I've already lost some parties because of this!)
5) Confirm party details one week before each party/show (Parents just like to hear from me to make sure I'm still coming or they start to panic.)
6) Send thank you letters/referral info to the parents after each party
Household Goals
1) Establish routines and complete them EACH DAY
2) Do some of my WHB each day (10 minutes each)
3) Have clean up time with kids before quiet time and before bedtime. (They need to learn how to pick up after themselves and it would save the house from being trashed by the end of the day.)
1) Go upstairs by 9, in bed by 9:30, asleep by 10 (clearly I need this spelled out for me)
2) Get up by 7 (9 hours might seem like a lot, but I definitely need at least 8, so aiming for 9 seems like a good idea for me. I would love to see how I do with a good night's sleep all summer.) 3) Finish before bed routine while the kids are still awake. Once they're in bed, it's too easy or me to just crash on the couch. This way I can get them to help me (in theory).
4) Complete a basic skin care routine twice a day. (I'm getting older - I need to take care of my face!)
5) Exercise every day (All year I've complained that I would love to go walking in the morning before the kids are up but can't because DH leaves for work so early. His Mother's Day gift to me is that he will get up with the kids every single day during the summer - isn't he the best?!! - so I have no excuse not to do this.)
6) Use SparkPeople to keep track of food intake
Okay, so I'm starting these goals tomorrow. Anyone else up for setting some goals for themselves?
Business Goals
1) Four parties and/or shows per month (preferably two parties on two Saturdays a month)
2) Pay back original investment from our checking account
3) Devote at least 30 minutes a day to business (during the kids' "quiet time")
4) Return all phone calls/e-mails within 24 hours (I hate using the phone, but I have to get over it - I've already lost some parties because of this!)
5) Confirm party details one week before each party/show (Parents just like to hear from me to make sure I'm still coming or they start to panic.)
6) Send thank you letters/referral info to the parents after each party
Household Goals
1) Establish routines and complete them EACH DAY
2) Do some of my WHB each day (10 minutes each)
3) Have clean up time with kids before quiet time and before bedtime. (They need to learn how to pick up after themselves and it would save the house from being trashed by the end of the day.)
Volunteer Goals - I now am doing the newsletters for both of my mom's groups (MOMS Club and Mothers and More).
1) Create deadlines for both clubs and for myself so everyone submits info for both newsletters in a timely manner
2) Do a little bit each week on both newsletters
1) Go upstairs by 9, in bed by 9:30, asleep by 10 (clearly I need this spelled out for me)
2) Get up by 7 (9 hours might seem like a lot, but I definitely need at least 8, so aiming for 9 seems like a good idea for me. I would love to see how I do with a good night's sleep all summer.) 3) Finish before bed routine while the kids are still awake. Once they're in bed, it's too easy or me to just crash on the couch. This way I can get them to help me (in theory).
4) Complete a basic skin care routine twice a day. (I'm getting older - I need to take care of my face!)
5) Exercise every day (All year I've complained that I would love to go walking in the morning before the kids are up but can't because DH leaves for work so early. His Mother's Day gift to me is that he will get up with the kids every single day during the summer - isn't he the best?!! - so I have no excuse not to do this.)
6) Use SparkPeople to keep track of food intake
Okay, so I'm starting these goals tomorrow. Anyone else up for setting some goals for themselves?
Friday, June 08, 2007
Summer Goals
Today was the last day of preschool for the kids. The summer has officially begun. I have to admit that I was one of those corny moms who actually cried watching the Rabbi and Cantor bless all the Pre-K kids who are "graduating" while they stood on the bimah under the Chuppah (the special canopy) the names of everyone in the class on a new ribbon hanging from it. So sweet.
Anyway, now I'm thinking about summer and our plans. We are sending all three kids to a local JCC (Jewish Community Center) from 9-1 five mornings a week for the whole summer beginning June 25. DH will be home for the summer as well since he is a teacher. I will be teaching at a writing camp (PA Writing and Literature Writing Project Camp) for the afternoons in July, but DH and I will have lots of time every morning this summer to do lots of stuff together. I am SO looking forward to this time!!!
