Friday, July 29, 2011
Getting unplugged!?
I was just reading tips (online of course) about how to unplug during your vacation. As in no electrically functions objects. At 1st I kinda spewed out a huff as if to say "yeah right". Like my family would survive without their computers and texts! After all, how would Ryan do without a day of Xbox or Megan finding out who loves whom! Even Todd would get upset for not being able to go online and do his Weight Watchers!! *snort* They would never last a week! They would never last a DAY!
I do say THEY because, no matter what my family might think, I can survive without electric and battery powered objects. Oh I love my tv. And I go online and do research and talk to friends daily. But if the electric were to go out, I would simply shrug my shoulders and open a book. The phone not ringing does not bother me in the least! I like doing things that involve using my mind and hands. I consider myself rather creative actually. I enjoy baking. I used to paint and draw. I like making things and can even hand sew! Give me something to read and I will be hooked until I get to the end! I just don't seem to have the time anymore to really do much of these things. (probably because I am online or watching Americas Got Talent!)
So the thought of becoming unplugged sounded rather.....intriguing. Maybe we should try it. After all we are heading to the mountains. Our days will be filled with hiking and tubing and rafting. Nature is completely calling us. And leaving our phone at the cabin is a complete possibility. Now I know we won't make it a whole week without turning on the phone to see what is going on in teenage land and will likely turn on the tv to check the weather in the mornings at some point but I can certainly see us having a totally disconnected vacation.... Ok....close to it... and I am rather excited! It will be nice to be able to sit and talk with my kids about life and what we are doing without the phone ringing or someone staring at a video game! It makes the vacation sound even more exciting!
I will have to get back to you on how we do....on the computer......to blog.....when we return to reality in two weeks! Maybe...................
I do say THEY because, no matter what my family might think, I can survive without electric and battery powered objects. Oh I love my tv. And I go online and do research and talk to friends daily. But if the electric were to go out, I would simply shrug my shoulders and open a book. The phone not ringing does not bother me in the least! I like doing things that involve using my mind and hands. I consider myself rather creative actually. I enjoy baking. I used to paint and draw. I like making things and can even hand sew! Give me something to read and I will be hooked until I get to the end! I just don't seem to have the time anymore to really do much of these things. (probably because I am online or watching Americas Got Talent!)
So the thought of becoming unplugged sounded rather.....intriguing. Maybe we should try it. After all we are heading to the mountains. Our days will be filled with hiking and tubing and rafting. Nature is completely calling us. And leaving our phone at the cabin is a complete possibility. Now I know we won't make it a whole week without turning on the phone to see what is going on in teenage land and will likely turn on the tv to check the weather in the mornings at some point but I can certainly see us having a totally disconnected vacation.... Ok....close to it... and I am rather excited! It will be nice to be able to sit and talk with my kids about life and what we are doing without the phone ringing or someone staring at a video game! It makes the vacation sound even more exciting!
I will have to get back to you on how we do....on the computer......to blog.....when we return to reality in two weeks! Maybe...................
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Joy and saddness all mixed up in one tight little wrapper!
I can't believe that we are heading into mid summer already.
I also can't believe that I have only been in the pool twice. Ok. Maybe three if I am generous. Summer did not exactly start out in a bang this year. It was many many days of rain and cool weather right up to mid June. To be exact, I didn't even pack away the long sleeves until my kids got out of school this year and, for us, that is late!!! I do not stick my big toe in the pool if it has not been 98.5 degrees for a minimum of 7 days, 5 hours and 2 sec! It is waaaaaaay too cold for me. The kids will jump in and yell 'it's nice mom'! But I know the truth. I can see their lips turn blue and the little shiver as the water passes their belly button. They can't fool me none!
So as this week we have finally hit a heatwave and I have been in my glory! Not that I have been in the pool much yet. It hasn't been exactly 7days, 5 hours and 2sec yet. But it is getting there. I am thinking after the next two days of hitting 103 plus, it should be good to go!
