Oh Blog, How lazy I've been!

I have not posted any new news in SOOO long!
I could say I've been busy, but that's always true. (See also title of blog!)
I could blame home computer issues, but that's boring and hasn't been a significant problem since I went back to work Aug. 27.

So... since Aug. 27... I feel like Indiana Jones in danger of being plowed down by the giant boulder and I just can't run fast enough.

In the meantime, lets just say things are calming down a little, I have some pampering planned thanks to the Pretty in Pink campaign, and I have tomorrow off work thanks to Rosh Hashanah AND the kids are going to be staying at my parents!

If you have any extra relaxation, send it my way!

It's Done

I just finished the last Harry Potter book, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows".
(Don't worry, no spoilers here, I wouldn't dream of it!)

I picked up the book around 10:30 this morning from my local Borders and read all day. I stopped for food. I stopped a couple times to pay attention to the kids (who mostly watched TV all day). And I stopped for about an hour this evening... I had to hold off the last few chapters until the kids were asleep and I knew I could read completely uninterrupted.

It was an enthralling book. It lived up to all my hopes and then some. I have no idea that a day could fly by so fast. I estimate that it took me about 10 hours to read the book. I will have to read it again sometime soon because I'm sure I missed details along the way. I tend to do that... If I am really into a book, I read so fast that I miss some of the writers best nuances. I will read it again. And probably a third time next summer when I want to relive all the emotions of this time.

That being said... I find myself to be very sad. Not in any way related to the plot of the book, only that it is done. Now that I've read book 7, there won't be any more to look forward to. There won't be any more secrets, any more wonderfully written characters who grow and develop until I can feel them. There will be movies, which I always find predictably shallow compared to the books. You just can not take a book written with such depth and development and shorten it in any way. Even the most minor incidence, when left out, leaves a hole in the stories I love so much.

I will find new books to read. I will love them too. But I feel like Harry has left me.
This is silly, REALLY silly to some of you, but I feel like a good friend has moved very far away and I know we will lose touch.

I will miss you Harry. I've looked forward to all your adventures and I can't wait to share them with my children when the time comes.
Thank you J.K. Rowling for filling so many days with entertainment. However, if this should reach you... I do still have a few questions for you.

(I have intentionally left out links to all the copyrighted or trademarked items in this entry. Please don't sue me. If you want more information on any of the items, use Google. That's not my job!) :-)

No details, no energy

So, the rest of vacation was fine. It might have been just a little too long with my family but what are you going to do? A week's house rental means a week with the family. I was simultaneously glad and a little depressed to be home again.

Did a little grocery shopping... got back to normal... blah blah blah.

However, slight differentiation from blah when Tuesday night's stomach ache became uncontrollable pain with no position I could find relief in by Wednesday late afternoon. A quick call to the doctor led to a not as quick visit to the acute care center which was followed by a trip to the ER and an "emergency" appendectomy. That's right. I went to the doctor with generalized stomach pain around 6:30 Wednesday night and approx. 6 hours later I was no longer in possession of my appendix!

The surgeon, who had the personality of a door, said that it was the earliest case of appendicitis he'd ever operated on. That leads me to believe either; 1- I'm a wuss, 2- He says that to all the girls, or 3- I could have waited longer, been in more pain, and other people are just stupider than me. I vote for #3.

As of now, I am spending a lot of time on the couch... and loving the Vicodin.
I hope next week is less eventful.

Quick Change in Plans...

I said I wasn't going to post from vacation but....

Very cool vacation house, paid for by very cool parents who are here with us, has very cool wireless Internet for which new, somewhat cool notebook computer is compatible.

Quick re-cap so far:
Saturday... (WAY too much driving + with WAY too much stuff jammed in car) x (2 kids who do not want to nap on time + WAY too much Wiggles and Backyardigans DVDs) = INSANITY
Sunday... sleep in, grocery shop, rest, drink alcohol
Monday.... Pontoon boat rental, lots of sun, not quite enough sunblock on the grown-ups (Awesome day! I went tubing for the first time!)
Tuesday.... relax, grocery shopping, Dollar General going out of business clearance, shoe store with 50-70% off.
Wednesday... hectic morning trying to get kids out door to children's museum 1hour away only to get there and find out said museum was closed for the 4th of July holiday. Luckily, the kids think McDonalds playland is pretty cool and don't care about museum when nuggets are involved. Sparklers before rugrat bedtime, alcohol after rugrat bedtime.

