01.18.09
Posted in kids at 8:24 pm by hecticmom
Well, I figured I would give you a week in pictures. This has been quite the filled week.
Here is Prissy on her actual birthday – she got some warm socks (which she wanted SO SO much… I’m clueless about this.)
Here is our new furniture and carpet(can you hear the angels singing?) This picture was before we got our curtains.
Here is princess kittah sitting on the newly carpeted steps:
Oreo and her Mona Lisa pose:
The new room (all it’s missing is pictures on the wall!) It’s finally a grown up room!
My Yin and Yang Kittahs:
New Security system (I went to check on my son last night and this is what I found. No one is sneaking up on HIM):
“Son, you got a kittah on your head.” (If anyone can tell me the reference to that – I’ll give you bonus points!)
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08.31.08
Posted in kids at 7:54 pm by hecticmom
Prissy starts band on Friday. She will be playing the clarinet. While I’m SO SUPER EXCITED FOR HER, I’m also really really not looking forward to listening to her practice. I’m also just not at all sure how we will be able to fit it in with everything else. We ended up buying the clarinet – it was actually cheaper to buy a new student clarinet than to rent a used one. This is assuming that she plays for the whole year. Practices are after school twice a week, and they are free, which totally blows me away (we’ve been paying for EVERYTHING at their previous school.)
So, band… Yeah… Prissy is growing up… I was an orchestra nerd in school (violin player) and I adored it. It was my one and only thing. I definitely wasn’t the best, but I was a good player. It was sort of my identity when I was in high school. I played in the pit orchestra for musicals all over Kansas City (including colleges.) I traveled to Europe one summer and played all over in an orchestra.
But, what if she hates it? Will I be sad? But, holy crap – what if she loves it? I’m not sure we have time for lessons and travel and musicals and recitals and performances! And what if I get all weird about it? Music was sort of my thing – and I’m a bit afraid I’ll get all bossy and pushy and know-it-all-y. I REALLY wanted her to play violin, but it wasn’t an option (however it is for Max in 2 years) – and I think that is probably a very good thing. We put her clarinet together today and I was the only one to make a sound – it was horrible and screechy – but that is about all I could do. If we pulled out a violin, I could play it horribly, but I could still play it. 
So, this is absolutely new territory for me. I will NOT force her to practice. Everything she does will be her choice.
In my mind – I still want her to favor baton twirling (also something I know nothing about.) She is so amazingly good. But, instead of narrowing down – we are stupidly expanding.
However, we did decide that this year would be her last year in soccer. Next year she would rather play winter softball. Which is fine – she’s at least eliminating a sport. (Plus, her daddy is on the softball board of directors – his daughter should at least be playing. )
Argh… and Yay!!! Only time will tell I suppose.
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08.21.08
Posted in kids at 7:53 pm by hecticmom
This week has been really stressful. I’ve been working from home, while juggling the kids and their new school (which is going fabulously by the way.) My house has been a disaster, tornado-style, and not having a regular schedule is making me totally and completely a little crazy. I’m pretty much one of the most “schedule” oriented people I know. It takes a real effort on my part to step out of a schedule and just be… I can do it – but with effort.
So, this week has been totally different than “normal” – I’ve had my schedule down pat for the past 9 years. I know EXACTLY how long it takes me to get ready, to get the kids ready, breakfasted, lunches packed, school stuff packed – I know EXACTLY what time I have to be out the door in order to get the kids to school on time so I can get myself to work on time. I know which roads to take given the time I have left. I know which ones will be trafficy given the time of day AND the time of year. I have it down to a total and complete science. OCD anyone? I also know what my traffic will be like depending on when I leave between 4:30 and 5:15. If I leave at 4:30 I can get home close to 5:30 (assuming I was picking up the kids at their old school.) If I leave at 5:15 it’ll probably be 6:30 or 6:45 before I get home.
I knew how to get the kids to soccer, baton, taekwondo, and baseball. I knew which sports I had to have the kids change clothes in the car for. I had it down. I was a master of the schedule (as damn hectic as it was.)
Now, it’s all new – and significantly easier and harder
- Before: School starts at 8:00am – must be out of the house with EVERYTHING by 6:50
- Now: School starts at 7:50 - must be out of the house by 7:43. Forget something - that’s ok, go back and get it.
- Before: School gets out at 3:30, after school activities at the school. They need to be picked up by 5ish.
- Now: School gets out at 1:20 for Bubba (really, 1:20?!!) and 2:20 for Prissy. But, I just walk over and pick them up. The walk takes me 3 minutes. But, what about work?
- Before: To get to a 5pm soccer practice, I had to leave work early at 4pm and RACE to get the kids, have them change in the car (and pray I didn’t forget anything) and RACE to the practice. Afterward, we’d run home and cook dinner and the kids would have to start their homework and we’d eat and they’d finish homework and complain because they were tired.
- Now: For a 5pm soccer practice, the kids finish up their homework before hand, get a snack. Clean their rooms, do their weekly reading, at 4:45 get their cleats on and head to practice. Come home and eat dinner and relax a little bit..
So, it’s easier. But, what I’m not sure how it’s going to work when I’m not working from home. The kids get out of school at 1:20. I’m an hour away. Hubby is planning on working from home some. And I’m sure everything will be fine – but it is causing me A LOT OF ANXIETY… I will need to also work from home some in the upcoming weeks as well.
Oh, but on a cool note. Prissy is bringing home a friend to play tomorrow after school. She’s never ever ever done that… Never. Because all of her school friends live an hour away and that’s a huge pain for everyone. Now, her friend lives down the street, and she’s coming over tomorrow… I think we’re all giddy with the idea.