I also can't believe that I only have about two and 1/2 weeks to go until vacation! I have begun buying tickets and making packing lists. Soon I will dig out the bags and start throwing things inside and that is when the excitement will hit. And the guilt. I take a vacation every year and every year I feel guilty for taking one. Guilty for spending the money. Guilty for taking time off from my work. Guilty for leaving my dog home. I will spend hours awake thinking on if I paid a certain bills and who is watching the dog on what days and did I remember to buy XYZ. And then, of course, I have the one daycare parent who will make me feel like a complete heel for taking this time even though I work year round, hardly ever close, am open 5 days a week for over 10 hours each. It won't be until I hit the bridge that I will be glad for my little break from reality and the guilt will be left behind.
Megan is missing this week too. She is off visiting her grandparents. I miss her terribly. Not that I would tell her or make a big thing out of it. When one of my kids are missing it is like a piece of my life is missing. ( I won't even go into the experience I had when Ryan went to Aussie land for three weeks!!!) I am glad she feels like spreading her wings and enjoying life outside of our little reality. It does make me wonder how life will be for ME when Delaney leaves the nest as the last child. Will I be happy for what we have produced and they go off into life to experience it? Or will I be an old lady, sitting on my front porch and missing them all with every once I have in my body? Probably the last. I'll try to do it at places like cruises, a sandy beach or Disney.....but I will still feel the loss.
And so, we come close to ending another week of the summer which brings us another week closer to, dare I say it, SCHOOL! That ever mixed feeling of joy that they are off again and missing them as they get on the bus. I have already begun my school shopping spree. Picking up things here and there. I love the excitement and the shopping and, I will admit it, perhaps the smell of the markers and glue helps too! There is nothing like the feel of a brand new notebook! (Stop judging me! We all have our little 'things'!)
You spend time picking up things and packing up and getting them ready to go. There is the morning of and the alarms go off and it becomes the mad rush for the door! Then there is the quiet that follows. After 2 1/2 months of them being home, there is nothing but quiet.
And this year will be a little more sad as Delaney heads off to school too. Actually two more of my daycare children head off as well. I will be sending 5 children off on those buses in the morning. Even though my house will be still full of daycare children, it won't be the same without those missing pieces here.
I guess I should go to enjoy the time I do have with them here.
I am off to get my swimsuit on. Not to be confused with the fact that I might actually jump in the pool. But just in case...........
I also can't believe that I have only been in the pool twice. Ok. Maybe three if I am generous. Summer did not exactly start out in a bang this year. It was many many days of rain and cool weather right up to mid June. To be exact, I didn't even pack away the long sleeves until my kids got out of school this year and, for us, that is late!!! I do not stick my big toe in the pool if it has not been 98.5 degrees for a minimum of 7 days, 5 hours and 2 sec! It is waaaaaaay too cold for me. The kids will jump in and yell 'it's nice mom'! But I know the truth. I can see their lips turn blue and the little shiver as the water passes their belly button. They can't fool me none!
So as this week we have finally hit a heatwave and I have been in my glory! Not that I have been in the pool much yet. It hasn't been exactly 7days, 5 hours and 2sec yet. But it is getting there. I am thinking after the next two days of hitting 103 plus, it should be good to go!
I also can't believe that I only have about two and 1/2 weeks to go until vacation! I have begun buying tickets and making packing lists. Soon I will dig out the bags and start throwing things inside and that is when the excitement will hit. And the guilt. I take a vacation every year and every year I feel guilty for taking one. Guilty for spending the money. Guilty for taking time off from my work. Guilty for leaving my dog home. I will spend hours awake thinking on if I paid a certain bills and who is watching the dog on what days and did I remember to buy XYZ. And then, of course, I have the one daycare parent who will make me feel like a complete heel for taking this time even though I work year round, hardly ever close, am open 5 days a week for over 10 hours each. It won't be until I hit the bridge that I will be glad for my little break from reality and the guilt will be left behind.
Megan is missing this week too. She is off visiting her grandparents. I miss her terribly. Not that I would tell her or make a big thing out of it. When one of my kids are missing it is like a piece of my life is missing. ( I won't even go into the experience I had when Ryan went to Aussie land for three weeks!!!) I am glad she feels like spreading her wings and enjoying life outside of our little reality. It does make me wonder how life will be for ME when Delaney leaves the nest as the last child. Will I be happy for what we have produced and they go off into life to experience it? Or will I be an old lady, sitting on my front porch and missing them all with every once I have in my body? Probably the last. I'll try to do it at places like cruises, a sandy beach or Disney.....but I will still feel the loss.