So far... lots of fun. Still 2 days to go, and then another driving day... but we will pretend that's not going to happen.

Got to go... Wine coolers are getting warm.

Happy Independence Day Everyone!!!!!!

I'm Outta Here!

Nothing really new....

Adam and I had the babysitter come back last night and went to dinner and a movie as a couple!
Dinner was good... Movie was great (Pirates 3 anyone?) except that a REALLY annoying former student sat right in front of me with his detestable dad who thinks I suck. Sounds like a good combo for date night huh? I of course turned my back and rummaged in my purse as the lights came on and Adam told me when they were gone. I don't think they really noticed me since it was already dark when they entered... I HOPE they didn't notice me anyway... no one burst my bubble OK?

Today, a lot of laundry and packing. We are heading off tomorrow for a week in Tennessee with my parents, sister, and her boyfriend. My parents rented a house on a lake near Knoxville. The kids will be thrilled. I will be mostly thrilled... I'm hoping to gain a little alone time from all the live-in, free, babysitters next week! I only dread the 9 hour drive with the kids.... well, 9 hours driving + multiple potty/movement/food stops + lose an hour in the time change. We hope to make it to the house by around 6 EST if we leave our house around 5 CST!

I might have Internet access there, but I don't plan on updating my blog! SO THERE! But seriously... one of my 3 readers will be with me and the rest of you will just have to wait.
Luv ya anyway and Happy Independence Day!

And then the angels sang!

People, I hired a babysitter! Well, actually 2 because they are sisters and both were available and I didn't want to pick between them.

This morning, I called the nice neighbor girls and asked them to come by this afternoon. Currently, they are at my house with my kids. I am at the library ALONE! (Yes, I could be doing this from home with the kids but I had to do some computer stuff that my new computer at home is not yet set up for and/or to dang slow!)

Faithful readers (Hello to the 3 of you!) will know that Adam is not working this summer and will wonder why he's not with the kids while I get things done... He's golfing... with his dad. Which he sprung on me in the middle of Brianna's birthday party last weekend so of course I couldn't say no. Despite the fact that we have 900 things to do before this coming weekend and one car is in the shop!

Brianna was so excited to have new people to play with that she didn't shut up the whole 15 minutes I was giving the girls the important info. She has already planned that they will play in her castle after lunch, and then dress up, and then read some books. Yes, I could have done that with her to, but, I don't. Because she is annoying!

Don't start throwing things at me yet! You did not misunderstand, I said that my 4 year old daughter was annoying. And it's true. But she's only annoying to me. She is in that phase where she tests every single boundary I have, and does it in the most obvious, look-at-me-while-I-break-every-rule-you-crazy-mommy kind of way. To the average outsider or family member, she is sweet as pie and cute as a bunny. To me, she is 4 going on 15! Moms out there... you understand right?

Anyway, I think I will hire a babysitter more often!

Where does the time, and my brain, go?

If a few mere hours, my baby will be 4 years old. No longer a baby I guess, not even a toddler. She is a child, a little girl with a mind and opinions of her own.

Some days I am amazed by the clarity of thought with which she can tell a story, or remember some event that I'd never have thought important, or with how much love and caring she can show to us and especially to her little brother. And then, not a full 5 minutes later, I am amazed at the teenage attitude and stubborn streak that never fail to have me gritting my teeth and saying things like; "Because I said so" or the all time favorite "Just Because!"

Tonight after an especially trying trip to K-mart, I decided that I needed a quiet moment with her. I didn't want either of us to start her birthday in the morning by being irritated with each other. We pulled out her baby book. We looked at pictures and I told her some of my favorite little stories from when she was a newborn. We compared her foot now, to the little footprint the hospital made for us the day she was born. We measured how tall she was now, and then I showed her how big she was when she was born. I was a little choked up and surprised to find that I had forgotten some of the details of her birth... when did I start feeling pains, when did we get to the hospital, what exact time was she born. Those are crucial statistics and I already need a book to remind me after 4 short years.