Now that I have my upcoming teaching job at the kids' preschool beginning in September, I'm trying to decide if I can continue the other teaching jobs as well (Religious School for Kindergarten on Sundays, Hebrew School, and our Preschool Shabbat Program for parents and kids). It sounds like a lot, but it really only comes to 25.5 hours a week. I'm trying to figure out if I can do it all (since I REALLY LOVE doing them all) and not get overwhelmed, plus continue marketing, planning, and doing my new business.
Here's my idea: if I can use some, even half of my time this summer planning out my school years, I can do it. It's the planning that gets me, the prep work, but not the teaching.
Now some of you reading this might be thinking why would I want to spend so much of my free time WITHOUT kids planning my school year. Before DH and I had kids, when we were both teaching full-time, we used to spend our Saturday mornings hanging out at Borders doing our school work. I know, we're dorks. But at least we got out of the house, spent time together, and got our work done. This summer, DH is in charge or rewriting his district's 12-3 English curriculum (for the seniors who are not on the college track, that are struggling). He has some exciting ideas, but will need a lot of time to plan it out and do all the reading of young adult literature he needs to do to prepare. I can picture the two of us hanging out at different coffee shops/book stores, doing our planning and hanging out. I'm getting excited just thinking about it!! And if I'm able to plan out all the units that I plan on teaching in preschool, Hebrew school, religious school, AND plan out all projects for the Shabbat program, I will feel so great and ahead of the game.
I'm hoping we can do some house projects this summer, some really fun ones like cleaning out the basement and the attic. But I'll think more about that later, after I get a chance to go over my ideas above with DH. For now, I have to watch my imaginative children act out their version of Fetch with Ruff Ruffman.
Anyway, now I'm thinking about summer and our plans. We are sending all three kids to a local JCC (Jewish Community Center) from 9-1 five mornings a week for the whole summer beginning June 25. DH will be home for the summer as well since he is a teacher. I will be teaching at a writing camp (PA Writing and Literature Writing Project Camp) for the afternoons in July, but DH and I will have lots of time every morning this summer to do lots of stuff together. I am SO looking forward to this time!!!
Now that I have my upcoming teaching job at the kids' preschool beginning in September, I'm trying to decide if I can continue the other teaching jobs as well (Religious School for Kindergarten on Sundays, Hebrew School, and our Preschool Shabbat Program for parents and kids). It sounds like a lot, but it really only comes to 25.5 hours a week. I'm trying to figure out if I can do it all (since I REALLY LOVE doing them all) and not get overwhelmed, plus continue marketing, planning, and doing my new business.
Here's my idea: if I can use some, even half of my time this summer planning out my school years, I can do it. It's the planning that gets me, the prep work, but not the teaching.
Now some of you reading this might be thinking why would I want to spend so much of my free time WITHOUT kids planning my school year. Before DH and I had kids, when we were both teaching full-time, we used to spend our Saturday mornings hanging out at Borders doing our school work. I know, we're dorks. But at least we got out of the house, spent time together, and got our work done. This summer, DH is in charge or rewriting his district's 12-3 English curriculum (for the seniors who are not on the college track, that are struggling). He has some exciting ideas, but will need a lot of time to plan it out and do all the reading of young adult literature he needs to do to prepare. I can picture the two of us hanging out at different coffee shops/book stores, doing our planning and hanging out. I'm getting excited just thinking about it!! And if I'm able to plan out all the units that I plan on teaching in preschool, Hebrew school, religious school, AND plan out all projects for the Shabbat program, I will feel so great and ahead of the game.
I'm hoping we can do some house projects this summer, some really fun ones like cleaning out the basement and the attic. But I'll think more about that later, after I get a chance to go over my ideas above with DH. For now, I have to watch my imaginative children act out their version of Fetch with Ruff Ruffman.
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Kicking Depression in the Butt
I fought back yesterday and ultimately did fairly well.
My calorie goal each day is between 1200-1500; I stayed below 1300.
I took the kids out for a "scavenger hunt" around a few blocks. They ran to the next object (a sign with four letters, a baseketball hoop, etc.) and I jogged to keep up. Nice exercise!
J actually did a good job helping me tackle each room for ten minutes. Upstairs she picked up all clothes on the floor, downstairs she put away each toy I put on the coffee table. It kept me motivated and I was able to clean up a lot.
