It’s barely noon and already Gerald’s had more than he can handle…

You know you’re a parent of toddlers if you can name the movie that line if from in less than a minute!

I had this much more detailed post planned on my morning activities, complete with photos, but honestly, I just don’t think I have energy to do it and still be going tonight at 10pm.

I’ve made around four dozen cup cakes and 2 dozen cookies so far. The only thing stopping me from continuing on is a lack of eggs.

Tonight is the dessert auction and I will be so glad when it’s over. Yesterday my reading class spent their hour making bid cards, while I completed the item inventory. I really hope more shows up tonight, although I’ll be a bit pissed when it does. It’s a bit hard to be doing inventory while bidders are walking in.

I keep telling myself that it’s really just one event and it could be so worse. I could be the staff member who is in charge of the whole thing!

Fundraising

The one thing I love about the town I live in is the generosity of the people. When someone needs something, there are others there to meet it. Our local schools hold a competition to see who can gather the most food/cash to donate to local food banks. It’s a week long effort. Every night features a different event, plus the daily trudging through the rain to garner donations house to house. I did the math one year and the amount collected is about equal to 55 pounds of food for every single resident in the town. This is not your local can drive.

For my part, I’m the advisor for the dessert auction. Students ask for donations  and get their parents to make various goodies which we auction off. We do a silent and live auction. Every year I do a little freak out the week of… I’m positive that there will not be enough items to be auctioned off, that there will not be enough food and it will fail miserably. Thus my activity for today. These are three baskets for the silent auction. Two are Thanksgiving table decor – centerpiece, napkins and napkin rings. Granted there are only four napkins and rings… but really, I am a living on a teacher’s salary here. the Snowman one a large holiday popcorn bowl, filled with microwave popcorn, hot chocolate mix, mugs and a Holiday movie. Altogether, they cost about $26 to make, plus $2 for the cellophane to wrap them. Hopefully, they’ll bring in at least that.

   The wreath is still a work in progress. The woodshop teacher is creating some wooden cut outs of our mascot for me to add on – I’m hoping that she will be able to do one large one to hang on the middle. I also found some jingle bells in our school colors to add to it, as well.  The principal has already said that she will send a proxy bidder in to purchase it for her office… so I’m hoping that she’s willing to pay big bucks for it!

Usually, we have one community member who shows up with some big checks to purchase stuff. I think one year she walked out with about half of the donated items because she just bids big on everything! I’m really hoping that she shows up again this year… because last year I came home with a toilet. Now, I didn’t really want to come home with a toilet, but I was the only one to bid – just to get it started – and paid a whopping $25 for a brand new kholer toilet. Yah, I gave it away to a cousin who is building a house. It was that or have it moved to my classroom… start the jokes about the education system now.

Just In Time

Seven things to do with a toddler on an odd day off…

1. Go for a walk – test out that umbrella and boots, do a little puddle stomping
2. Build a fort with blankets and pillows
3. make hot chocolate with marshmallows. drink while watching a movie
4. dance!
5. teach how to do a new  chore – toddlers think it’s really fun
6. make peanut butter bird feeders
7. read a book

Just A Tip

You can use baby wipes to remove dry erase marker from your ultra-suede couch cushions.  Really it works.

Also, windex will take out ball point pen.

Just in case you need that knowledge.

Bring On The Paperwork

Now that the adoption has been finalized, all the new paperwork begins. Not that I’m sad about it… but I’m sure it will be fun!
This morning, I will turn in all new paperwork at the daycare. New additions include real emergency contacts!!! You cannot believe how weird and yet free-ing it is to be able to choose who would be responsible for your children in an emergency.

Then I will be attempting to change the information for their birth certificates, insurance documents, social security cards, medical records at every office and the Y. I’m sure there are others that I'll be adding to the list...

Apple crumble

celebratory apple crisp

We're official!!! Somehow we managed to make it to our court appointment this morning. After a short wait, we were ushered into the jury room (I was there last spring as a jury member... at the time, I never thought I'd be back in there to finalize the adoption!). I think the introductions of who was who took longer than the signing of papers. My cousin wondered where the fireworks and balloons were...

How did we "manage"? On Sunday, I attempted to drive to my Aunt's house. About a block away, my windshield wipers quit. Nothing I did could get them work. I checked the fuse, attempted to examine the relay switch - which on a Volkswagen is not easy! - but nothing worked. Of course, on Sunday there is nothing open and without wipers there was no driving in the rain. So, how do we get to the courthouse on Monday? Luckily, my cousin with a minivan had the day free - whew! Four car seats (she's got two of her own) and we were off!

Then on the way there, my mother - who was following the minivan - was pulled over for speeding in a school zone. Please note "she was following the minivan"... which was going the same speed. But she's a magnet for these things. We had to leave her behind and hope for the best. Luckily, the officer lead her to the courthouse (one last stop before going to court?). She made it there just in time to meet us.

Afterwards, I wondered what would be the third thing to go wrong. Luckily, it was just a dumped coffee.

The car was fixed. Just a loose nut.

Cozy Home

I wishing for a sharing of ideas...

How do you make your home cozy and comfy for the winter?

VOTE

Don't forget to go out and vote today - mail it in, stand in line... whatever you do in your local area, just do it!

Even if you think your vote won't count - do it!  Over the past three elections, many contests have come down to a handful of votes... your voice won't be heard if you don't cast a ballot.

Even if you think your candidate has no chance of winning - do it! At least someone else will realize they're not alone and may lead a new group. Grassroots organizations do make a difference and they had to start somewhere.

Even if you think you can't fit one more "thing" into your daily schedule - do it. Will stopping to buy yet another overprice coffee drink affect your future? I mean, beyond the your personal financial bottom line? Skip it today and vote.

Who knows what kind of world you'll wake up to tomorrow if you don't.

It’s coming!

  We now have a confirmed finalization date! Hopefully, all will go according to plan and there will be no massive snow  storms over the next week or so… I’m hoping my cousin can make to the proceeding and take photos that actually look good. Got a new phone this week, with a very nice camera on it and still with the bad pictures; I may have to give up.

Today, we drove into to town to do a little early trick-or-treating and visit the “not-so-haunted house”. A local photographer was offering photos of kids, instead of candy. I’m eager to see how the photos turned out – as I’ve mentioned before, it is not easy to get a good photo of the kids. The Cuddler has started making these scrunched up faces whenever told to “smile” and Lala won’t smile at strangers. Also, the cuddler does not listen to directions very well (I’m already worrying about the teenage years). Again, I’m awaiting the photos to make a final judgement. If they turn out good, I may actually hire the photographer to do a family photo.

Tomorrow will be our first trick-or-treat expedition. Or it may be. So far, we’ve had back to back rain storms. We may just suck it up and hand out candy. There will be those who would wade through a foot of flood waters to get free candy.

Still in a Holding Pattern

and feeling like I’m circling the airport…

No one called back. Do we have a Monday court date? I don’t know, but if I don’t hear anything by tomorrow, it’s doubtful that I will be able to attend even if I do have one. Unless I want the sub from Planet Brainless. Can we say, “set the desk on fire!”

This Monday would have been perfect for me. Unfortunately, the whole week was not perfect timing for my lawyer. Isn’t that they way it always goes?