She was only interested in turning the pages by herself and getting the tape measure off the counter. BY HERSELF, NO, I WAS NOT ALLOWED TO HELP! She didn't care that I couldn't remember that she was born at 9:58am. She only wanted to stay up 5 more minutes and practice sticking out her tongue like her 3 month picture.

I miss my baby, I'm a little unsure about this little girl, but I can't wait to see my daughter grow more each year. Happy Birthday Brianna, I love you!

Update

1. Computer Hard Drive was FRIED and we couldn't even use the little magic disk so....
2. Bought new computer! Nice HP notebook however....
3. Am waiting for Best Buy to set it up and then....
4. Will have to wait for new AOL CD or decide on new Internet server then...
5. Will have to upload/set-up etc.

We will still be limited by stubborn husband and his refusal to upgrade to ANYTHING but dial-up Internet. However, we will be back on-line and our marriage may be saved! (In the case that I don't get around to a post about that, let me just say, I didn't realize how much personal time I got when Adam was on the Internet instead of making me work!)

I may be back sooner than I thought! But don't hold your breath, because, this is me, I never posted all that much to start with!

Farewell, for now!

Well, this is good bye for now!

School is over for summer! I will be enjoying days at home with the kids and Adam... or I will be trying to endure spending the next 80 or so days (24 hours a day) with my husband and children... it depends on you point of view...

And in a further note... I think we may have killed our home computer! We haven't had reliable Internet access there for some time and now every time we turn on the computer, we can't even get to a workable screen. We get a message that basically says... you fried your system Jerk! (or something like that...)

Adam spent the better part of 4 hours on the phone with the helpful Utah Dell boys on Sunday and they have mailed us a magic disk that will erase everything we've ever done to the computer in last ditch hopes that this will save the thing! They say our operating system is corrupt or some other lofty computer jargon like that. I picture the computer laying on the operating table, with some doctor massaging it's heart and asking for everyone to clear!

On the upside, if it dies, we will be saving up all summer and looking for deals on a new computer. Yeah! (said dripping with sarcasm and a slight frown over all the dinners out she will sacrifice to pay for said computer)

On the real upside, I am hoping to convince Adam to take this opportunity to upgrade to wireless cable Internet and a laptop! Wish me luck!

SO- Enough said... I will try and get back to you all from the library or my in-laws...
Love!
and have a great summer!
Jo

Tag, I'm it!

Jamie tagged me for this meme....

She seems to think that I have all sorts of time on my hands since the school year is ending and I have a student teacher teaching my classes. She must not have noticed the severe lack of blogging due to the severe neuroticness of ME! I have been more busy now then ever before... AND I 'M NOT EVEN DOING MY OWN JOB!

Anyway... on with the meme....

3 things that scare me:

1. The death of close family
2. Spiders
3. people not thinking I'm smart and capable

3 people who make me laugh:

1. DH Adam
2. "The Kids" aka DD Brianna and DS Grant
3. my coworker and friend; Stephanie

3 things I love:

1. My Family
2. My Job (most days)
3. TV

3 things I hate/severely dislike:

1. reality TV
2. worrying about money around Tax time
3. having nothing to do (see comments above)

3 things I don't understand:

1. insensitive people
2. war
3. runny noses in kids

3 things on my desk:

1. Diet Coke
2. a To-Do pile
3. lots of pens, markers, highlighters, etc in quick reach.

3 things I'm doing right now:

1. Blogging
2. Listening to my student teacher and the class
3. wishing I had some chocolate

3 things I want to do before I die:

1. Travel
2. Be a Principal
3. hold political office?

3 things I can do well:

1. Teach
2. Have Babies
3. listen

3 things I can't do well:

1. talk on the phone and watch TV
2. be blunt
3. dislike you

3 things I think you should listen to:

1. your mother
2. small children
3. yourself

3 things I think you should never listen to:

1. People who don't know you well but give you advice
2. Internet medical info
3. People who are famous but haven't done anything worthy

3 things I'd like to learn

1. how to be blunt and nice at the same time
2. how to keep my house cleaner
3. How to get rich without trying

3 favorite foods:

1. Chocolate
2. pasta
3. peanut butter

3 shows I watched as a kid:

1. Smurfs
2. Solid Gold
3. Days of our Lives

3 things I regret:

1. debt before my marriage
2. not working harder at my early career
3. my own laziness

3 people I tag:

(This was the hardest because I don't have many blogging friends. I'm more of a reader than a chatter...)
1. Janet because I love reading more about my newest friends!
2-6. Stephanie, Heather, Jenny, Min, and Kate at Mama Drama. Because they are SO much fun!