I set up my financial stuff on the laptop so I'll be able to balance the checkbook dowstairs with the kids, even outside if we want.
I'm about to do my Weekly Home Blessing; since I cleaned up the floors/trash yesterday with J, I should be able to stick to 10 minutes per task. And I just made plans to meet tonight with a friend from the community theater that I have worked at a lot to get Annie costumes for the party I'm doing this Saturday.
I was very productive yesterday, and for me productivity keeps the depression at bay. Gotta keep moving so I can be equally productive today.
My calorie goal each day is between 1200-1500; I stayed below 1300.
I took the kids out for a "scavenger hunt" around a few blocks. They ran to the next object (a sign with four letters, a baseketball hoop, etc.) and I jogged to keep up. Nice exercise!
J actually did a good job helping me tackle each room for ten minutes. Upstairs she picked up all clothes on the floor, downstairs she put away each toy I put on the coffee table. It kept me motivated and I was able to clean up a lot.
I set up my financial stuff on the laptop so I'll be able to balance the checkbook dowstairs with the kids, even outside if we want.
I got a call from my local library asking me to do the baby/toddler story time this summer, eight weeks, 30 minutes a session, paid, of course. Love that they thought of me!
I met with a friend from the MOMS Club to learn how to do the newsletter since I'll be taking that over in July (don't yell at me, Kathy!). We worked together to come up with deadlines for everyone involved so it won't come down to a last minute rush trying to pull everything together. Plus I have the two newsletters that I do on alternating weeks, so I won't ever have to pull them both together at the same time. I really enjoy creating the newsletters, and since I have everything on the laptop, I can work on it around the kids without a problem.I'm about to do my Weekly Home Blessing; since I cleaned up the floors/trash yesterday with J, I should be able to stick to 10 minutes per task. And I just made plans to meet tonight with a friend from the community theater that I have worked at a lot to get Annie costumes for the party I'm doing this Saturday.
I was very productive yesterday, and for me productivity keeps the depression at bay. Gotta keep moving so I can be equally productive today.
Monday, June 04, 2007
I Keep Fighting
Depression is just kicking my butt.
It's such a Catch-22: I don't do well with time on my hands. I find I typically don't get done what I had planned to get done, instead escaping in a book or sleeping. It's really hard to get the energy to fight through the veil that depression pulls me down with, even harder when I'm by myself. So I keep myself busy. And in doing that, I end up getting overwhelmed by the stuff around the house that I don't get to and all tha I have to do. I can't seem to find a happy medium.
And so. I have written a very detailed to do list for today (at my new favorite site: www.tadalists.com) and will keep the computer open to my list. I really need to push myself today because I once again did not go to bed when I should have and am extra tired today. I think if I allowed myself I could go back to bed and sleep all day. Real productive, right? The state of the house is driving me crazy, so I know I'll feel so much better if I tackle it.
I just want to get to the point where I'm NOT playing constant catch-up. How do I get ahead? I know my Flylady friends would say "babysteps" but I want instant results.
I checked out another website yesterday called Messies Anonymous and they suggested if the house was REALLY bad (which mine is not) you should buy six white cardboard storage boxes and go through each room picking up everything and putting it in one of the boxes (marked Papers, etc.). At least then everything would be out of sight. Then you can tackle one box at a time. I've tried variations of this, but don't usually end up getting to the box or basket for a long, long time so I end up with baskets of clutter just sitting around for weeks and weeks. But what if I could do this and actually tackle them in a timely manner? Heck, what if I could do this once and then not need to do it again?!
Alright enough complaining. Boy, you guys who do read my bog regularly must be so sick of hearing about it: I'm depressed, blah, blah, blah, I can't get my butt in gear, blah, blah, blah, I don't have my eating under control, blah, blah, blah, my house is a mess, blah, blah, blah. I'm sick of thinking it - you must be sick of reading it. It would be so much easier to just say forget about it all and just escape in some way (reading, sleeping, etc.) but clearly I can't do that.
So here we go, fighting through another day.