Christmas Shopping

Have you started yet? The other day I had an extra 20 minutes, so, of course, I went shopping! I found some stocking stuffers and movies on sale, so why not pick them up?
As for everything else… I’ve been at somewhat of a loss. Partially, because I can’t think of single toy the kids would enjoy. Lala has about 9 baby dolls! Seriously, they are everywhere. All of which are “neeh-kid” because she doesn’t like to play with the clothes, just covering them with blankets. The cuddler is just starting to play with his cars-he’s got tons! And so on. Also, we don’t watch enough TV or they’re just not old enough to start pointing out things in commercials. What do I get them?
The other day we visited some friends who had a robot dog. The cuddler loved it! I have the cutest pictures of him trying to get the robot dog to eat food… it was hysterical. They bought it at Goodwill for $3, but apparently they sell for $100 on Amazon. I’m heading up to the friend’s Goodwill, because apparently there are some really good bargains to found there.
Meanwhile I was thinking of getting this for Lala and the cuddler:









It’s a cardboard house that the kids can decorate themselves! How cute is that? Plus, active for all those yucky winter days. But apparently, they are out of stock. Once again, out of ideas. I’m battin’ a thousand here. Suggestions? Cannot involve markers, glue or any type of wet substance that will not easily wipe away.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

This weekend, I wrote a post and scheduled to publish on Wednesday. Among other things, it had an update on our adoption journey. I had to go in and edit because this morning I got some big news!!!

All of the paperwork has been completed and everyone is working to get a court date next Monday, Nov. 1st. Less than a week away!!! I spent the entire time on the phone with my lawyer giggling... and now I am in the process of praying for his wife. She's having a baby tomorrow and hopefully, there will be no complications that would cause him have to postpone. Also, you know, that everything goes OK because that would be really bad if it didn't and all. After three years a little selfishness is ok, right?

Hopefully, someone will call and let me know for sure tomorrow. My mother is trying to get that day off, my cousins are checking their work schedule (designated photographer) and I've been penciled in as being gone at work - but, as we all know, there aren't any guarantees.

By the way - the previous update said that I probably had another four to six weeks to wait. Ha!

Read This!

Great post here. To bad policy makers won’t read it or grasp the meaning – they’re too busy figuring out yet another way to cut funding for schools, cities, roads and anything else not devoted for their exclusive use or mailing them a check.

It’s amazing to me that someone can justify a multi-million dollar bonus for some financier hawking yet another scam as needing to pay a high salary to get the best, will in the same breath demand that the guy saving their life after an auto accident work for minimum wage… because they’re not in an accident every day.

Growth Spurt Oncoming

I’m thinking another growth spurt must be oncoming for the cuddler – he’s been eating breakfast for the past hour and a half and I don’t mean, eating slowly. So far, he’s eaten three eggo waffles, a banana, many grapes, a bowl of cereal and 1 and half cuppies of milk. Luckily, we have clothes up to 4T stored.

Board Games

How old does a kid have to be to play a board game? And how long does one have to endure "no, put that back" or "it's not your turn yet" and "come back here with those pieces" before you can actually get down to playing a game?

I would seriously, love me some CandyLand if I could figure out how to explain how to play to Lala, while keeping the cuddler from running off with various pieces.

Also, I need to read books more often.

What brought this on? A school week where I got to see the difference between how my remedial class and my advanced students play with language. It really brought home the impact parents have on the educational/academic abilities of their children. I know it's politically popular to blame teachers for all the nation's ills lately, but an involved parent will just about beat any obstacle society throws at a kid. I want mine to beat the odds.

Pumpkin Spice and Picture Books

I am trying to wean myself from pumpkin spice lattes. It is probably not good to have that much sugar every morning and I’m sure it will do something dastardly to my energy levels. As the days get shorter, my energy level drops inverse with the lengthening of night.

I hate to admit it, but lately, I’ve been falling asleep at 8.15pm. Sadly, getting up early has never been one of my strong suits.

There are morning people and there are night owls… I am a mid-day kind of person. Around 1 pm my energy level picks up and I’m ready tackle that endless to-do list. Then it drops back down around 5pm. By the time I can actually get stuff done without kids, I’m ready to fall back asleep. I need a new plan.

Did you see the NYT article about the waning market for picture books? Supposedly, more parents are pushing their kids to read chapter books earlier and earlier, eschewing picture books as something only for infants. Picture books are just a bunch of pretty pictures. Often the stories explain very complex ideas in a way that kids can understand (Pink and Say ) or include reading/speaking skills are important for advanced language development (Dr. Seuss ). Even when a child is reading, the ideas and themes expressed in a picture book lend themselves to important conversations between child and adult – not mention giving them the chance to really develop those comprehension skills needed for those big chapter books. You’ll find a lot of high school teachers using these books not only to explain ideas, but using them as examples of characterization, plot development, rhetorical argument, importance of setting, voice and tone in building the story. Just because your kid owns Harry Potter, does not mean that most of their information doesn’t come from the movie. Subtle plot development doesn’t work well with five year olds… as any parent of one will tell you when they are trying to get them to stop asking about the “fat lady” in line at the bank.

And I dare you to try to read Pink and Say without blubbering – but it’s so good and so important.

School Choice

I’m becoming less and less enamored with this whole work 80 hours a week lifestyle. If I’m not attending a meeting, I’m preparing for one… while the demands of my actual job keep piling up. I’m seriously starting to think about trying to find an online job this spring. The problem is that no one seems to talking about what actual salaries are being offered and what benefits there really are. Of course, everything ties into various things going on at work and what I need to do for the kids in the future. And if I believe I seriously can be at home with two children every day while working – it’s not as fun as some people make it out to be. At least not at age three/two.

In two years Lala will be heading off to kindergarten. And sending her off to the district school (we don’t actually have “neighborhood” schools around here) just doesn’t sound appealing. Although I know she would be psych’d for the school bus ride, and what little kid isn’t?, it just doesn’t sound like the best educational experience. Class sizes are over 25, despite state laws against this. Teachers aren’t given time to plan during the day and there are no extras like art or PE. It’s reading and math for hours at a time – no structured play, limited recess, science and social studies.

And then there is the whole “good kid” vs. “bad kid” issue. I hate to break the news to my sister, but my niece is doomed to sit next to the class loony for the rest of her academic career. Not just this month. It’s a very common classroom management tactic – one I’ll fully admit to using myself if the “good kid” doesn’t whither too fast. Even better… if the loony sitting next to my niece improves his behavior, she will be moved to sit by a new loony (another one will always pop up) and so on. Our local elementary has more than it’s fair share of loonies. I assume that neither Lala or the Cuddler will be the “bad kid”, so am I dooming them to a poor educational experience? Or at best, one filled with psychotic breaks and swear words instead of Little House on the Prairie and science fairs?

Then again, what are my other options? And can I afford them?

Nothing new on the adoption front. Waiting for the last piece of paper to be signed – hopefully by the end of the month?

September Madness

For me, September is the month of madness. The rush to get ready for school, coupled with finishing last minute projects and preparing the house for the coming rainy season and getting used to a new schedule makes for lots of running around. No longer can I just wait for tomorrow morning to get milk - in fact, I may not even be able to make it to the store tomorrow!

It's been a pretty rainy September. On the few sunny days we've had, I've tried to take advantage and get the kids out of the house. Soon we will be trapped inside for months... the rain here is never ending during the winter months. This also means, however, that I haven't been able to mow the lawn. The whole sunny day, coinciding with nap times (where kids actually sleep!) thing has been a hard juggle. I'm seriously thinking about hiring a company to do it, because otherwise it will be a jungle by the time spring comes around.

I have somehow found the time to make a fall wreath for the door (photos later, maybe), purchased Lala's Halloween costume, keep up most of the paperwork for my job, take the kids to their sports classes and still cook meals! We've only dipped into the emergency stash of beef-a-roni three times! That's a record for me on the cooking front - last night I made mashed potatoes and baked tuna, with organic carrots from the farmer's market.

Things that have fallen by the wayside - this blog, moving photos from camera to computer and actually taking photos with a camera, (several phone, but it's a really crappy camera), finishing the bathroom, finishing painting everything else, keeping the toys organized, laundry, eating a healthy breakfast or lunch for me, etc. Eventually, it will fall back into place, I'm sure. Until then, I'll just be doing the morning search for clean socks and taking the cuddler to school without shoes. (ah... two year stubbornness... how soon you turn into three year old insanity)

Finally, I've heard that things are moving on the Adoption front, but nothing so far has been officially received to let me know what's going on. I really wasn't expecting anything until October anyhow, as the "adoption support" paperwork takes 6 to 8 weeks to process and was only sent the first week of October. Maybe someone is trying to push it through before the state implements more budget cuts.

