Next!

The Open House for preschool is over! I think that it was a success. I met parents and children. The children seemed to enjoy the classroom--I think that even a few parents enjoy the classroom. I had several ask if they could go back to preschool!

I am glad that I decided to have the Open House. It forced me to be more organized and get ready. I knew that we would be leaving for Labor Day so I had to have everything ready. I still have to have the calendar planned and typed out. I have been having some changes of thoughts about what to put on my curriculum. It will work out!

This was the list that I was working off of yesterday. It is always interesting to me that even with such a detailed list there are probably 47 things that were done that weren't on the list. Like take out garbage--3 times! I am glad that it is over and I can get going with the fun part--teaching little ones!

What a day!

Making progress!

This is how my day started. I got everyone out the door and I went downstairs to spray paint magnetic paint on the chalkboard wall. The idea would be that I would get the magnetic paint done so that I could then put the chalkboard paint on. I started spraying(I had already prepped and taped last night)--I used one full can. Nothing stuck. I waited for it to dry and spray the entire second can. Let it dry---STILL NOTHING! Okay, at this point I am irritated. I have 16 little people and their parents coming to my house tomorrow night--now I have a big ugly gray mess on the wall. So, I call around to find roll on magnetic paint. I run to town and get the stuff. This chalkboard is now getting expensive! (I want it magnetic so we can put up alphabet letters and other magnets)

I find a few other things, nails to finish tacking the edges of the LARGE bulletin board that my sweet hubby hooked up last night. Boards to cut and put up for shingles on the little playhouse.

I come home and start this process. It is 11:00 a.m. I start painting. First coat-let dry, nothing. Second coat-let dry-nothing(starting to get those tight muscles in my back). Third coat--let dry, moment of truth---it works! I did a fourth coat and am now waiting for it to dry so I can put the chalkboard paint on. It is 4:52 p.m. 8-5---I think that is a bit ridiculous, I hope that my expensive magnetic chalkboard is worth the effort!

I did get the bulletin board decorated in between all the coats of paint. I have posters, pictures, counting charts, job charts, weather charts. When MissE came in she was in awe. She thinks that it looks wonderful.

What day is it?

Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday

That is the thought pattern I am working on right now. I have my preschool Open House Wednesday night for all the students and their parents. So, that means that I have to have my basement actually looking like it is ready for preschool! Today I have been shopping with a detailed list. I know that I will need other things along the way but there are a few things that just have to be done first.

Because of this, Chaos Reigns! I feel a little fragmented. I have too many little projects that have to be done. Combine this with the little fact that I am the Mom and these people like to eat, have clean clothes and go places-it makes for a nutty Momma!

What a beautiful bride she was!

This beautiful little girl got married yesterday! It was
18 1/2 years ago she was the flower girl at my wedding.

It was a beautiful wedding. It was at a 2.5 million dollar "cabin" next to a golf course in Driggs, Idaho.

It was so fun to see all the darling things that Christa and her Mom have worked on.

Christa was a beautiful princess bride and James was a dashing groom. They were able to have a fairy tale wedding. It really was lovely.

My sweet hubby actually officiated the ceremony. He did a wonderful job. Not too preachy, a little advice, a bit of humor and lots of love.

I was the dork following the photographer's around (with permission) trying to learn some of their techniques. I am so relieved that they decided to hire these people instead of trusting me---I am a wannabe photographer!

First Day of School Pictures

First Day of School Photos!

It is a tradition to take pictures of the kids before they leave for school. Well, my two oldest left early before I could get the pictures. This is what happened after school--Mr. #2 was not cooperating! I just laughed and laughed. He got sillier and sillier!

First Day of School!

Aug. 21, 2008

The first day of school. It is 9:36 and it is quiet, oh so quiet! Little guy is still asleep and the others have all gone to discover their new classrooms and teachers.

I always have such mixed feelings about the first day of school. I remember being so excited as a kid. Even when I was in high school. I was excited to wear my new outfit, learn who was in my class, etc.

As a parent I have had different feelings. I enjoy the relaxed schedule in the summer. However, after 10 weeks of no real schedule we are all exhausted and ready for a schedule. I enjoy my children home with me--but after 10 weeks of constant togetherness we are all ready for some separation.

I remember another Mom telling me once that she was so sad that school was starting because she just loves having her kids home. I didn't even have a schooler then and I felt guilt. Am I a bad Mom because I am not sad?

I have a few friends who have chosen homeschooling. I respect them so much. I am a stay at home Mom by choice. I love my children. I have tried to encourage and teach them. I have also chosen to send them to public schools. So, when it is the day for school to reopen I try to look at it as a new opportunity for my children and also for me.

It is also the day that I can actually clean the counter and it might stay clean for more than twelve minutes!!!