SOOOO cute!

I found a great product when I was reading Dancing Through today.

Tutu Fantasy is having a contest! I LOVE contests!
But regardless of if I win or not, I think this might be a great gift for my niece for her birthday next month. She LOVES ballet class and LOVES dressing up... what could be better?

And I might get this one for Brianna!

Panic attack subsiding...

One of my favorite bloggers... Jenny over at Mama Drama... posted this post today.

Now, I love Jenny's posts and this one is no different. It is worded wonderfully and I can completely picture what she is saying. Therefore, the gratuitous scary picture is not needed. Seriously, I think I may have just died a little looking at that picture.

If you didn't know this about me... I am TERRIFIED of spiders. I currently have a pair of shoes sitting in the garage that I may never wear again because since they have been in said garage for several days, I am just sure that some family of spiders has made a home of them. I do a double take every time I pass the nail that has popped out of the wall in the office. I swear I just saw it moving and it will chase me down now.

I probably shouldn't laugh

I have been silently worrying for weeks (OK- maybe months) about Grant and his lack of words. He says Car, Ball, Cow, Meow, and Dada fairly regularly... but not Mama, eat, drink, etc... words that you would think he would actually need.

The past week or so has shown a good change in his language skills. He has added cracker, milk, and every mother's favorite... No.

That's right... last night... my precious baby boy said No for the first time! Except he doesn't just say no... he mimics the way Brianna says No when she's trying to keep him from stealing her toys! It starts really slow with a drawn out "N" sound and ends in a quick "O".

nnnnnnnNNNNNNNO!

I couldn't help cracking up! He says it just like Bri... and even makes the same little mad face! It never failed to make me laugh last night... and again this morning. I'm going to have quite a spitfire on my hands!

This may be my first attempt at recording, and uploading video... I just have to figure out the digital video part of my camera... and then actually get him to do it... and then upload it properly... By the time I do all that, he'll be talking in sentences!

And I love him anyway!

This weekend, my parents took the kids!! BOTH KIDS! for a whole 28 hours... not that I was counting or anything.

It was really nice having some time to ourselves. Even if we did spend the majority of that time doing manual labor. We ran errands with out tears. We worked in the garden without having to watch who was running in the street. We went out to dinner without rushing. We watched a movie with profanity. We slept in... until we just couldn't sleep anymore. We ate breakfast and simultaneously read the paper. We went for a walk without a stroller. And then... the best part... we went our separate ways! Adam went golfing with his dad and brother, I went to get a long overdue haircut and highlights.

By the time the kids came home on Sunday, we were ready for them.

It was so much fun to walk through the door and see little Grant light up... and lift up his little arms... and run toward me.... and call me "Dada".

That's right, my son calls his mother Dada... If you have a problem with that... Just don't tell me. OK- maybe I do have a little problem with this new development. Maybe I would like him to call me Mama. But maybe I will pretend not to notice and just enjoy his heart wrenching hugs and his big sloppy kisses and know that he loves me, no matter what name he uses.

Am I evil?

Is it wrong to think my own children are annoying?

Bri talks non-stop and usually in a "lovely" little whine. She is going through a very selfish phase and wants to be in my lap or next to me every time Grant is in the same place. She loves school as evidenced by the fact that she asks to go there during the weekend... but every evening when I ask her how school was; she only tells me bad things. Dylan hit me, Dylan bit Stacy, Arjun didn't share, I didn't get to play on the 'puter (Computer), etc. etc. etc. She actually has a hard time answering me when I ask her about good things that happened today.

Grant hasn't been feeling well this week. We've changing a LOT of dirty diapers and he has the killer diaper rash to prove it. Except now the Dr says that is doesn't sound like a true diaper rash, it sounds like a yeast rash and I actually had to go to the drugstore to buy Monistat for my sons butt! What a week! As a result of all this; he is clearly uncomfortable, often doesn't even want to sit down on his "ouchy tushy" and really wants to be held... A LOT!!!!! He won't eat properly and shakes his head No to everything but Ritz crackers and the Wiggles. Ugh.