Walk Like a Gymnast

Lala had her first gymnastics class this evening. She was pretty cautious at first, especially since I had to take the cuddler to the play area while she was in the class. Momma out of sight with new people is not usually cool. She handled it pretty well. By the end of the class she knew how to “walk like a gymnast”, do a “ta-da” and hang from the uneven bars.

By the time the first 15 minutes had passed she was skipping and jumping around. She’s probably the youngest in the class and this is the first solo class that she’s done, so there was a bit of corraling going on by the teachers. She jumped the queue several times to get to the forward roll station and uneven bars, and attempted to bypass the tunnel crawl every single time. She knows her mind.

She asked to go again tomorrow.

Busy/Growth Spurt

It’s been a little crazy around here – school started, we had family and guest visiting and it was a local holiday! It feels like them minute I get up in the morning, I’m running and by the time the kids are in bed, I just collapse. It’s probably a mixture of getting used to a new schedule, kids who are fully into the toddler-active years and a very busy work schedule.

I’m also having to add more runs to the grocery store to this schedule. The cuddler must be hitting another growth spurt because he is going through milk like crazy and eating all of his dinner, plus multiple snacks. I guess that will mean more clothes shopping too! The other day I spent a shocking amount at Costco to stock up before school started, and the cuddler has already decimated the raisin and craisin supply – I’m beginning to be scared for the teenage years. We may have to move to the country and get a cow.

School Starts

tomorrow! I expect that I will be posting little (or rather short posts) during this first month. Getting into a new schedule always takes a bit and this year I’ll be teaching a new (to me) class as well having a new principal, with lots of new directives. I’m already exhausted.

I finally met with my lawyer last week to finally go over the finalization. They are now saying finalization in November (but no new fingerprints… not sure I believe it). I’m just hoping that it will be done before 2011, as I had not planned on renewing my foster license.

Forgot to mention…

I have my ‘disclosure’ meeting (I’m sure I’ll learn tons… not) tomorrow. Additional paperwork has been completed – the adoption support paperwork is supposed to take around 6 weeks, which puts me in the middle of October, but they may speed it up in order complete the adoption sooner. Lord, I hope so… it’s been such a long journey.

Fall

School starts next week and I’m desperately attempting to get everything I planned to do this summer completed before Wednesday. It’s not going to happen, but I’m giving it a try. My new bathroom is nearly finished – the part where I pay someone to do work is done. My part, not so much. Still deciding on paint color and hopefully, my father will be installing a new light fixture after labor day. He’ll appreciate that more than removing the moss from the roof. (I found out this weekend, that moss does actually have an impact on your roof, Dad… it can negate your home insurance! Or even cause them to cancel the policy! Just sayin’)

At the end of August, I always start thinking about the Augusts of my childhood. We would head up to my grandmother’s house and a flurry of activity would begin. There would be hours of canning. Pots boiling on the stove, jars spread out on every surface and steam filling the house. I’m pretty sure that everyone who could found things that had to be done outside and took all day to do them. Canning is hot, sweaty and sticky work. Of course, I was pretty much relegated to watching from a safe distance – small children and boiling water do not mix well… but I always watched to see the peach vs. pear ratio. I did not like canned peaches, but I’d eat the pears three times a day! More pear jars, meant more pears over the winter. Even better was the year my grandmother flavored/colored them! Yellow food coloring was added to those with vanilla flavoring, green food coloring was added with sprigs of mint and red food coloring to those with cinnamon. They were sooooo good!

After the canning was finished (or following weekends), the sewing started. The dining room table was cleared and my mother started laying out the patterns and cutting. As they were completed, my grandmother started sewing and my aunt did the finishing. Dresses, pants and shirts got stacked up to be ironed before being packed for the ride home. To keep me occupied, I got the scraps of fabric to play with and sewing into little purses and blankets. Can you imagine giving a four/five year old a needle and thread to play with? And yet, I never sewed my hands together or swallowed the needle.

At our family reunion, I mentioned to my grandmother my plan to pick up a box of peaches on my way home to can. She laughed and said she was so glad not to have to do that anymore! Although, the first year she didn’t can, she worried for several weeks about not having enough food to get through the winter. Not seeing those shelves full of full jars made sparked a bit of anxiety. Old habits die hard, I guess.

Funny Emails

My regular email address is pretty plain. It’s my “professional” address, as well as one for relatives because it’s easy to remember. Unfortunately, it also means that I get a lot of wrong person emails. At one point I was getting private emails from a dentist, a credit card company and someone’s boss. How crazy is that?

Last year, I started getting emails from a dance school asking me to pay for my daughter’s registration. Ordinarily, I would have put that down to another wrong email… BUT, it mentioned Lala’s real name and I had been looking into dancing schools. Had I accidentally clicked a wrong button and registered? What was going on?  And why was Lala registered in a class for 6 year olds?

You guessed it. Someone with the exact same name as me has a 6 year old daughter with the same name as Lala. And then it hit me. I had named Lala with a very common first name and a very common surnames. (Honestly, I once found a mass produced birthday card with my father’s name printed on it – the fruit did not fall far from the tree). It is easy to spell and she will never have to correct anyone on the pronunciation or spelling, but she will probably have to write down every account or id number she will ever have because there will be hundreds of others. Sorry kid, but it’s a family name. Family is more important than numbers.

Why was I reminded of this? I got an email today asking me if I wanted to change Lala’s dress order size to the size she currently wears. The thoughts started running through my mind again. Did I order a dress and not remember it? Why did I order it a size larger? What the heck is a "’minky’?

And yes, it was the dancing school again. I just hope the dentist doesn’t start up again… he was such a spammer!

Camping

We survived our camping trip. Ok, it was more fun than that. And, although it seemed like a very long weekend, it wasn’t a very long experience. I think the thing that made it seem long was the fact that Lala and the cuddler cannot go to sleep in the same room or if I am in the room. It’s just way too distracting. Eventually, I had to put them in their car seats and sit on the ground out of sight and wait for them to finally crash at around 10pm. And they were up before 7am every morning.

On the plus side, there was not so much eating rocks, dirt and pine cones this year. The kids were also much more interested in the wildlife this year too. Lala announced “Mommy! A chipmunk” every time she heard one chattering in a tree. Sadly, she was not so good at actually spotting them. They are pretty quick. We also saw lots of cows – the camp ground is surrounded by open range land, so the drive can reveal a cow/calf around any corner – even a calf drinking from it’s mommy (lots of questions). Grasshoppers were also a bit hit. We don’t have them at home (too wet), so this was the first time the kids really got into watching them hop.

Every year we go on this camping trip and it’s becoming a touchstone for us. I remember the year when Lala wasn’t walking and she went into the lake for the first time. Last year, we again spent much of our time inside the eating hall because the cuddler was in his “I’ll eat anything” stage, and couldn’t be watched closely enough to keep him from poisoning himself. Yes, he’s that good. Still is.

This year, they played in the lake, went for long walks, played in the dirt and enjoyed looking for animals. Who knows what will happen next year? Will they be ready for s’mores? (I just realized that the cuddler will be three next year… now, I’m scared. Three is way worse than two.)

In adoption news, well, there is none. Today we have another meeting with the social worker who has a nebulous job description, so maybe I will get more info at that time?

End of the Summer

It’s the time of the year where I start to get a little antsy. August will soon be over and crush of school will be here momentarily. All of the projects I planned to do this summer that haven’t been completed are now competing with projects I need to get done before school starts… all the books to read, planning, shopping for supplies, etc.