And so, we come close to ending another week of the summer which brings us another week closer to, dare I say it, SCHOOL! That ever mixed feeling of joy that they are off again and missing them as they get on the bus. I have already begun my school shopping spree. Picking up things here and there. I love the excitement and the shopping and, I will admit it, perhaps the smell of the markers and glue helps too! There is nothing like the feel of a brand new notebook! (Stop judging me! We all have our little 'things'!)
You spend time picking up things and packing up and getting them ready to go. There is the morning of and the alarms go off and it becomes the mad rush for the door! Then there is the quiet that follows. After 2 1/2 months of them being home, there is nothing but quiet.
And this year will be a little more sad as Delaney heads off to school too. Actually two more of my daycare children head off as well. I will be sending 5 children off on those buses in the morning. Even though my house will be still full of daycare children, it won't be the same without those missing pieces here.
I guess I should go to enjoy the time I do have with them here.
I am off to get my swimsuit on. Not to be confused with the fact that I might actually jump in the pool. But just in case...........
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Happy Birthday to me!
It was actually yesterday. And I had a nice slow day at work and dinner out with my family and cake with friends. Who could ask for more!?
But I was thinking this morning how different life....and birthdays...are once you turn a certain age. When you are a teenager you dream of being 20 something. To be an adult and allowed to do anything. To date guys and drive a cool car and not have to be told to clean your room!
Then you turn 20 something and you can't wait to turn 30 something. To be more mature. To start a family and be in the mist of your career. To be more settled in the direction you are going in life.
Then you turn 30 something....and something....and something....and you head toward 40. Few I think dream of turning 40. It is the 1/2 way mark in your life. Where you once dreamed of looking forward, you now begin to start looking back and thinking how STUPID you were when you dreamed you wanted to be 20 something! Life was good back then! Not that life isn't good at 40 something. Some tend to think it is a wonderful step in life. That you are mature and have direction. That you come more into yourself and begin to focus more on the wonderful things of life. And some see the future ahead and want to be 20 again! I am not sure where I am in this. I am blessed to be where I am in life and yet the thought of another year does not seem to please me.
As a child you expect your parents to remember your birthday. They are the ones who remind your family and friends by sending party invites and making the cake. Then you become an adult and you can't wait for your birthday to come so you can celebrate finally being that adult, drink and have fun with friends! But when you hit 40 something. I, personally, kinda am mixed between wanting to forget it and having that secret need of a child to want to be remembered.
By the time I hit 40 I began writing my age on the calendar cause it wasn't something I focused on any longer and I didn't want to turn 50 and thought that year I was really 51! It becomes another day. One that I could wake and move on with no need for anyone to notice that I grew another year on the calendar.
And yet, how depressing to have others forget at the same time! I guess it is more the need for ME to forget and the need to have others remember.
My bestest funny birthday memories yesterday?
My girlfriend who called and left me a message that said I survived to see another year! I wasn't sure how I felt about that actually. That it was a blessing or that I should be happy cause I am getting old and should be grateful my name wasn't in the obits!
And my lovely, sweet teenage daughter who told one of my daycare clients I was turning 50! And his reply? Shock and "You look darn good for 50!". Problem was.....I am NOT 50! Not even close, thank you! Should I take it that I simply look darn good overall or that he actually believed my daughter and thought I was 50!
She spent the rest of the day thinking she hit pay dirt on that comment and told the rest of the world I was 50 for the remainder of the day! Just full of herself and giggles! But it will come back Megan. It will come back!
In the end I guess I should thank everyone for a perfect birthday. Thank you to those who remembered and filled my day with cards and cake! And thank you to those who forgot and made me eternally another year younger! My personal inner conflict was met on both ends!
And the best part was.....I lived another year to not see my name in the obits and I look damn good for 50! Who could ever ask for a better birthday!?