At work things should be super easy. Note the careful use of SHOULD BE. The year is ending, lots of fun activities are getting started, and I have a student teacher so I don't even have to work all day! But here's the problem. My student teacher is awful. Her English language skills are questionable, her classroom management is non-existent, and her lessons barely teach anything. I am trying to help, I have done a lot of good things with her, she doesn't listen. She thinks she knows EVERYTHING and gets very defensive when people give her suggestions. She is barely on time each day, often arrives unprepared, and then blows out of here right at the end of the day.

Lord... what a complainer I am today.

I should be planning a fabulous weekend... Girls night out tonight and a weekend without the kids! (No, I'm not killing them or selling them, Grandma actually begged to take them!) I need to find a good mood quick! Maybe I'll see if anyone is selling one on e-bay....

My life is painfully NORMAL!!!

I have been trying to get better about posting... and finding nothing of interest to post.

I got some medical test results done... everything is normal, my cholesterol is actually great, and something called albumin in my blood is low but not dangerously so. The test showed that I need to work on my eating habits and loose some weight but a trained chimp could have told me that.

Grant is getting another tooth but I can't tell which one yet. He is up to a whopping 12 teeth now, we are expecting 8 more sometime in the next year or so. My guess is they will show up in groups of 2 or 3 about every 3 months, because, if nothing else, my son is "regular" in his every bodily function and behavior.

Brianna is talking up a storm and asks "Why" about EVERYTHING! This is not really of note though because she is 3 and 3 is the age of annoying and why! She says cute things, but nothing that cute. The most noticeable thing lately is that she repeats things.... apparently, I must say "Okey doke?" a LOT. She says it now but she says "obe dobe".

See... if your still reading... thanks.... what a load of nothing that turned out to be!

My brain is a steel sieve

A while ago, I read an article. No, of course I don't remember where or when.

Wait... don't leave yet... it gets better....

The article claimed that researchers had developed a theory about parental attachment with infants. The researchers had investigated especially the attachment of fathers and come to the following conclusion:

From birth to approx. age 3 ALL children are genetically programed to look more like their fathers than their mothers. The research went on to hypothesize that in the pre-paternity test world (and maybe the pre-monogamy days) that men needed proof that a child was theirs. therefore, all babies look more like their fathers at early ages to "prove" to the daddy that he should bother to bond with this baby.

What do you think?
Did you look like your dad when you were young?
What about your kids?.....

I know that both of my children look WAY more like my husband than me right now. It might be too late to save Bri, but I still have hope for Grant. ;-)

When in Doubt...

Post Pictures!


Brianna with her bangs cut by mommy!



Grant before his first haircut:



Grant after his first haircut:



Mommys worst picture of kids ever!

more about me

I know, I have been just awful about posting for MONTHS now! I can only say that work has been forced to take precedence. I am very proud of all the work I did in this time but miss my slow lazy days when I had time to update and read blogs.

Well, that time is here again and it's better than ever! I have a student teacher working with me this quarter and starting Thursday... She takes over all teaching and planning and grading and phone calls! I love it!

In the meantime, I have planned a few posts that will be coming soon.

For today: here is a little interview chain idea that Jamie took from Whoorl who took it from someone else... don't you love the blog world?

ANYWAY... Jamie's questions to me:

1. If you chose to max out your credit cards, at which store would you do so?

I could not just choose one store! I would need something for me, somethings for the kids, maybe a little something for Adam, lots of fun stuff for the house.... I guess if I had to pick one store it might be like Target because who can resist tons of cool stuff for cheap?

2. Facial hair on men: yeah, or nay?

I do sort of like facial hair on men, some men. I like beards on older men like my dad... if they can keep it trim and neat; no crazy-bum looking- Santa Claus beards! I do like my hubby with a little facial hair; I think he looks more mature. But again- I hate it if it looks scruffy!

3. What is your favorite winter sport?

Is drinking hot chocolate a sport?