Still have to:

• mow lawn – again
• paint the cuddler’s room; having much difficulty find an appropriate grass green
• paint kitchen
• organize kitchen/pantry; it seems like I am constantly fiddling around trying to figure out where to put stuff and ending up with piles and stacks everywhere.
• have a garage sale!

Lala loved her “princess cake”. It didn’t turn out as well as I wanted, but she was happy with it and it tasted very good. That would be the important part, right? She was also showered with gifts and money. How can you go wrong with that?

Birthday Post

Today I turned 41. I am officially middle aged.

I don’t feel middle aged though. In fact, I had a conversation with a friend today who will turn 41 next month – neither of us feels “old”. In fact, we both feel like we could easily be heading off to college as freshmen next week. Although my body feels old at times, my spirit still feels like it’s 19. I wonder if I will ever feel my age? When I’m 70, will I still be thinking that hiking up Strawberry Mountain is no big deal?

I do have to admit that I have started thinking about my health. Let’s face it, I will be 57 when the cuddler graduates from high school. Over 60 when he graduates from college and I want to enjoy it. Or at least, be able to walk up the bleachers to watch the graduation. In the vein, I’ve been trying to go to the Y on a regular basis to ride a bike, it’s the only thing I can do with my slowly healing feet. I should try lap swimming sometime, but I’m just to afraid I’ll run into one of my students while in a bathing suit. Remember how weird it was to see your teacher outside of school? Now imagine him/her in a bathing suit. Tres weird.

Meanwhile, there are only a few short weeks until school starts. In fact, this week I’ll heading back for a few hours to help out a colleague. I’ve been trying to get everything I wanted to accomplish this summer completed quickly… not everything is working out in my favor, but then again, maybe there is a reason for that? Yeah. When you get old, apparently you start to believe there is some unseen force controlling the reasons why contractors never call you back. My plan is to complete painting the cuddler’s room (or at least the top half of it) tomorrow and figure out how to organize the kitchen for the six millionth time.

Happy News!

The cuddler is legally free! We’re on the final steps!

Big Boy Bed

My baby is no longer a baby. It’s official.

Last night he spent his first night in his new big boy bed. I gathered all the needed components once the mattress arrived and put it together myself, put the new sheets on and went to pick up the kids from daycare. They came home and both immediately tried to jump on it. Sadly, it doesn’t have a box spring like Lala’s bed, so it wasn’t very bouncy. Part of the plan, tricky mommy… the cuddler would have definitely attempted to break his neck several times if he could jump on it.

After he was asleep, I went to check on him… you know, to make sure he actually was in the bed and not sleeping on the floor next to the door waiting for me to rescue him from having to go to bed… and at first I couldn’t find him! Finally, I spied him asleep at the very end, sleeping horizontally. He took up maybe an eighth of the space. He looked so big in the crib and now he’s back to looking like a little guy. I’m sure he’s just a blink away from having feet hanging over the end.

Summer Time

Summer has finally arrived. It's finally warmed up to normal temperatures... I know most of the country is wilting in 100+degree heat, but we didn't get above 70 until mid July.

We spent a week at my parents house, and the kids learned all about heat. It was very HOT! But they also thoroughly enjoyed themselves. They wadded in the crick for the first time (cold! but welcome in the heat) and would have spent all weekend in the children's art area in the park if they could have. Plus Grandma made yummy blackberry-lemonade. They guzzled it down like nothing I've seen before. Make one cup and less than a minute later, they'd be asking for another!

Last week, I attended a conference all week long (long days!), so my brother came down to take the kids to daycare and watch them until I got home. Although he was a good enough sport not to mention anything, apparently they gave him quite a run for his money when he was trying to drop them off in the mornings. At one point, Lala refused to get out of car and one of the workers came out to ask if he needed help. As typical for him, he just calmly replied, "no thanks. She'll get out eventually." He is amazingly calm.

With all the upheaval, the kids have been a little out of sorts. Or at least the cuddler has. Actually, I haven't decided if his behavior changes are due to the lack of routine or if he's just fully into his twos. He's become incredibly independent to the tantrum throwing extreme if anyone tries to interfere. He's also learned how to crawl out of his crib, so he's no longer napping. I can't keep him down. This morning at about 3am, I was awaked to "Hi Mommy!" next to my head. And I though this getting up the middle of the night stuff was over when he turned one.

Alternate Uses

Today, the cuddler had his two year check up. He is such a big boy now! It was also the first real visit with our family physician, since he’s on track for adoption. We talked about his development, etc. and she said he is right on track and not worried about fetal drug exposure. Down the road that could change, but for now he’s good to go.  The doctor also good look into his thought processes and indicated no issues with THAT, oh boy! He is one smart little cookie, exploring the world.

While all the conversing/observing was going, the cuddler was all over the place. Lots to explore in a doctors office! Drawers to open, little stools on wheels… and lights to switch on and off. Our family physician is a “family doctor” and the exam rooms are set up for all sorts exams. Including lady exams. The cuddler quickly discovered the little light doctors use to get a good look-see up thar and the switch to turn it off an on. He spent a good three minutes fully entertained by flipping the switch and seeing the light go on and then turning it off. Entertainment at it’s highest for two year old! Who knew that thing would come in so handy at wellness check for a two year boy? Probably not the manufacturer, but think of the untapped market!

Well, what do you say?

This morning my phone rang around 8.30am. I thought it was my mother calling to let me know that she was leaving for the drive here, but the caller-ID showed a strange local number. It was the cuddler’s BM. She was calling to ask if her cell phone had been placed in the cuddler’s sack and brought to me after his last visit.

After reading about the BM experiences of others, I’m always a bit leery of contact. What if I say the wrong thing? Reveal something I shouldn’t… etc. It’s a difficult place to stand, but I guess it’s something I have to do for the cuddler. We both live in the same small town/rural area. As I mentioned before, it would be very simple to find out any information she wanted to know about me – we have acquaintances in common – and she probably does have a lot of information about me already.

Once I ascertained that I didn’t have her cell phone, she asked me if I was going to adopt her son. Since that’s been the plan all along, I was a little confused as to why she was asking, but I guess in her position perhaps she feels like she may not have gotten the full truth. We also talked about the open adoption agreement and hopefully she will sign off on everything next week.

We talked a lot about the cuddler and I got some information about his biological father. Apparently, the cuddler’s advanced sports skills are genetic, descended from a high school sports star who was pretty much great at every sport. My parents will happy to know that he’ll probably be a natural fisherman once he’s old enough to be safe around fish hooks. (I won’t be taking him as my own abiding fear of fishhooks and boat propellers will probably push me over the OCD edge. Yes, I’m terrified of boat propellers.) I probably should have asked about hereditary medical conditions, but I guess they’ll be time enough to ask later.

It’s hard to define how this relationship will work. I wonder if it will ever be comfortable or morph into something completely unknown. Right now, it’s just odd.

Want to freak out?

Estimate how much money you will need to send your kid to college here.  Apparently to send my two kids to college I will approximately $175,000 for an in-state, state university.

And I though day care was expensive.

Walk Away

must do something productive! must stop the obsession over all these wires stuck to me… who would have thought that 24 hours with a holter monitor would drive me nuts? I, seriously, believe I am having an allergic reaction to the sticky glue on these things holding the wires to my chest. 20 minutes left and not a moment too soon!

Confession

This morning I had to finally admit to myself… I am not a good cook. I’m not quite down to ranking with the worst cooks in America, but there are definitely days I feel close.

Case in point, I cannot produce a competent pancake. You would think that this a rather simplistic item… but mine are always bland or burned. My casseroles are bland. My breads are heavy and doughy. I cannot make good mashed potatoes. Mashed potatoes! How does that even happen? It’s just potatoes!

The only things I can really do well are baked chicken (put chicken in pan. bake.) and gravy. I do make a good gravy, but that’s really it.