It's such a Catch-22: I don't do well with time on my hands. I find I typically don't get done what I had planned to get done, instead escaping in a book or sleeping. It's really hard to get the energy to fight through the veil that depression pulls me down with, even harder when I'm by myself. So I keep myself busy. And in doing that, I end up getting overwhelmed by the stuff around the house that I don't get to and all tha I have to do. I can't seem to find a happy medium.
And so. I have written a very detailed to do list for today (at my new favorite site: www.tadalists.com) and will keep the computer open to my list. I really need to push myself today because I once again did not go to bed when I should have and am extra tired today. I think if I allowed myself I could go back to bed and sleep all day. Real productive, right? The state of the house is driving me crazy, so I know I'll feel so much better if I tackle it.
I just want to get to the point where I'm NOT playing constant catch-up. How do I get ahead? I know my Flylady friends would say "babysteps" but I want instant results.
I checked out another website yesterday called Messies Anonymous and they suggested if the house was REALLY bad (which mine is not) you should buy six white cardboard storage boxes and go through each room picking up everything and putting it in one of the boxes (marked Papers, etc.). At least then everything would be out of sight. Then you can tackle one box at a time. I've tried variations of this, but don't usually end up getting to the box or basket for a long, long time so I end up with baskets of clutter just sitting around for weeks and weeks. But what if I could do this and actually tackle them in a timely manner? Heck, what if I could do this once and then not need to do it again?!
Alright enough complaining. Boy, you guys who do read my bog regularly must be so sick of hearing about it: I'm depressed, blah, blah, blah, I can't get my butt in gear, blah, blah, blah, I don't have my eating under control, blah, blah, blah, my house is a mess, blah, blah, blah. I'm sick of thinking it - you must be sick of reading it. It would be so much easier to just say forget about it all and just escape in some way (reading, sleeping, etc.) but clearly I can't do that.
So here we go, fighting through another day.
Sunday, June 03, 2007
Uh-Oh
Words you don't want to hear after the toilet has been flushed three times quickly in succession:
"I put all the wipes in the potty. Sorry."
"I put all the wipes in the potty. Sorry."
Saturday, June 02, 2007
Live and Learn
Next time I write a contract for a party, I need to spell this out:
I will arrive at your house a few minutes before the party begins. I will be ready to begin at the contracted time and will engage the children for a full hour. If you need me to stay later due to late arrivals, wanting me to stay for pictures, or any other reason, there will be a charge of $25 for each additional fifteen minutes.
Today's party went great, but I agreed to wait an additional five minutes to begin past 3 (my first mistake). I then attempted to do all the activities I bought, even though the younger girls clearly wanted to linger on their tierras (they had already spent about 20+ minutes on it) and the older girls wanted to continue painting their fingernails. Even when 4 had come and gone, I was still pushing them to finish their make-up (the older girls) or selecting their dresses (the younger girls). I had promised they would get to do a fashion show, so I had to allow that to happen. When the party was over, the parents asked me if I would mind waiting for the cake so they could take a picture of all the "princesses" in their dresses with the cake. It didn't seem that time consuming, so even though it was already 4:30, I agreed. Well, the dad had to run to get the ice cream cake from the store across the street still!!! At 4:50 we were finally singing Happy Birthday (three whole verses!), then the girls took the dresses off and I could finally go home. ARGH!!!
Since I didn't have anything about staying past the contracted time in writing, I didn't think it was a good idea for me to push it. I really wanted this family to recommend me to their friends.
But I will definitely make sure I have something in writing for the next contract I write.
And as always, please keep me in mind for your child's birthday party (www.missrachel.net)!
I will arrive at your house a few minutes before the party begins. I will be ready to begin at the contracted time and will engage the children for a full hour. If you need me to stay later due to late arrivals, wanting me to stay for pictures, or any other reason, there will be a charge of $25 for each additional fifteen minutes.
Today's party went great, but I agreed to wait an additional five minutes to begin past 3 (my first mistake). I then attempted to do all the activities I bought, even though the younger girls clearly wanted to linger on their tierras (they had already spent about 20+ minutes on it) and the older girls wanted to continue painting their fingernails. Even when 4 had come and gone, I was still pushing them to finish their make-up (the older girls) or selecting their dresses (the younger girls). I had promised they would get to do a fashion show, so I had to allow that to happen. When the party was over, the parents asked me if I would mind waiting for the cake so they could take a picture of all the "princesses" in their dresses with the cake. It didn't seem that time consuming, so even though it was already 4:30, I agreed. Well, the dad had to run to get the ice cream cake from the store across the street still!!! At 4:50 we were finally singing Happy Birthday (three whole verses!), then the girls took the dresses off and I could finally go home. ARGH!!!