4. Who is more annoying – Carson Daly or Ryan Seacrest?

I am not really annoyed by either. I try to avoid them both at all costs which is not hard since I am so hopelessly out of the cool 20-something zone! I only get to watch shows that come on after 8 pm or have some tie to cartoons! Show me cartoon versions of each one and then I'll vote!

5. Do you believe in heaven?

I think I do.... I mean I want to.... I mean yes. (sort of).
I am a very conflicted person religiously. On one hand I grew up with a strong Christian background and never questioned it. But I teach various religions for a living. I teach that one religion isn't right and another isn't wrong. That puts some of my earlier religious education into severe questioning. And if I question one thing, do I have to question it all?

Easter Pics

As always, Jamie is SOOOOO much better about posting pictures of my kids than I am!
Check them out...

I saw a famous person!

I am pretty sure I saw Randy Spelling downtown Chicago this weekend. His hair is longer now but I totally recognized the eyes and the stare! He was just walking down Ohio St, towards Michigan Ave around 1pm... I thought I handled it pretty well... I just walked backwards for about a block (looking at the back of his head) telling Adam that I was sure I knew that guy from a boy band or something. I wish I had looked more closely at who he was with but it was really fast!


In other news, I may actually have time to start posting again!
YEAH!
oh yeah... only 46 more work days till summer break!
(feel free to hate me now)
:-)

Of COURSE I have better things to do.... But....

A Meme I stole from Jamie:

(I am disappointed to find a distinct lack of Nora Roberts or Julie Garwood....)
And... I must note.... that I read many of these books while taking a "blow off class" called, Independent Literature, my senior year of high school. Thank you evil witch teacher for making us read the classics!

Look at the list of books below.

• Bold the ones you’ve read.
• Italicize the ones you want to
• Don't do anything to the ones that you aren’t interested in.


1. The Da Vinci Code (Dan Brown)
2. Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen)
3. To Kill A Mockingbird (Harper Lee)
4. Gone With The Wind (Margaret Mitchell)
5. The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (Tolkien)
6. The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring (Tolkien)
7. The Lord of the Rings: Two Towers (Tolkien)
8. Anne of Green Gables (L.M. Montgomery)
9. Outlander (Diana Gabaldon)
10. A Fine Balance (Rohinton Mistry)
11. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Rowling)
12. Angels and Demons (Dan Brown)
13. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Rowling)
14. A Prayer for Owen Meany (John Irving)
15. Memoirs of a Geisha (Arthur Golden)
16. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Rowling)
17. Fall on Your Knees (Ann-Marie MacDonald)
18. The Stand (Stephen King)
19. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Rowling)
20. Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte)
21. The Hobbit (Tolkien)
22. The Catcher in the Rye (J.D. Salinger)
23. Little Women (Louisa May Alcott)
24. The Lovely Bones (Alice Sebold)
25. Life of Pi (Yann Martel)
26. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Douglas Adams)
27. Wuthering Heights (Emily Bronte)
28. The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (C. S. Lewis)
29. East of Eden (John Steinbeck)
30. Tuesdays with Morrie (Mitch Albom)
31. Dune (Frank Herbert)
32. The Notebook (Nicholas Sparks)
33. Atlas Shrugged (Ayn Rand)
34. 1984 (Orwell)
35. The Mists of Avalon (Marion Zimmer Bradley)
36. The Pillars of the Earth (Ken Follett)
37. The Power of One (Bryce Courtenay)
38. I Know This Much is True (Wally Lamb)
39. The Red Tent (Anita Diamant)
40. The Alchemist (Paulo Coelho)
41. The Clan of the Cave Bear (Jean M. Auel)
42. The Kite Runner (Khaled Hosseini)
43. Confessions of a Shopaholic (Sophie Kinsella)
44. The Five People You Meet In Heaven (Mitch Albom)
45. Bible
46. Anna Karenina (Tolstoy)
47. The Count of Monte Cristo (Alexandre Dumas)
48. Angela’s Ashes (Frank McCourt)
49. The Grapes of Wrath (John Steinbeck)
50. She’s Come Undone (Wally Lamb)
51. The Poisonwood Bible (Barbara Kingsolver)
52. A Tale of Two Cities (Dickens)
53. Ender’s Game (Orson Scott Card)
54. Great Expectations (Dickens)
55. The Great Gatsby (Fitzgerald)
56. The Stone Angel (Margaret Laurence)
57. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Rowling)
58. The Thorn Birds (Colleen McCullough)
59. The Handmaid’s Tale (Margaret Atwood)
60. The Time Traveller’s Wife (Audrew Niffenegger)
61. Crime and Punishment (Fyodor Dostoyevsky)
62. The Fountainhead (Ayn Rand)
63. War and Peace (Tolstoy)
64. Interview With The Vampire (Anne Rice)
65. Fifth Business (Robertson Davis)
66. One Hundred Years Of Solitude (Gabriel Garcia Marquez)
67. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (Ann Brashares)
68. Catch-22 (Joseph Heller)
69. Les Miserables (Hugo)
70. The Little Prince (Antoine de Saint-Exupery)
71. Bridget Jones’ Diary (Fielding)
72. Love in the Time of Cholera (Marquez)
73. Shogun (James Clavell)
74. The English Patient (Michael Ondaatje)
75. The Secret Garden (Frances Hodgson Burnett)
76. The Summer Tree (Guy Gavriel Kay)
77. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (Betty Smith)
78. The World According To Garp (John Irving)
79. The Diviners (Margaret Laurence)
80. Charlotte’s Web (E.B. White)
81. Not Wanted On The Voyage (Timothy Findley)
82. Of Mice And Men (Steinbeck)
83. Rebecca (Daphne DuMavrier)
84. Wizard’s First Rule (Terry Goodkind)
85. Emma (Jane Austen)
86. Watership Down (Richard Adams)
87. Brave New World (Aldous Huxley)
88. The Stone Diaries (Carol Shields)
89. Blindness (Jose Saramago)
90. Kane and Abel (Jeffrey Archer)
91. In The Skin Of A Lion (Ondaatje)
92. Lord of the Flies (Golding)
93. The Good Earth (Pearl S. Buck)
94. The Secret Life of Bees (Sue Monk Kidd)
95. The Bourne Identity (Robert Ludlum)
96. The Outsiders (S.E. Hinton)
97. White Oleander (Janet Fitch)
98. A Woman of Substance (Barbara Taylor Bradford)
99. The Celestine Prophecy (James Redfield)
100. Ulysses (James Joyce)