In addition the my June habit of clutter-busting, I’m going to start cooking stuff. Yup, that’s my plan. Cook stuff. Hopefully, the kids won’t starve. Lately there’s been a few dinners where the only thing eaten were Kix and canned green beans. Suggestions to try out?

I’m starting out in one of my favorite cookbooks. “Stories and Recipes of the Great Depression of the 1930’s” by Janet Van Amber Paske. There are several volumes, but the first one remains my favorite. Some the recipes aren’t ones I’ll be using any time like a boiled hog’s head or Wisconsin Gravy (which I can make!), or fried Squirrels. But others are pretty frugal and tasty.

Tonight we’re having Turkey Loaf. I’ll let you know how it turns out.

To Do List @ Home

• Clean kids rooms – clear out the cuddler’s rooms in preparation for painting
• Clear out bathroom in prep for re-do (YIPEEE!)
• Mop
• Clutter piles
• laundry
• organize book shelves
• hang out deck lights

Single Mom Nightmare

When you’re a single mom, the single most thing that is the most important is having a support system.  Although I have I one, I never really put it into action. Never had the reason to…

Last night I went out with some work colleagues. In the middle of listening to a story being told by a friend, I sudden started feeling really ill; dizzy, hot, sweaty and all kinds of weird. I tried to go outside for some fresh air and collapsed. Couldn’t get back up. Paramedics called, etc. After drinking what I’m sure will be a $2000 glass of water it was decided that for some strange reason my blood pressure dropped. To point where no one could get a pulse. I’m sure if I hadn’t been actually talking people would have really freaked out. But I was talking and thinking about how embarrassing this was… I’m sure that many people thought I’d been, umm… over-served. I hadn’t, but someone collapses at a bar, what would you think?

Meanwhile, a friend was gathering my belongings and another was paying my bill. A third was heading to my house to ask the babysitter to stay late or take over herself until I was declared OK. The friend who gathered my belongings stayed with me in the hospital for three hours while I was poked, prodded and poked again. (Apparently, when you have really low blood pressure, your veins are nearly inaccessible). Her husband collected us at 2am and drove me back to my car. I, literally, worried about nothing because I knew they had all taken care of it.  These weren’t people on my so called “support system”, but they stepped up like an well oiled machine. I can’t even think of how to express my gratitude.

I guess I’ll never be moving again. No matter how much it rains.

*Still no idea why my blood pressure suddenly dropped. It’s always pretty low, so it’s not like I was totally shocked, I’ve just never collapsed in public on the floor before. After finding my heart beat and 15 attempted blood draws I was officially declared weird and told to follow up with my Dr.*

Whirlwind

I don't know why this year seems to be getting away from me... but it totally is. Yesterday I realized that I had not even started the order for next year's supplies! And I'm going to have to bag elections for the club I'm advisor for - I just don't have time for it and no one else seems to really care at this point.

 

Yesterday was the basically the last day for the seniors and I'm already bummed. It's sad to think that these kids I've watched growing up for the past four years will gone and for most, I'll never see again. I can't remember if I was this sad last year? I think I was more consumed with other things and just relieved that the end was near.

 

One more week to go and then I'm free to pee when I want, read when I want, go to the gym (stop laughing - I'm going to get a trainer. maybe.), build a new curriculum. again. If only the sun would shine for more than a day.

Summer Fun

With only a few more days until summer, I'm already gone in my mind... Grading? what is that anyways?

Just a quick list of things I've already started planning:

• Story Time @ the library
• swimming
• gardening
• making play dough
• visit poppa
• ride a merry-go-round
• wash the car
• go to the beach
• water park
• 4th of July Party
• make bubbles
• sun prints
• finger painting
• sidewalk chalk
• sprinkler
• county fair
• famers market
• camping
• dig for dinosaurs
• birthday parties!!
• pick strawberries
• hiking
• play dates
• mini golf
• outside movies
• play with Uncle James
• Fun with cousins

It's quite a list! and doesn't include all the things currently on MY list. But we are going to attempt to get all of them done and have a rollicking good time. Now if only the weather would cooperate. It looks nice out there, but it's barely sixty with a strong cold sea breeze. Plus it keeps raining every other hour... not the best summer preview.

6 Month Visit

In Lala’s adoption agreement, she is to have two visits a year with her BM. Which should take place sometime this month… so far, no one has contacted me to set this up.

Realistically, the adoption agreement isn’t in place yet as the adoption has not actually taken place. Lala’s file is still sitting somewhere on some desk. Her CW has moved to a new job and I’m not really sure who is responsible at this point, but I thought I’d wait until the end of the month before I start making noises.

I have to ask myself, has BM moved on as well? Is she unable to contact anyone? Did she loose my mailing address? Does she not want to see Lala? Part of me feels relief and part of me feels really, really sad. What is the appropriate reaction?

Playing Catch-Up

 

  For the past two weeks it’s been warm and sunny… which means we’ve been soaking up as much sunshine as we can! You never know when it’s going to start raining again. Case in point, I had to rush home after work to batten down the hatches because of a wind storm coming in… gale force winds possibly. A couple of years ago, we had a heck of storm and were off of work for a week due to power outages. Luckily, the power outages were not at my home, but still affecting enough to keep me on a mini-vacation. Here’s to hoping…

We’re now into bedtime issues. Lala will not stay in bed for love or money. Every night, it’s the same thing and it’s driving me crazy. FWIW, Super*Nanny does not work… for Lala, it’s attention and any attention is good attention. The cuddler should be moving soon to a regular bed, but I’m nervous about putting him in to a bed from which he can crawl out. To non-go-to-bedders at once will drive me nuts.

Lala has also almost totally regressed on potty training. We’re going to go back to candy’s for treats. So far, the offer has only resulted in wet pants. She did so well, until the daycare started taking her to the toilet at school. She was not cool with that at all. All of a sudden she started saying things like “I tried”, which I never did with her. I just took the path of ‘do it if you want’ and rewarded the good. Hopefully, we can get back on track soon, because I’m tired of diapers.

Meanwhile, work is a whirlwind. Stress, stress, stress. Meeting, meeting, meeting. ick.

Man, I can’t wait until summer.

Happy Mother's Day!

Especially to those who are celebrating for the first time!

I hope it is a wonderful day for everyone!

Photos!

Sorry, none of the kidlets yet. Lala's file has FINALLY made to an adoption worker and the cuddler's caseworker is making noises like his will soon be moving too! We may be having a double adoption party!

These photos are of what is going on around here:

Stawberries blooming

garden planted

peas sprouting

laundry hangin the sun

Wild Roses blooming... they smell soooooo goood!

Rhody starting to bloom

There are few things left to do - get the cherry tomato plant in a pot, get some flowers in, finish the front garden (which is currently dead boring), and, of course, battle more weeds. At some point in time, a previous owner/tenant planted morning glories. They have now infested the entire yard and are impossible to get rid of... NEVER plant these things. I've seen more blackberries bushes trying to come up and the dandelions are always trying to take over the yard. I need to find some child/pet safe weed killer.

Oh yes, in my continuing saga of bodily functions... Lala has made a step backwards and refuses to "pee-pee" at school. At all, some days. I have no idea how to combat that. The cuddler had decided that now is the time for him to start potty training. Two at once... fun! Last night he walked into the bathroom and told me "I have to pee-pee". I played along, thinking it was his usual game of monkey-see, monkey-do. Instead he shocked me by sitting down and pee-ing in the potty. It's not a daily occurrance, but he's getting there.

Cute Moment #562

Hearing a two year old singing "all dah single ladies... Ohhhh, oh"
while driving down the highway.

Still haven't figured out where she heard the song... We're more the
Elmo song kind of people.

Sooooooo Cute!

Things around here are humming along. Not perfectly, but healthy meals are served, clean clothes are worn by reasonably clean children. It could stop raining for more than two minutes and I could use another two hours in the day... but otherwise, whatevs.