But I was thinking this morning how different life....and birthdays...are once you turn a certain age. When you are a teenager you dream of being 20 something. To be an adult and allowed to do anything. To date guys and drive a cool car and not have to be told to clean your room!
Then you turn 20 something and you can't wait to turn 30 something. To be more mature. To start a family and be in the mist of your career. To be more settled in the direction you are going in life.
Then you turn 30 something....and something....and something....and you head toward 40. Few I think dream of turning 40. It is the 1/2 way mark in your life. Where you once dreamed of looking forward, you now begin to start looking back and thinking how STUPID you were when you dreamed you wanted to be 20 something! Life was good back then! Not that life isn't good at 40 something. Some tend to think it is a wonderful step in life. That you are mature and have direction. That you come more into yourself and begin to focus more on the wonderful things of life. And some see the future ahead and want to be 20 again! I am not sure where I am in this. I am blessed to be where I am in life and yet the thought of another year does not seem to please me.
As a child you expect your parents to remember your birthday. They are the ones who remind your family and friends by sending party invites and making the cake. Then you become an adult and you can't wait for your birthday to come so you can celebrate finally being that adult, drink and have fun with friends! But when you hit 40 something. I, personally, kinda am mixed between wanting to forget it and having that secret need of a child to want to be remembered.
By the time I hit 40 I began writing my age on the calendar cause it wasn't something I focused on any longer and I didn't want to turn 50 and thought that year I was really 51! It becomes another day. One that I could wake and move on with no need for anyone to notice that I grew another year on the calendar.
And yet, how depressing to have others forget at the same time! I guess it is more the need for ME to forget and the need to have others remember.
My bestest funny birthday memories yesterday?
My girlfriend who called and left me a message that said I survived to see another year! I wasn't sure how I felt about that actually. That it was a blessing or that I should be happy cause I am getting old and should be grateful my name wasn't in the obits!
And my lovely, sweet teenage daughter who told one of my daycare clients I was turning 50! And his reply? Shock and "You look darn good for 50!". Problem was.....I am NOT 50! Not even close, thank you! Should I take it that I simply look darn good overall or that he actually believed my daughter and thought I was 50!
She spent the rest of the day thinking she hit pay dirt on that comment and told the rest of the world I was 50 for the remainder of the day! Just full of herself and giggles! But it will come back Megan. It will come back!
In the end I guess I should thank everyone for a perfect birthday. Thank you to those who remembered and filled my day with cards and cake! And thank you to those who forgot and made me eternally another year younger! My personal inner conflict was met on both ends!
And the best part was.....I lived another year to not see my name in the obits and I look damn good for 50! Who could ever ask for a better birthday!?
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Who needs fireworks when you can enjoy 8 hours of singing?!
Well we are all back to reality after a lovely holiday weekend. I would love to say that my weekend was full of excitement and thrills. But really, it wasn't at all and that can be a good thing. After a year of school, soccer and being a non-professional bus driver to most local events, I am rather proud to say....I didn't do much at all this weekend!
Saturday was spent....sleeping in. And, wait for it, I actually DID sleep in. Past 8am! For me that is amazing! Then we ran to the church to measure for the background for my upcoming VBS and back home for lunch and a GLEE-a-thon. Yeah. You heard me right. I sat on my butt for a good 8 hours watching the 1st year of Glee! We didn't make it though. I think we still have about 3 more epis to view but we came oh so close!
Sunday was spent...........sleeping in! Oh yeah! Again! I didn't go to church. *gasp* I didn't go to the store *gasp* I didn't even do a load of laundry *GASP*. I know! I know. Did you ever think the day would come. What is sad is that I really can't remember what else I did that day. As I am struggling to picture in my mind the moments from waking till bed, I can't say much stands out. I am either brain fried from sleeping in past 6am or from watching too many shows of Sue and her vicious antics on ruining Glee club!
Monday was spent......sleeping in! That is why it is going to rain today. Three days of not hearing an alarm! And after, I sat in my jammies and watched more Glee. Oh stop it! It is addicting! Makes me wanna burst out in some musical review and dig out my dance shoes again! And for my lazy effort, I spent the afternoon running around like a chicken without a head cleaning up the house before my mother in law came over for a picnic! I didn't make it. As she walked in, I was running the vacuum and I felt like she knew my laziness and secret addiction to Glee and was shaking a mental finger at me!