So, it's not my best post ever...

first haircut!

This weekend, Grant got his first hair cut. In all the process was a little sad because we loved his curls. Even now, 2 days later, I kind of do a double-take! I love his new do too but...

Before:


Note the Afro-like quality of the curls. My dear husband lovingly calls this "Jew-Hair". He's allowed to say that because he is Jewish and is the proud owner of similar curls!
(also a great picture of Brianna's hair and why mommy will no longer be cutting hair!)

During:


At this point we are all in Wiggle induced comas! BUT- no one is crying...

After:


My clean-cut little man is born, and LOVING the carousel ride as a reward! Mommy is only crying a little now.

as promised

Long ago, I promised you pictures...

The icky sweatshirts that meant well...



The sweater I exchanged for a cute red "denim" jacket....


Christmas Eve, our first experience with cookies for Santa....



Brianna on Christmas morning....



Grant on Christmas morning....



Brianna much later on Christmas morning...


Grant, a little later on Christmas morning...

No time but....

Everyone is doing fine!

Brianna LOVES the Bears all of a sudden now that I bought her a jersey.

Gymnastics was only 10 quadrillion times better when I switched her to a female teacher.

Grant is getting another new tooth and will only eat bread products! (crackers and pancakes really...)

Work is busy and won't slow down for a while but I will leave you with a snippet of my afternoons:

Bri: Knock, Knock
Me: Who's there?
Bri: (looking around randomly) Chair
Me: Chair who?
Bri: Chair Banana!
Get it?
CHAIR BANANA!!!!!!
(Ensue crazy cackling laughter!)

Be Strong

It finally happened.
Yesterday I had to follow through on one of those threats I seem to use too often.

At gymnastics, Brianna refused to go into the gym without me. She has been enrolled in the "big-girl class" for months but her new teacher is male. We have had a hard time getting her to go in and do her warm-ups but she has always gone in by the time they started the real stuff. This week, she REFUSED to enter.