The cuddler is so cute. OMG! Even his temper-tantrums are too cute for words. Also, mostly silent for a change. He simply falls to the floor and lays there face down, refusing to move. Then I pick him and carry him to where he needs to be. Yah, he's having a bit of trouble with transitions. Doesn't want to go to daycare, but once there, does not want to go home.

Lala finally (!!!) has enough hair for little pig-tails. I'm in love with pig-tails and she is so cute with them. I wish I could post photos, but with the face blacked out, the hair isn't so cute. Just take my word for it.

Nothing new on the adoption front. Right now, I'm going with the "no news is good news" theory and hoping for the best.

Can't Say It Any Better

Than what she's said.

Cleaning Schedule

Oh... I am so not on a schedule.

I think I have achieved "slug-hood"... I blame it on the Easter/Potty-training candy that hung around until I finally threw it away. After I ate all the good stuff, of course. Any weight I had lost previously jumped back on and I still feel like I'm coming out of a sugar coma. I'm not really (it is amazing how much sugar my body can actually process...), but it feels like it.

I need to find an organizational plan and stick to it! Or just some way to get organized, so I don't always feel two-steps behind. Or not fall asleep at 9pm... which ever comes first. Maybe if I just keep turning over a new leaf to become the next Martha Stewart, eventually it will become a habit.

That's what I want for my kids, you know. A Martha Stewart type childhood, without the bitchy screaming demands for perfection. Clean house, matching outfits (not kids matching... the shirt matching the pants kind of thing), fantastic family dinners, possibly with bird singing sweetly in the air. OK... maybe not the birds.

My Truth

By now you have probably heard/seen the news story regarding the disrupted adoption of the little boy who was sent back to Russia, alone. We may never know what really went on behind the scenes in this situation, but the fact remains that this was the outcome and it was not good. I cannot imagine any situation that would cause me to choose to abandon my child, but then again, I also cannot imagine living with a child with RAD.

In response to the tragic situation surrounding Artyem Saviliev,  The Joint Council on International Children's Services is asking people to take part in We Are The Truth – an adoption blogger day: To ensure the world knows about every successful adoption, on Thursday, April 15, 2010 blog about your adoption or the adoption of someone you know. It doesn't matter if your adoption is with Russia, domestic or otherwise international. Let the world know your truth!

For the past week, the cuddler has woken up around 10 pm and just wants to cuddle on the couch for a few minutes while going back to sleep. It's so quiet and peaceful then, with the cutest little guy sitting on the my lap in perfect contentment. Lala, on the other hand, is a morning snuggler. She wants to get up and snuggle with mommy for a few minutes before the cuddler gets up. Again, it's so quiet and peaceful, just listening to her breathing as she listens to my heart beating. Those are the times I live for.

In the summer of 2006, I decided to look into adoption. I was about to turn 36 and, although I wanted to be a mom, I did not want to win the award for "oldest mom" at my child's high school graduation. (my stepmother nearly won youngest at my high school graduation, but there was actually a bio mom who was younger! It was an award I also did not want to win, but by the time my graduation rolled around, not having a kid, I was apparently too old.)

How I ended up in the foster-to-adopt program in the state of WA is a long and convoluted story, but it is where I ended up and where I met my children. Well, met isn't really the word... it was more like, "will you take this kid? Dunno for how long. His/Her name is.... and birth date is...."  That was the sum total of the information I was given before I picked each one up.

When Lala came home, I was a bit stunned. She was smiley and giggly and so what I! But it was hard to believe that there was an actual baby in my house and no one was coming back in a few hours to pick her up. It was a daze. For days I had this foolish grin on my face that said "can you believe this?!?!"  I recognize that look on the faces of other adoptive moms I know... the amazement of what I've been given still stuns me at times. (When she left, it was another daze. Not a happy one.) When the cuddler came home, it wasn't a daze, it was giddiness. Although I had been assured that he would only stay two weeks max, that first night I looked at him and said "I know you are the one staying. I'll never to get use all those dresses in the closet because you're the one, aren't you." Then he pee'd on me. Obviously it was love at first sight.

Then Lala came back into our lives and I seriously considered buying a lottery ticket. Obviously it was my lucky day. Who doesn't want a house filled with baby-dolls and trucks?

I accept that fact that there are things I will never know about either of them. And that the future is uncertain. Will either develop attachment issues? Will they develop more serious medical issues? Will either have a learning disability? FASD? Will they be angry at me for "taking them away from their birth family"? I don't know. I can't tell what lies ahead. I can only tell you that I will be there if it does and I will figure out a way to deal with it. We just will.

At this point, I will be adopting Lala (whenever the paperwork moves those last 15 feet) and the process to adopt the cuddler is starting. If you had told me in 2006 that I would have two children, a boy and girl, approx. 11 months apart I probably would have laughed and really, really hoped you were right. They are the dream I held on to for so long. Every smile, every laugh, every scream, every whine "I want", and "mommy!" is part of the dream. Thank God I get to live it.

so much for posting every day

It's just been busy. Not super busy, just kid busy.

Spring break had nasty weather and I was sick most of the time. Last week just flew by, probably because I was waiting for some nice weather... the kids were finally able to play in the sandbox! Albeit, close to freezing outside.

This weekend Lala had her first swim lesson. She is the largest child in the class and I think pretty advanced. Of course, compared to a 9 month old, anything she does looks "advanced". The cuddler is starting to suspect that something fun is going on while he is in the childcare center during the swim lessons and is not thrilled about missing it.

Lala also put her face in the water without much coaxing - she may be taking after Uncle James after all. Speaking of which, the cuddler must have gotten pointers from Uncle James the last time he visited, as he is now running and hiding when told he needs to go somewhere he doesn't want to... at least he hasn't figured out how to open the front door yet.

Meeting with the cuddler's CW tonight, so will probably have an update on his situation. I'm hearing rumors that something is afoot.

Easter Eve

Yeah… I’m a little excited about the coming of the Easter Bunny. You see, at Christmas, both kids got so many presents from ALL family members, it was pretty much overload on everything. For a month, every one they saw brought some sort of present! It’s not supposed to be about the presents, but when you’re sitting there looking at three “Chuck The Truck”s, it’s a little hard to get excited about anything.

Finding the eggs… now that’s surprising and fun! And there is chocolate inside – real chocolate, not something to use on the chalkboard (Lala is still mixing up chocolate and chalk. She told me this morning that the cuddler was drawing on her chocolate… which was a bit confusing and I did think that perhaps someone had found the eggs before Easter.)

I’m off to hide the eggs.

April Fool's

Ha! The joke is on me... I didn't post yesterday. Once again, I need to learn the lesson of "do not take Nyq*uil during the day". Apparently, I'm stupid when it comes to Ny*quil.  I am coughing less while downing it though.

The last day of spring break. I finished cleaning out the oven, put the Easter Baskets together and filled all the eggs. The kids and I dyed eggs - or rather, I dyed the eggs while they watched. I was pretty sure that the cuddler would try to drink the dye and Lala did get to help. Afterwards they actually split a hard boiled egg. The first one either actually ate without making a face and tossing it on the floor. The key to getting your children to eat healthy is to dye the food unusual colors. I wonder if you can dye broccoli purple?

It's a family filled weekend and General Conference, so we'll be busy, busy, busy. And we're on storm watch. Maybe something interesting to write about when I'm not on N*yquil.

Last Day of the Month

Well, posting every day didn’t happen completely, but this will be my 18th post for the month. That is a new record on Hedgetoad Baby! I’m fairly proud of that, and I’ll be trying again for the month of April. Can I do all 30 days? Or at least 19? I’m guessing it will depend on how exciting my life is during that month.