After, we ate a bar-b-que and sat around while the kids swam. They swam so much they wouldn't get out of the pool for fireworks. Although, Delaney popped her head out sometime around 8:40 to announce she was ready to see fireworks but I sadly told her we simple would not make it in time at that point. She stood there, dripping wet, looking at me with her mouth open to determine if I was joking, shrugged her shoulders, put her goggles back on and swam away into the sun set. And I sat and chatted while bugs ate me alive.
But it beat working. It beat doing laundry or busing kids or going to soccer or doing errands.....so I shall take it. Over all it was a lovely, quiet weekend full of good food, friends, family, complete laziness and song! I believe that is what our forefathers intended!
HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!!
![]()
Saturday was spent....sleeping in. And, wait for it, I actually DID sleep in. Past 8am! For me that is amazing! Then we ran to the church to measure for the background for my upcoming VBS and back home for lunch and a GLEE-a-thon. Yeah. You heard me right. I sat on my butt for a good 8 hours watching the 1st year of Glee! We didn't make it though. I think we still have about 3 more epis to view but we came oh so close!
Sunday was spent...........sleeping in! Oh yeah! Again! I didn't go to church. *gasp* I didn't go to the store *gasp* I didn't even do a load of laundry *GASP*. I know! I know. Did you ever think the day would come. What is sad is that I really can't remember what else I did that day. As I am struggling to picture in my mind the moments from waking till bed, I can't say much stands out. I am either brain fried from sleeping in past 6am or from watching too many shows of Sue and her vicious antics on ruining Glee club!
Monday was spent......sleeping in! That is why it is going to rain today. Three days of not hearing an alarm! And after, I sat in my jammies and watched more Glee. Oh stop it! It is addicting! Makes me wanna burst out in some musical review and dig out my dance shoes again! And for my lazy effort, I spent the afternoon running around like a chicken without a head cleaning up the house before my mother in law came over for a picnic! I didn't make it. As she walked in, I was running the vacuum and I felt like she knew my laziness and secret addiction to Glee and was shaking a mental finger at me!
After, we ate a bar-b-que and sat around while the kids swam. They swam so much they wouldn't get out of the pool for fireworks. Although, Delaney popped her head out sometime around 8:40 to announce she was ready to see fireworks but I sadly told her we simple would not make it in time at that point. She stood there, dripping wet, looking at me with her mouth open to determine if I was joking, shrugged her shoulders, put her goggles back on and swam away into the sun set. And I sat and chatted while bugs ate me alive.
But it beat working. It beat doing laundry or busing kids or going to soccer or doing errands.....so I shall take it. Over all it was a lovely, quiet weekend full of good food, friends, family, complete laziness and song! I believe that is what our forefathers intended!
HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!!
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Thursday, June 30, 2011
My Judy Moody
As I was watching the movie I thought of Delaney. The messy hair. The excitement on making plans for the most awesome activities. The challenge of a race and her need to be 1st. The trouble she got into. Perhaps I laughed a little more because I could relate.
Delaney is sooooooooo my Judy Moody!
Course, if the movie is the tell-all of her furture, I might be in trouble. But right now I found it cute and got a little extra chuckle out of it. I could see her falling into the pond or making hats to put on the library statues or having a poo picnic....
......ok I am not giving that one away. You will just have to watch the movie!
I know my Moody chick said it rocks!
Friday, June 17, 2011
What does a teenager do on her last day of school?
I'm STILL not so sure!
Why is it when she was 3 I had to force her to take a nap but at 13 she will sleep the whole day?
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Goals, relays and a little HALLELUJAH!
I know I am in denial. And reality is going to hit me straight in the face just when I do not need it the most!
Like when a homework assignment is due or I have to run off something for VBS and then I will probably explode and have no one else to blame but myself.
I am talking about my computer.