My Ordinary Life

Years and years ago there was a book with the title Ordinary Lives or something similar.
I am an ordinary person, leading an ordinary life. Sometimes, I feel a little bit of angst about this. Usually, it doesn't last long. However, the normal, everyday things that I do sometimes make me less than thrilled with my ordinary life. I get really tired of dishes, laundry, spots on the carpet, no towels in my bathroom, shoes spread across the house, grocery shopping, cooking---and a million other things that are part of my ordinary life.
Today I went school shopping with my 11 year old son. He is such a good sport. Shopping is hard for me. I must have money phobias or something. As we returned home, I looked around at my messy house. I felt deflated, like a failure. I proceeded to try and elicit help from the three older children. The oldest begrudgingly did vacuum. #2 fell asleep with an ice pack on an injured ankle and #3 fought with me about cleaning her room. Again, I felt like a failure.
How have women throughout time managed their homes and their families? How have they managed 35 loads of laundry a week, plus carpooling, jobs, scouts, piano lessons, dance lessons, football and a myriad of other obligations?
I guess that this is where I can continue to wallow in my self proclaimed pity-party or I can buck up and just keep going. I have a very wise Mom. She has had some difficult experiences in her life. One of the sayings that I remember is "You do what you have to do." So, I guess that I go unload that dishwasher -again-- put another load of laundry in, pick up the Thomas Tank engine underwear that are in the middle of the floor and be grateful that I have a little 3 year old that wears those underwear and try and remember that my ordinary life is pretty extraordinary---for me.

Whoa? Who is this boy?

When did this sweet little guy become a big stinker?

As he walks away saying something that was less than darling, I say "that isn't very nice, please don't say that." He responds with "I can say whatever I want!"

Pray Tell, please give me strength!

Holding on

I am still alive, but barely! I am trying to get my children ready for school and also try to formulate all the needs for preschool to start. This is all while trying to enjoy the last week of summer vacation, nightly football practice, new school open house, swimming, driving #2 to his cousins, laundry, laundry, laundry, dishes, etc. etc. etc.!!!!

It must be about the full moon because I am exhausted and feeling a bit weepy. I am hoping that I can control that One day of the month--that I am a lunatic!

08-08-08

08-08-08!

This is one of those dates that is unique. What have you done to celebrate? Me? I went to the Dr. for my little boys 3rd degree burn on his big toe. His big sister #3 took him for a ride on the neighbors 4wheeler WITHOUT shoes. This was about a week ago so I just felt like it wasn't getting better, or I didn't know what I was looking for to KNOW if it was getting better.
So, we will watch and doctor it and then we will return on Tuesday for a check. If it is not doing better, a skin graft may be necessary.

I also took #1 daughter to do a little school shopping. This is not my favorite thing. We did find some cute things that weren't too expensive. I also managed to find a few things for #3 daughter-which means that I don't have to get her too much more.

I have gotten all the paperwork ready for preschool registration. Now it just needs to go in the mail. That is a huge relief! I can hardly believe that I am doing this. I hope that I enjoy it. It will be a lot of work but I hope that it is rewarding.

I am exhausted. We were supposed to go to my sister's campground tonight. We are so tired that we are going to meet them in the morning and then go to the lake. I feel like I could sleep for 3 days.

Unwelcome Guest

We had a very unwelcome house guest yesterday. My oldest daughter was in the office and heard the dog barking terribly. She also heard what sounded like a bird chirping. She thought that Hollie(dog) had gotten a bird and was trying to kill it. When she went to the piano room and looked under the couch it was NOT A BIRD!

She screams at me. I am outside moving sprinklers. "Mom there is a creature in our house!" I come in the house and she is in the piano room on top of the couch. I'm asking what it is. She is screaming. "I don't know what it is but it is big".The Brave girl goes and gets a broom.

I get down on the floor trying to look under the couch to see what it is. It is something big with beady little eyes looking back at me. I become hysterical. #1 starts to try and get it to come out from under. I tell her to wait, let me make a barricade so that it doesn't go into the rest of the house. I am in the hall when she finally gets it to move. IT COMES STRAIGHT AT ME! I run in the bathroom and close the door. It goes in a bedroom, we are all screaming. The dog chases it out of the bedroom back under the couch.

Poor little boy#4 has gone in my bedroom and closed the door, terrified. We start again. My 11 year old boy#2 has gotten a large kitchen knife! I tell him he isn't killing this thing with a knife. "what about the .22 shotgun? "You are not shooting this thing inside my house!" #1 starts trying to get it to come out again and go out the open door that it came in.#2 has a big box that he is going to try to trap it in. I am in the hall-still screaming. She gets it out and it heads up the wall and over our chair barricade.

The dog is now chasing this thing around my house. It goes in the pantry and then finally it sees the open back door. It runs down the stairs and hides under the stairs. It is barking/chirping---loudly! It runs down the basement stairs(thank heaven that door was closed) and behind some boxes. At this point I go and get the camera. It finally runs up the stairs out into the grass and into my shrubs and across our yard under the neighbors porch and then finally out into the trees.