Also, we will have to call the exercise plan a failure. Hmm… I don’t seem to be doing so well on this 12 new habits for the year. One for three is not a good record. April’s challenge is organization. With spring break, you would think I have plenty of time to begin, but as the master of procrastination I may be in trouble. In fact, at this moment I should be packing up my car for a drive to the big city. I have not taken a shower or found the clothing I want to take to the children’s consignment shop. I’ve been procrastinating on the computer. Sad, but true.

In the meantime, we’re still waiting for Lala’s file to be moved to an adoption worker. Everything is ready, but apparently there’s been a freeze on file movement for at least the first half of this month. I’m guessing that I will soon be getting yet another “plan of action” stating that the state expects that the adoption will be finalized in October. It’s worrisome that things are not finalized, because things can change at the drop of a hat… especially with staff changes. We’ve all heard the horror stories about bad case workers, ill-informed judges, lost paperwork and other snafus with tragic results. I’ve always known it’s a possibility, but the longer we go, the more it preys on my mind. Hopefully, things will start to get moving in April. This is also the month that the cuddler’s hearing begins. Or, rather, is scheduled to begin. The one thing you can count on in our court system is delay.

Quickie Update

• Everyone seems to talking about Lala’s recent opening up. At school she is talking much more and refers to all of the staff members by name. She even says goodbye to them when we leave. This is the same daycare she’s been going to since she was 5 months old (with an 8 month break to another center, same owner) and it’s only within the last four months that she’s ever talked about it or mentioned anyone by name. She’s doing the same thing at the nursery in church and I’ve noticed that she will say “hello” to strangers at the store who smile at her – but only if she’s near me. Is it just a maturity thing or settling in thing?
• Lala has started “reading” her favorite book. It’s about a spider who eats a fly. I’m glad she’s starting to “read”, but really… the topic is a little kooky.
• The cuddler is getting another tooth. At least I’m hoping that’s why his nose is running again! and he’s cranky all the time. I saw part of the new tooth yesterday as he was screaming at me to let him into the kitchen while I was cooking. Sadly, he is NOT kitchen safe and able to reach up and feel around for the burners. Which he’s tried to do on several occasions.
• The s*a*n*d*b*o*x arrived today. Luckily, it’s somewhat rainy, so I can leave it out in the back yard and not worry about it’s discovery. Hopefully, tomorrow I will be able to pick up some play sand that won’t make me believe I’m giving them cancer.
• It’s spring break and I’m planning on doing spring cleaning. How fun. I may actually catch up on laundry. Possibly match up all the lone socks roaming around the house. And I am definitely checking out a “steam mop”… whatever that is. I’ve heard they are awesome, but are they really ok with dog hair? Anyone?
• Did I mention that it's been storming all night and all day today? What happened to going out like a lamb?

The Cutest Thing

As a teacher, I'm big on raising your hand and doing the instant poll. It's an instructional technique - seriously. Not just a way to ask to go to the toilets (although, it is probably the most common use in my classes, especially on grammar days).

 

Of course, I taught both kids to do the instant poll. "Who wants macaroni and cheese for lunch - raise your hand" Two hands shoot up in the air. "Who wants broccoli in it?" One hand goes up, the other other starts wavering. Raising your hand in the instant poll is super fun, but broccoli is not. Lala often finds herself in such quandaries. The cuddler will still do and eat anything set before him.

 

Yesterday in the car we did the instant poll. "Who loves Keavy?" Every hand shoots up in the air and grins all around. "Who loves the cuddler" Hands still waving - although the cuddler did put his down; did he really understand that he was subject of the question? The kid is so smart! "Who loves Lala?" Lala starts giggling and the cuddler's hand shoots back up in air. "Who loves momma?" Both all hands waving in the air and everyone laughing out loud... I really wish I could have filmed it. It was the cutest thing ever.

Beautiful Day

Well, it seems that I will spending at least part of tomorrow “child-proofing” the back yard and trying to figure out a place to store more outdoor toys.

The cuddler was attempting to move bricks this afternoon. For some reason, he felt that they all needed to be in the same place. He’s very big into organization and putting things in their place. I’m hoping that this means a clean teen-age room… but back to the bricks. I guess he just felt that there wasn’t enough to play with while Mommy was rebuilding the garden fence. He found some bricks in one area and then spied some stacked in another area. I was surprised that he was able to pick them up, but he seemed rather determined to stack them all together. At least he did while I was dragging him away to find something a little more suitable for playing.

The Easter Bunny will be bringing a s*a*n*d*b*o*x to play in a couple of weeks. Shhhh! don’t tell.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Today, I'll be in the midst of WASL madness and general slacker-tude. But I'll be thinking of my all my NYC friends and the wonderful times we had on St. Paddy's Day. It truly was my favorite holiday - it always lived up to it's reputation and expectations. If I was 10 years younger, I'd be on plane, instead of reading instructions and hunting down errant cell phones. I hope you are still wearing green to avoid being pinched and heading out to have a nice Irish lunch or dinner.

Meeting with CW

Nothing really new to report with the cuddler. Everything is progressing at the usual snails pace.

It was mentioned that "no relatives have been found"... which was a little concerning. I thought that all the alternatives had been exhausted already, but I guess not. It would be so hard on him to leave now. I'm the only "momma" he knows.

In the meantime, the cuddler was showing off his pretend play skills - he's so advanced for his age. Obviously, he's a genius. And super cute.

Daylight savings is kicking our butt. Both kids were sleeping hard when I went to wake them (in the dark, THANK YOU MR. BUSH - hope you are enjoying your long golf game). I'm hopeful that tomorrow will be better.

Lala has used the potty every morning for 5 days in a row! It's becoming quite a habit. Now if we can just get it to become a habit at other times of day. Of course, mommy probably could be a more helpful reminder-er.

The weather today was gorgeous! 60 degrees and sunny. Slight breeze, but not the usual climb-up-your-spine chilly.

Three more months until summer...

How do you tell if your child is a prodigy?

yeah... I'm that kind of parent. Is it crazy that I've already talked to a piano teacher about taking lessons?

Every Sunday at church, Lala loves to "direct" the music. She watches the music leader with fascination and tries to copy his hand movements. She's also fascinated with the piano. This morning we had to listen to someone playing after church for about ten minutes before we could leave... under duress.

Sadly, there is no suzuki for the piano; at least not around here and I was told that she needs to be able to identify the alphabet before starting. So we'll have another year or two of listening to other playing before she starts. It'll give me time to save up for a piano and find a place to put it. I may need to expand the house.

I'm a Mom

We did it! This morning, we got loaded up and headed out the Y. The cuddler went into the kidlet's rooms and Lala and I went swimming. It's all part of the big plan to start one the activity treadmill. I felt like such a mom! Sadly, the town I live in is pretty much stuck in 1972, so there are few activites for littles and almost none offtered on the weekends or evenings. If you can't make it Tuesday at 10am, you are S.O.L. I have to make it up as we go along and we're almost always solo because those activities are where you meet other moms... which we can't go to.

Lala begins swim lessons next month (the only thing offered on weekends in her age group). She is not good with change (and who can blame her?), so we're spending Saturday mornings swimming during "family swim"  to get used to the "big bathtub". It took about 15 minutes to get to the point of standing in ankle deep water. Luckily, there is a walk in area and a very shallow area for littles. Twenty minutes we were "swooshin" around the little river-like play canal. We tried to play motorboat, but the concept was a little confusing. Maybe next week.

The cuddler had a fantastic time in the kidlet area and Lala was a bit jealous. Next week I may try to squeeze in a work out and let her play for a bit. It may be pushing the time limit for the cuddler though.

PS - Lala used the big potty to pee! The first time outside of the house! We're on a roll!

Ack!

This morning was an interesting one. Yup, I can now write that brushing your teeth with eyeshadow is not, in fact, toxic, just dusty.

I can also pretty much guarantee that this may become the most g**gl*d post on my site, because this fact is not listed anywhere that easily brought up in your results. I know. I tried. Then I became very worried that the reason I couldn't find it was that everyone else just called 9*1 instead of searching the internet.