I got a virus on it about a month or two ago and it has had some quirks since. My hard drive doesn't work right and you have to baby it. Like when I try to upload pictures. I cannot seem to do it through the cord and camera now. It will take all day and about 10 tries and maybe a few cuss words before it does it. By then my camera battery is low! And I am angry. So I decided to go though my scanner/copier. That seemed to work. Still took forever but maybe about 1/2 of the forever had I gone through the cord. And with no cuss words cause I could walk away and come back later to see it was done.
HOWEVER, this weekends pictures took TWO days. You heard me right. TWO DAYS! All day yesterday and most of this morning along with two reboots and.......maybe a few cuss words.
Fact remains, I need to suck it up and spend the money on a new computer. But the frugal side of me says "But it still works! Don't throw out something that still works. You just have to give it a little more TLC!" And the side that does the pictures says "Girl, just do IT! This is for the dogs! HECK even the dogs wouldn't want your computer!". I should listen to the picture side but..........the frugal side is sooooo strong. In the end, I FINALLY uploaded and here is the weekend story.......
Ryan went to his Relay for Life Friday night and into Saturday morning. I didn't go cause I didn't have time to walk a track. Instead I got to walk the aisles of Walmart grocery shopping. But they look like they had fun! Probably much more than I! And thank you to all who donated!
(If you notice though, there really isn't any pictures of anyone walking! But who am I to judge? I was fighting a grocery cart with a bent wheel between stacks of inventory in the middle of the grocery isle!)
Then it was off to our last soccer game! Simply put, we were creamed. Not that the kids seemed to notice cause I think they were 1/2 asleep during the game! They didn't seem to mind what was going on. Myself, I just shook my head. "All in the fun.......all in the fun....." (maybe if I keep saying it, it won't hurt so much)
This is my favorite picture. Just look at those ninja like movements. That determination on her face. The flow of the arms. And the tongue out the mouth always adds a little spunk to a good kick! I even blew it up so you could get the whole effect!
After, was the end of the season picnic and awards! GREAT JOB TEAM! (well maybe except for that last game! Sorry but I had to throw in that last whine of the season!)
Like when a homework assignment is due or I have to run off something for VBS and then I will probably explode and have no one else to blame but myself.
I am talking about my computer.
I got a virus on it about a month or two ago and it has had some quirks since. My hard drive doesn't work right and you have to baby it. Like when I try to upload pictures. I cannot seem to do it through the cord and camera now. It will take all day and about 10 tries and maybe a few cuss words before it does it. By then my camera battery is low! And I am angry. So I decided to go though my scanner/copier. That seemed to work. Still took forever but maybe about 1/2 of the forever had I gone through the cord. And with no cuss words cause I could walk away and come back later to see it was done.
HOWEVER, this weekends pictures took TWO days. You heard me right. TWO DAYS! All day yesterday and most of this morning along with two reboots and.......maybe a few cuss words.
Fact remains, I need to suck it up and spend the money on a new computer. But the frugal side of me says "But it still works! Don't throw out something that still works. You just have to give it a little more TLC!" And the side that does the pictures says "Girl, just do IT! This is for the dogs! HECK even the dogs wouldn't want your computer!". I should listen to the picture side but..........the frugal side is sooooo strong. In the end, I FINALLY uploaded and here is the weekend story.......
Ryan went to his Relay for Life Friday night and into Saturday morning. I didn't go cause I didn't have time to walk a track. Instead I got to walk the aisles of Walmart grocery shopping. But they look like they had fun! Probably much more than I! And thank you to all who donated!
(If you notice though, there really isn't any pictures of anyone walking! But who am I to judge? I was fighting a grocery cart with a bent wheel between stacks of inventory in the middle of the grocery isle!)
The team is thinking on maybe going to travel. They are going to test the waters at the Fathers Day tournament. This should be interesting. Maybe a little Red Bull wouldn't hurt? (you didn't hear me say that!)
Then it was off for Megan's confirmation on Sunday. 1st let me say THANK YOU to Mimi and Rachel for the extra hands in helping to set up! Otherwise I probably would still be doing it myself....and going insane in the process!
I am very proud of Megan! Congratulations sweetheart on your journey!
The End!
Praise the Lord! One VERY busy weekend down! Now....to get ready for VBS! And a soccer tourni!
Where IS that Red Bull!?
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