Since I didn't have anything about staying past the contracted time in writing, I didn't think it was a good idea for me to push it. I really wanted this family to recommend me to their friends.
But I will definitely make sure I have something in writing for the next contract I write.
And as always, please keep me in mind for your child's birthday party (www.missrachel.net)!
Friday, June 01, 2007
So very tired
My weight is going in the wrong direction. Have to stop this emotional eating. I start the day with the best of intentions and then stop keeping track as the day goes by. That stops today. It has to - I'm sick of this!
I'm just tired. All I want to do is sleep. I don't even want to interact with the kids. Just want to sleep. And I can't, of course.
It looks like J's allergies have progressed into a full blown cold. She keeps crying, "I can't breathe!" because her nose is all stuffy. And mine keeps running too so I don't feel like blowing her nose along with mine.
Well, I'm super negative today. I'm drinking my chai tea which will hopefully help me wake up. And I'm going to try to keep busy today, even though all I want to do is sleep.
I'm just tired. All I want to do is sleep. I don't even want to interact with the kids. Just want to sleep. And I can't, of course.
It looks like J's allergies have progressed into a full blown cold. She keeps crying, "I can't breathe!" because her nose is all stuffy. And mine keeps running too so I don't feel like blowing her nose along with mine.
Well, I'm super negative today. I'm drinking my chai tea which will hopefully help me wake up. And I'm going to try to keep busy today, even though all I want to do is sleep.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Life is Full of Questions
Why does the IU need to meet with me in July to write an IEP for A to ensure he receives services over the summer (you know, for the month of August) when the school district and I are meeting in June to write his IEP for the upcoming school year?!!
Why do people leave their telephone number so fast on my machine, making me repeat it several times before I get it, and when I copy it down and then erase the message, why do I find out that I must have copied it wrong and now have NO WAY to contact them?!!
Why did I take so much time to fill out the financial aid form for the camp I want the kids to attend this summer if they were going to lose it and make me fill it out all over again?!!
Why did someone steal my debit card numbers and buy over a fifteen hundred dollars worth of stuff that comes out of my bank account, thus making it impossible to pay our bills this month until we get credited by the bank for the stolen amount?
Why can't I download my financial info onto a CD so I can use it on my laptop?
Why am I still sitting here asking why? I need to fold a load of laundry and sort through two baskets worth of papers before I go pick up the kids at 12.
Why do people leave their telephone number so fast on my machine, making me repeat it several times before I get it, and when I copy it down and then erase the message, why do I find out that I must have copied it wrong and now have NO WAY to contact them?!!
Why did I take so much time to fill out the financial aid form for the camp I want the kids to attend this summer if they were going to lose it and make me fill it out all over again?!!
Why did someone steal my debit card numbers and buy over a fifteen hundred dollars worth of stuff that comes out of my bank account, thus making it impossible to pay our bills this month until we get credited by the bank for the stolen amount?
Why can't I download my financial info onto a CD so I can use it on my laptop?
Why am I still sitting here asking why? I need to fold a load of laundry and sort through two baskets worth of papers before I go pick up the kids at 12.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
It's All About the Clothes
And now we're on to Day Seven: Pick out tomorrow's clothes before I go to bed at night. This will definitely be a good habit to get into, making the next day easier. Yesterday I didn't exactly tackle my hotspots the way I intended, but I did get the dining room table and the console table in the living room, and continued cleaning the living room and dining room this morning. Bottom line, they look good. But I'm going to work hard to stay on top of all the hotspots, keeping them cleaned off so they don't become full fires taking over the house.
In other news, I met with A's team at his elementary school for September this morning. Since DH couldn't get off work, my sister went with me as an additional pair of ears. The meeting went extremely well. The report results painted an extremely accurate picture of him, acknowledging all of his needs and strengths, even pointing out any discrepancies between very superior scores in many categories in one area (like speech) and average scores in another category. While average scores would not normally indicate a need for services, the fact that there is such a discrepancy does indicate that, and the speech teacher and psychologist both saw that. So far, so good! His IEP meeting is in June.