Now you know.

crafty? Not so much...

I have so many crafty projects simmering on the back burner right now, I have to remind myself that some things are just better not started. Like having chickens... I can't even find time to put my desk back together! Where will I find time to build a chicken coop?

Plus it's started raining again and probably won't stop until May.

As a parent of two small children (and how good is it to be able to say that with the ring of truth?!?), I just have to accept that there are some things that I just can't do, no matter how much I want to it and other things will are going to take a lot longer. I need at least 6 hours of sleep a night and the dishes and laundry must be kept up with. Food, given to the children at regular intervals is very important. Taming the mountains of crap in my bedroom - not so important. Painting the cuddler's room in a normal color - probably not going to happen until summer, if ever. He's 19 months old, he really doesn't care about his wall color. He cares about easy access to the dog food and his blankie.

Hopefully, my room will be put back together again soon and Lala's skirt will be finished before the end of the month. Those are the two projects for the month. Perhaps I will get to move on to paining the dressers or at least switching them so that the cuddler won't be able to throw all of his clean clothes around his room and (a big and!) I'll be able to shift some things from his closet so his clothes can go in there.

Yah. It's all talk right now. But maybe one day...

PS. Still avoiding the treadmill. Must figure out motivation.

!2 Things in !2 Months Update

I think I need a 12 step program.  This month I have managed to not exercise even once. In 10 days, nada.

That's not even normal for me! Am I just too busy? Or has the spring-like weather turned me into a slug? Is it because that's my goal for this month? Seriously... I need to push through this some how!

Check it off the list

The weather held. I prayed all afternoon that it wouldn't rain and for once it didn't. Sometimes living in a year round green environment gets annoying. One year, it rained for three months straight. EVERY DAY! By the time I could finally mow the lawn, I had to use a weed whacker first because it was too high for the lawn mower to take - and still wet at the base. Anyways, I'm relieved that my house no longer looks like it is inhabited by hill-billies.  Now I'm just waiting to tackle the moss... it's taking over the front yard. Part of me really wants to leave it. You don't ever have to mow moss.

Yesterday I also signed up to take the West-E Social Studies exam so that I can add a social studies endorsement on to my certificate. Sounds simple right? Take the test, pay the money... done deal.

Today I started delving into the study guide. Um... economics? it's been about 20 years since I've done that. Specific court cases? Not so much.. Brown v. Board of Education, sure... but the Boldt decision? I have a boat-load of studying to do (no pun intended.. fishing right - boats... get it?) So far, I've got an APUSH study guide to read and plan to get economics for dummies (highly recommended by those who've taken the test)... but I haven't a clue as to where to study the WA specific stuff that wasn't covered in my Washington state history courses.

And the kicker! I signed up to take the test on April 17th! So, guess what I'm doing for Spring Break? And just yesterday I was wondering what to do.

Fail

I completely forgot to blog this whole weekend! Four days worth of posting gone up in smoke. (for some reason, the one I had scheduled for the fourth did not upload... stupid blogger).

This weekend was a busy one, but satisfying. I completed the program to update my teaching certificate! Just have to mail in one form and I am done for another five years. Sadly, Saturday was the nicest day this year and had to spend most of it indoors doing that.. my back lawn has become a jungle because I just cannot get time when it's nice out to actually mow. The sun is out right now and if it holds for another 3 hours, I might rush how to get it done. With my luck it'll probably start raining in two hours.

Sunday we went to church and I finally got called to do something (we have no paid people to do anything, it's all volunteer... ). Not surprisingly I was asked to help teach the nursery class. Since I've been hanging out there for nearly a year as it is, I guess now it's official. The nursery leader will be happy; she's always scambling for people to help out.

And my mother was here all weekend. And I had a huge mountain of laundry to get done. And re-organized, changed up, etc. my desk area. Photos to come later.

15 Days until spring break. I haven't decided what we're doing yet. It's possible that we may have guests, but if no one comes, I might use the time to do some painting. Or go to Ikea. Or garden... just get stuff around the house done and play with the kids.

12 Habits Update

Last month's habit was to reduce the amount of TV we watch. I would have to say that I had a serious addiction going on - the minute I awoke to well after I asleep, the TV was on. And, let's be honest, there is not a lot of TV these days that would be suitable for very small children. There's a lot of murder and mayhem going on 24 hours a day, but not so many ponies and rainbows.

We started with turning the TV off after Handy Manny on Saturday morning. Momma is slow to wake up on the weekends and this has been a sanity saver. However, once breakfast is on the table, TV is no longer a friend. I don't know if I became more focused or the kids were calmer... but without TV, the day just seemed to smoother. There were less fights, less screaming and whining. Of course, it could also have been the fact that it was the warmest Feb. in the last decade and we could actually go outside and play, but I digress. Strangely, it just seemed to be better. Then we moved on to keeping the TV off on the week days until after dinner. The kids really didn't miss it (because they weren't watching anyways!) and the lack of background noise made for quieter playing. Of course, clingy, sick kids threw a wrench into that at the end of the month, but over all we (I) watched much less and no one died. Or was even maimed.

This month's habit is to exercise. Seriously. I must have been having an optimistic moment when I decided that, thinking about running Bloomsday or doing the Rhody Run. They always sound like good goals in December... not so much in March when I actually have to do something. Nonetheless, I will endeavor. I do actually have a Y membership so the kids can do swimming lessons... perhaps I should actually take advantage of it. Game on.

Daily posting

Yup, I trying to post every day... but there seems to be a flaw in this plan. The flaw would be that by the time I get done putting the kids to bed, cleaning the kitchen and picking up the living room, I'm knackered. I haven't made it past 8.30pm this week - it's just so busy during the day and everyone has been sick (including me), whining beyond belief... After Lala has finally fallen asleep, all I want is some silence and nothingness. Which, you know, makes me fall asleep.

Parenthood is so exciting.

What I really need is to find a way to get a burst of energy at around 8pm so I can get some things actually done. I'm rather drug adverse - it being illegal and all - and I don't drink coffee. Or soda, really. I need some new ideas, because I'm about to be crushed under a mountain of laundry.

Busy! Busy!

Meetings today - with rushing around to get things done for meetings tomorrow and Thursday! How did March get so busy? It's supposed to be my take it easy month!

Lala's file will hopefully be moved to the Adoption Worker by next Friday! Finally some movement... it's amazing how much work it takes to get a file moved 25 feet. The plan, now, is to have everything complete by June.

What I Learned From My Camera

For my birthday last year, I requested a new camera. Although my previous one was much loved, it was not of the latest technology and had issues taking photos of small children... i.e. every photo displayed a side/back of a head as the subject was moving constantly.  I thought that perhaps a new camera would not only take better photos, but also have a quicker shutter speed. It does not have a faster shutter speed. If I want to get a photo of the children smiling, it has to be on the down-low. Turn and click - which much hoping that they are actually in the lens frame. Any movement towards attempting to pose, look in the viewfinder or speak to either children will result in a blurry mess. (Or a grand photo of Lala's neck. Point a camera towards her and say "smile" and she hears, "grin like the Cheshire cat while staring that the ceiling" No idea why.)  The ones that look great? These are the ones in the moment. Nothing planned or posed. No disappointment of unmet expectations. Just a quick snap and moving on.

 

Sometimes my life needs to be like too. I've been so busy lately attempting to keep up with everything, stressing about undone tasks that I haven't been enjoying most days. I'm watching the clock, waiting for bed time, because "I have to do.... and .....!" And procrastinating many things because my mind is running so fast that I just need time to space out. Instead, what I need to do is focus on the immediate - what do I really need to do right now and what is not so important? How can I enjoy my time with the children more? Lala, especially, is in the early explorer stage and she's just so excited about everything new! How can I keep the enjoyment in it for both of us?

 

Strange, the things we learn from inanimate objects can be so filled with life.