So, with all of my schedule chaos – I needed some sanity and I started to “declutter” my house this evening. Already, it feels SO MUCH BETTER… I feel less stressed out because my desk isn’t piled high will bills and other grossness. My kitchen island is CLEAR – No major piles of papers of crap I need to take care of. I have a long long long way to go, but at least it’s a start.
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07.28.08
Posted in iphone, kids, taekwondo, work at 7:40 pm by hecticmom
Well – back to reality. After 2 weeks off it’s back to work, back to Taekwondo, back to all of our standard routines. I don’t think I was really ready for it.
Regardless, it’s what happened today.
I had to take Bubba back to the ENT today for a follow up on his gravely/hoarse voice. It’s better than it was, but it’s certainly not healed. The doctor told us to continue on the Prilosec and to continue with speech therapy. He also said that he’d never be an opera singer. Which is actually okay with me. After his appointment I took him out to lunch and we had a nice conversation about “Make a Wish.” He wanted me to donate to Make a Wish (the BK deal right now.) So, I did – and he thought that _HE_ would get his wish answered. Ummm… No……
Work was work. Lots of meetings. Lots of talking. I came in happy and relaxed and left stressed out. Pretty typical. I took Bubba to taekwondo and I went to taekwondo after his class. It was good.
Now I’m home. It’s actually a bit sad that when I’m in my routine – I’ve got nothing exciting to write about. It’s just blah blah blah blah.
On a positive note – I love my iphone even more now with the 2.0 update. OMG – coolest.phone.ever. It actually does everything. Need a remote – oh, your iphone can do that. Need a radio that configures itself to your desires – Yup – the phone can do that too. Games – oh yes! Want to find a restaurant near where you are right this second? Yeah – it has that feature too. I got this nifty little todo list thing that has been rocking my world. Not since my bigass Franklin planner has this list-crazy woman found something that can do what this sucker can do. Love my iphone with all my heart.
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07.26.08
Posted in kids, vacation at 7:20 pm by hecticmom
Well, we are getting back into our regular routine. Today, I got to sleep in a bit, and we didn’t have Taekwondo (there was a tournament – so no classes.) We went to see Wall-E today. I can’t say that I loved the movie, but the kids seemed to enjoy it. We also went to Sears and got a super cool outdoor storage thing for all of our pool stuff.
Tomorrow, Hubby has to travel for work – poor guy. I’m thinking the last thing that he wants to do is get back on an airplane and sleep in a hotel. However, I think we all have had enough “family” time and are ready to have some personal space.
So, maybe he is lucky? *laugh* I don’t know.
I’m not looking forward to going back to work on Monday. Bubba has to go back to the ENT on Monday for his voice issues. He has a gravely voice – noduals all over his vocal chords. He was put on medication for silent reflux and continued work with a speech therapist for vocal abuse. I think he’s gotten better. But, after this past week on roller coasters and cheering for Prissy – there has been quite a bit of yelling and screaming. So, we’ll see what the doctor has to say.
The kids only have a week and a half of summer school left – and then there is a week and a half before their new school starts. Hubby and I are planning on working from home – it should be interesting.
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01.16.08
Posted in kids, troublemaker at 6:47 pm by hecticmom
Son: Can I have a piece of candy? I finished all of my dinner.
Me: Sure.
Son: Skittles?
Me: That’s fine.
Son gets candy…
Son: I have to, ahhhh, go upstairs for something….
I turn around and son has his jacket on with bulging pockets. Hmmmm. Interesting.
Me: You need to take off your jacket before you go upstairs.
Son: I can’t.
Me: You can’t? Here, I can unzip it for you.
Son: NO! I mean. I’m really cold…
Me: Are you sure that your pockets aren’t filled with candy that you are trying to sneak upstairs?
Son: !!!!!
Me: Is there candy in your pockets?
Son: mumble…
Me: What?
Son: yes….
Me: Take it out of your pockets and put the skittles back.
Son puts away candy and is ANGRY…
Son: YOU’RE MEAN!
Me: Yes, I am mean when you don’t follow the rules and try to sneak around.
Son: IT’S NOT FAIR!!!
Me: Actually, it was very fair to give you candy. You chose to get more than you knew you were supposed to have.
Son: YOU’RE MEAN!!!! I’M NEVER TALKING TO YOU AGAIN!!!!
Hmmmm…. This one is going to be hell when he’s a teenager.
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01.15.08
Posted in kids, vacation at 8:55 pm by hecticmom
Ugh… The HORROR!!! My vacation is coming to an end. The kids go back to school tomorrow. I actually get two days to myself while the kids are in school. But, Prissy has an ortho appointment tomorrow (keep your fingers crossed that the braces can come off!!!) And she has an eye doctor appointment on Friday afternoon. So, it’s not totally free, but still – I still have several hours all to myself.
While the kids have gotten along really well this vacation – they are back to attacking each other like crazy today. We went bowling this afternoon which was a lot of fun and I even broke 100 (well, I got 100) in one game. We also found a geocache that was right across the street from the bowling alley.
And, on a happy happy joy joy note – we got our new garage doors installed today. Can you hear the angels singing? Hubby can open his garage door from his car now. He is so excited. These things are really really quite and the doors go up and down very quickly. The guy that came and installed them was super professional.
Today, we took down the rest of our Christmas decorations – both inside and out. It’s supposed to start raining tomorrow. The festiveness just seems to be going away while the days start getting a little bit longer. (I’d opt for a longer day any time. Bring on the sun!)
Anyway, that’s our day – not exciting. Not very entertaining. Just the facts, ma’am.
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