Little boy #4 has come out of my bedroom with a large rock(it is jade--it is a family sickness) to kill it. We had so much adrenaline going that our heads hurt! Little boy was being so brave. He stood there and asked if we could call Poppa(grandpa). I told him he wasn't home. His little lip was just quivering. I asked him if he was scared and he just broke down bawling. I had to hold him for awhile and tell him how brave he was.

Here is Chuck. He might think twice about walking into strange houses. Perhaps we will try and keep our doors closed so that a nice little rock chuck won't find its way in ever again!

The end!

Flaming Gorge highlights

Monday-already!

It is now officially August. This summer has gone so fast. July has been a whirwind with activity. I am hoping that I can get a few deep breaths before school starts!

We had an exciting weekend. We went to Flaming Gorge Reservoir. It was a big activity for the singles ward. It was so much fun.

We had a few minor(luckily) injuries. We feel so blessed that they weren't worse. Watching J slide down the rope instead of out away from it was horrible. It was one of those slow motion things that you can see the horrible thing happening but can't do anything. We thought he was going to be strangled. He was blessed indeed. The other was a collision on a tube. Eye to shoulder--shoulder won(barely, however).

Fun!

Summer Fun!

These are the moments that I need to remember---when they are happy, laughing and being together!

A little break

I am taking a little technology break. Will be back in a few days! Hopefully, I will be refreshed and renewed. More than likely I will be exhausted and drained!!

Calgon take me away!

Why is it that my idea of clean and THEIR idea of clean are so different?

Why does it take #3 3 hours to do 30 minutes of work?

Why does #3 enjoy screaming so much?

Why does the dog have to roll in something dead the day I am stressed and crabby?

A New Day! A new List!

A New Day!

We are home from our little trip to Grandma's. It turned out pretty well. The children didn't suddenly turn into little angels but when my sister and her kids left it was better. Too many, in too little space!

Yesterday I walked around my house not knowing where to start.

Today I am up early. I have been for a bike ride and am going to physical therapy (foot) and then I will attack this house. My children will not be very happy about this.The chore charts will be returning! They have been on summer vacation as well. I have about three weeks before school starts and then about a month before preschool starts. I have to get things done!

check out the Lazy Organizer for Talk about Tuesday.

I don't understand

(blogger is being weird) Read the following post first!

So, I realized last Sunday that my children were probably being their "normal" level of terrible. It was me who was under the influence.

Why can't we women KNOW without a doubt the day that we are going to be nuts? I am generally better the next day. I am probably lucky, I only have one/two days of crazy. However, I hate it. I hate that I can be a fairly normal person and then once a month I am a wacko.

Why? Why was this necessary?

We have made it through this week without any deaths!



I have been wondering why? In the big picture when the Lord was deciding how to put all of our bodies together, why did he decide that women needed to have hormones that are on occasion completely out of wack?



Let me give a little background. I started having irregular cycles when I was 19. When I was 24 I went on fertility medication to get my oldest daughter. I did this again 3 years later to get my son. At that point I decided that I would never use the medication again. I didn't need help being crazy. I do that quite well all on my own! To our complete surprise 3 years later I got pregnant with #3 without any medication. The question was never "Am I late?" it is "how late am I?" It would not be uncommon for me to go 110 days between cycles. 4 years later we were getting to the point in our lives that we needed to make some type of permanent decision. We didn't want a bonus baby 9-15 years after #3. Well, in his wisdom the Lord sent us #4 baby boy! It was an even bigger surprise than our #3 baby. To set the record straight, we are so glad that we got #4 little boy. He has been a joy. Everyone should have a little bumper baby!



Now to my point! Since baby #4 came 3 1/2 years ago I have been regular. Like clockwork. Now that I am not trying to concieve my body decides to be normal! What is up with that? So, with that regular cycle has come the hormone changes. I never really had much PMS that I was aware of(husband may disagree!). Now, I have it bad. About 6 days before my cycle I am a lunatic. I have absolutely no tolerance. I lose my cool at the things that the day before I could handle.

Why?

Why is it that my children can spend weeks at a time with other people and be delightful? Within minutes of being reunited with me they turn into these impossible, difficult beings?

My #3 child, MissE has been with my Mom for almost two weeks. We picked her up on Thursday after spending ten days with her Grandma. By Friday afternoon it was back to normal. Screaming and fighting with her brother(#2) and sister(#1).

We finished our little camping adventure(more on that later) and came to spend the week with my Mom. Today has been a nightmare. My daughter spent three days with my 11 year old nephew--without ONE fight. They swam, rode bikes, went to the park. They got along great. Enter MY 11 1/2 year old and the nightmare began.

It is so difficult to have fighting children. It makes me old and ugly. It makes me crazy. Tonight after yet another battle, I set down the law. I told them that I will not have it. If they start to fight we will pack up and go home. I will not put myself and my mother through the misery of terrible acting children. It is embarrasing to have children that are smart, healthy children, over five years old, act like they live in a fighting arena. It is embarrasing to me. It is also very disrespectful. I feel like my children don't respect me at all when they act so rotten.

Still

What am I doing? you ask? I am still doing laundry!