Since A is now reading over my shoulder, I am ending this post so the kids can begin "quiet time" and I can return some business related phone calls.
In other news, I met with A's team at his elementary school for September this morning. Since DH couldn't get off work, my sister went with me as an additional pair of ears. The meeting went extremely well. The report results painted an extremely accurate picture of him, acknowledging all of his needs and strengths, even pointing out any discrepancies between very superior scores in many categories in one area (like speech) and average scores in another category. While average scores would not normally indicate a need for services, the fact that there is such a discrepancy does indicate that, and the speech teacher and psychologist both saw that. So far, so good! His IEP meeting is in June.
Since A is now reading over my shoulder, I am ending this post so the kids can begin "quiet time" and I can return some business related phone calls.
Monday, May 28, 2007
Putting out the fires
Day six: Hot spots. My job today is to spend two minutes on each hot spot around the house. Hot spots in my house include: the dining room table, the console table in the living room, and most of my bedroom. Okay, if I had to narrow it down in my bedroom, it would be the rocking chair that ends up holding everything we can't put somewhere else and the floor on my side of the bed. Two minutes for each, that's doable. The kids are currently playing on their own (not sure how much longer that will keep up) so I better get started. Then I'm off with them to K-Mart (never made it yesterday).
Here goes.
Here goes.
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Steps two through five
Okay, Day two of babysteps: Get dressed to lace up shoes. This is one routine that I started doing when I joined FLYlady and it has stuck with me. I used to be a barefoot girl. And I had incredible foot and back pain which got worse as the day went on. When I started the day my first steps were extremely painful. When I started consistently wearing shoes, the pain stopped. I'm a believer!
So moving on to Day Three: Do what we have already done. And read some of the website. Well, I've read the website plenty of times, and I have done what we already have done. My sink is shiny (except for the stuff DH left in it this morning - grrr) and my shoes are on. I'm moving on.
Day Four: Write these things down. This is the start of a control journal. I have one already, written out on my white board. Next...
Day Five: Write down what you hear. This one I can do. Write down those negative voices inside my head and answer them. Okay, here goes:
Why are you bothering with this? Why not just get off your lazy butt and go clean the house?
Because I could clean the house right now, but I don't have the routines in place to keep it clean. I need to build that into my life so it will be my autopilot to follow.
But look at all this crap around the house! It's really not that complicated to just pick it all up!
I know HOW to pick stuff up. But clearly it gets overwhelming. And after keeping three young children alive and relatively happy all day, preferrably better at the end of the day than they were the day before, feeding them, cleaning them, reminding them to go the potty (still dry!!!), following up on phone calls and inquiries about my new business, keeping track of the money coming in and out of our house, trying to exercise, cooking, gardening, I'm just tired by the end of the day and it's easier to just ignore it all. I don't want that anymore.
Well, there you go. I don't want the house to overwhelm me anymore, so I believe FLYlady is the answer.
Now I'm off to K-Mart to pick up costumes for the princess party I'm doing on Saturday. I'm picking up four packs and possibly an instant polaroid camera to take pictures for the Annie party I'll be doing the following week. Then I'm picking up J and taking her to my sister's where we will all travel to Jersey for a cousin's BBQ. DH will stay here with the boys at his parents to have dinner. And that's all I have to say about that.
So moving on to Day Three: Do what we have already done. And read some of the website. Well, I've read the website plenty of times, and I have done what we already have done. My sink is shiny (except for the stuff DH left in it this morning - grrr) and my shoes are on. I'm moving on.
Day Four: Write these things down. This is the start of a control journal. I have one already, written out on my white board. Next...
Day Five: Write down what you hear. This one I can do. Write down those negative voices inside my head and answer them. Okay, here goes:
Why are you bothering with this? Why not just get off your lazy butt and go clean the house?
Because I could clean the house right now, but I don't have the routines in place to keep it clean. I need to build that into my life so it will be my autopilot to follow.
But look at all this crap around the house! It's really not that complicated to just pick it all up!
I know HOW to pick stuff up. But clearly it gets overwhelming. And after keeping three young children alive and relatively happy all day, preferrably better at the end of the day than they were the day before, feeding them, cleaning them, reminding them to go the potty (still dry!!!), following up on phone calls and inquiries about my new business, keeping track of the money coming in and out of our house, trying to exercise, cooking, gardening, I'm just tired by the end of the day and it's easier to just ignore it all. I don't want that anymore.
Well, there you go. I don't want the house to overwhelm me anymore, so I believe FLYlady is the answer.
Now I'm off to K-Mart to pick up costumes for the princess party I'm doing on Saturday. I'm picking up four packs and possibly an instant polaroid camera to take pictures for the Annie party I'll be doing the following week. Then I'm picking up J and taking her to my sister's where we will all travel to Jersey for a cousin's BBQ. DH will stay here with the boys at his parents to have dinner. And that's all I have to say about that.
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Babysteps
I'm jumping back on the Flylady bandwagon. Inspired by Mommy Brain, I'm going to start over by using the beginner babysteps. Luckily so many of the steps have already become ingrained habits, so for those, I will just acknowledge and move on to the next step.
Anyone interested in joining me on my journey? Leave a comment to let me know how you're doing. I would love to have friends accompany me along the way. I highly recommend the process. And my house right now is crying out (or is that just me) for me to do something about the chaos. So here's my answer: shine my sink. And clean off the counters in the process.
Anyone interested in joining me on my journey? Leave a comment to let me know how you're doing. I would love to have friends accompany me along the way. I highly recommend the process. And my house right now is crying out (or is that just me) for me to do something about the chaos. So here's my answer: shine my sink. And clean off the counters in the process.
Miracle of miracles Part Two
Yesterday A started the day with again peeing and pooping in the potty. He stands there waiting very patiently, straining his muscles until finally a couple drops, then a couple more, and then a whole stream comes out. It seems to take him a lot to get it started, but he clearly has made the mind/body connection and is able to make it happen. Finally. Yesterday he was so excited about his accomplishment, he left the bathroom shouting, "Now I get to wear underwear!" I wanted to wait a few days to make sure he stayed dry longer, but he was so excited I decided to just go with it.
I prepped him on what to do if he felt like he had to go, told him that it's okay if he makes a mistake and has an accident, and brought him to school with a full change of clothes wearing Thomas the Tank Engine underwear.
He was still wearing the same dry pair of underwear when I picked him up at school. He had peed in the potty at school about five times (in three hours).
At night when we were getting ready for bed, he took off the same dry pair of underwear he had started the day wearing.
I had suggested a few times that he go to the potty, but most of the trips to the potty were his idea. All day long.
Could it really be this "easy"?
I prepped him on what to do if he felt like he had to go, told him that it's okay if he makes a mistake and has an accident, and brought him to school with a full change of clothes wearing Thomas the Tank Engine underwear.
He was still wearing the same dry pair of underwear when I picked him up at school. He had peed in the potty at school about five times (in three hours).
At night when we were getting ready for bed, he took off the same dry pair of underwear he had started the day wearing.
I had suggested a few times that he go to the potty, but most of the trips to the potty were his idea. All day long.
Could it really be this "easy"?
Thursday, May 24, 2007
My heart aches
Yesterday a letter went out to my congregation stating that our rabbi's contract will not be renewed next year. The Board of the Temple had been working with the rabbi for months and very intensively for the last week behind closed doors, and ultimately the decision was made. There are many reasons why this happened, and it did not happen over night. The rabbi will still be our spiritual leader for the next year, and the elected Board, representative of the congregation, people who stepped up when asked to help lead the congregation, participated in a long, drawn out, excruciating process, and made the decision that the details surrounding the reasons for the contract to not be renewed be kept confidential.
I just returned home from the annual congregational meeting. While the president of the congregation tried to keep to the agenda, so many of the people attending the meeting wouldn't allow that to happen. The yelling and anger that I saw in our sanctuary, in the place that we pray, our holy place, made me cry.
I personally stayed a member of my synagogue in spite of the current rabbi, not because of him. I contemplated leaving many times, but ultimately decided to stay because I have been a member my entire life. I have so many connections to the synagogue, feel such a connection to so many people within the congregation, how could I leave? I stayed in spite of, not because. But I stayed.
My heart aches.
The anger. The power plays I witnessed tonight, the threats to leave. The knowledge that so many of the people there tonight were riled up because they spoke to the rabbi and received one-sided information that I truly believe was inaccurate. I believe that our spiritual leader purposefully called our major financial contributor to get him on "his side" and encouraged him to gather supporters, creating a rift. How can a holy man act like this? I don't know all the details, but personally I am so relieved this decision has been made.
I know this is rambling. My heart truly aches over what I just saw and over the repercusions from the devisive actions that have occured and I'm having a hard time calming down from what I just experienced.
I come to the synagogue to pray, to feel closer to G-d, to be connected with other Jews, to teach, to feel a sense of community, to be with my other family. Just as a child is traumatized when the parents get a fight, I am traumatized to see so many members of my extended family fight.
I don't even have a point or a way to summarize this or even an idea on how to end this. I am feeling so unsettled and so upset I just need to end it. I'll write more tomorrow.
I just returned home from the annual congregational meeting. While the president of the congregation tried to keep to the agenda, so many of the people attending the meeting wouldn't allow that to happen. The yelling and anger that I saw in our sanctuary, in the place that we pray, our holy place, made me cry.
I personally stayed a member of my synagogue in spite of the current rabbi, not because of him. I contemplated leaving many times, but ultimately decided to stay because I have been a member my entire life. I have so many connections to the synagogue, feel such a connection to so many people within the congregation, how could I leave? I stayed in spite of, not because. But I stayed.
My heart aches.
The anger. The power plays I witnessed tonight, the threats to leave. The knowledge that so many of the people there tonight were riled up because they spoke to the rabbi and received one-sided information that I truly believe was inaccurate. I believe that our spiritual leader purposefully called our major financial contributor to get him on "his side" and encouraged him to gather supporters, creating a rift. How can a holy man act like this? I don't know all the details, but personally I am so relieved this decision has been made.
I know this is rambling. My heart truly aches over what I just saw and over the repercusions from the devisive actions that have occured and I'm having a hard time calming down from what I just experienced.
I come to the synagogue to pray, to feel closer to G-d, to be connected with other Jews, to teach, to feel a sense of community, to be with my other family. Just as a child is traumatized when the parents get a fight, I am traumatized to see so many members of my extended family fight.
I don't even have a point or a way to summarize this or even an idea on how to end this. I am feeling so unsettled and so upset I just need to end it. I'll write more tomorrow.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Check this out!!!
www.tadalist.com
I can now easily have multiple to do lists and keep tack of them all on the computer. So easy to use and, oh yeah, did I forget to mention, it's free!
I can now easily have multiple to do lists and keep tack of them all on the computer. So easy to use and, oh yeah, did I forget to mention, it's free!
J's tired
Last night J was so tired she began crying as we were getting ready for bed.
I comforted her, and told her that she was crying because she was just so tired.
"That doesn't make any sense!" J wailed.
Everyone's a critic.
I comforted her, and told her that she was crying because she was just so tired.
"That doesn't make any sense!" J wailed.
Everyone's a critic.
Monday, May 21, 2007
Miracle of miracles
A peed in the potty this morning! Now he is laughing and smiling beside me because he read the first sentence (and what I'm currently writing). And now he is screaming and crying because I can't find where Daddy last put his Gameboy, A's prize for when he does anything in the potty. And now he's laughing through his tears because I just found it. Wow, fast mood swings!
A has been trying to pee (his own idea) the last few mornings. He'll stand at the potty and push using all the right muscles. He will usually end up sitting on his special potty seat (has handles and step up to rest his feet on). Today he actually was able to get a very short stream (the pee lasted for about a second, maybe less) but it was actual pee and he was so proud.
So was Mommy.
A has been trying to pee (his own idea) the last few mornings. He'll stand at the potty and push using all the right muscles. He will usually end up sitting on his special potty seat (has handles and step up to rest his feet on). Today he actually was able to get a very short stream (the pee lasted for about a second, maybe less) but it was actual pee and he was so proud.
So was Mommy.
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