I tried walking in with her, and leaving when she got to the group. NOPE.
The teacher tried sending one of the other kids out to get her. NOPE!
The female receptionist tried walking her in. NOPE!
- At this point I started threatening to go home.-
We stood at the door.... she clung to my leg.... I could not get her to tell me why...
- I threatened to take her home.-
The receptionist tried again... I tried again... the kid from her class tried again...
- I put on her first shoe.- BLOOD CURDLING SCREAMING ENSUED...
We went to the bathroom... I tried again... I tried again...
- AND FINALLY... WE WENT HOME!-

She kicked and screamed as I put her coat and shoes on. She cried and screamed, mostly the word "No", all the way home. She pouted and fussed for an hour afterwards.

But people... I made my point dang it! And I hated every minute of it. I tried not to laugh, or cry, as she screamed. I tried and tried again to get her to go participate. I tried to talk her down, I tried to talk myself down. I'm a teacher, I know that you have to make a point sometimes. But today, I am very sad.

I'll let you know how it goes the next time...
What do you think? Should I switch her to the class with the female teacher?

only 5 minutes now

All day long I have been meaning to post about how great Grant is doing with sign language. Sometime around Christmas he figured out that if he makes the same stupid hand motions mommy makes, he gets something he wants!

He now regularly uses "more" (although he usually means that he wants to eat.)
So we taught him "eat", but he only does that when we prompt him.
He is also quite good at requesting "milk" now. And that has prompted Brianna to use sign language to ask for milk too.

It's not quite the same when your 3 1/2 year old walks over to you and says "Mommy, can I please have some milk" while furiously pumping her fists up and down! She looks more like she's doing a dance then a sign... DESPITE THE FACT THAT SHE CAN ALREADY TALK, she insists on using the sign, and of course giggling like a maniac afterwards!

Ah, kids!

Happy, Crappy New Year

I had planned on posting today to wish my 6 readers a happy new year and tell you all about my wonderful break. (If you're new to my insanity, I am a teacher and didn't have to work between Dec. 22 and Jan. 8).

That all flew out the window this morning.

At the daycare center I normally love, this morning I hated. Both of my children had to move up to new classrooms after the break so this morning was understandably nutty. Bri took everything very well, she didn't seem disturbed at all by the new classroom since she still had her good friends and one of her former teachers with her. We'll see how she feels when she realizes it's permanent and not just for a day or two.

Grant is another matter entirely. My baby boy made a big change. He has no familiar teacher faces. He doesn't care much about the other kids, but they are at least familiar. This morning, Grant cried when I put him down in the new room. He cried when I held him in the new room. He SCREAMED when I handed him to the teacher. He even did that little twisting thing that only small children can do... while being held by the teacher, he turned his torso fully around to reach for me with both hands while screaming and kicking.

I know, he'll be fine. At least 8 different people today have told me "He'll be fine". In my brain I know that after a few days (weeks at worse!) he'll adjust and he really will be fine. However, today my brain can't tell my heart that because my heart is broken.

Thanks for asking...

Hi Wonder Mom! Thanks for asking...

I felt OK about Brianna leaving. We'd been away from her before, but my parents had come to our house. This was her first sleepover at someone else's house. I must have told her I loved her about 50 times, and reminded her that I'd see her tomorrow about 30! I was a little choked up when I drove away with an empty car, but looking back, I was more worried about how she'd handle it than I was upset that she was away.

My folks said she handled it really well, until the drive back to our house. Then, in her 3 year old mind, the drive was just too long. I guess when your 3, 90 minutes feels like 900. She was very clingy when she got home but it was TOTALLY worth it!

SOOO much fun

This weekend, Brianna spent her first annual weekend with my parents. They partied and had a great time! (Next year, my folks will take both kids! OH, the anticipation!)

Even still, with just Grant this weekend, it was very liberating. Saturday.... shopping BY MYSELF. Moms out there, you understand right? When was the last time you spent all afternoon shopping BY YOURSELF!?

Sunday- I took Grant with me to Toys-R-Us. He's young enough that I can buy presents for him and he won't realize it still.... I had SO. MUCH. FUN. I just wandered the aisles picking up what I wanted, until before I knew it, an hour and a half had gone by and there just wasn't any more room in, or under, the cart. Grant was even holding/playing with one of his toys already!

People, this is why being a parent is even more fun than being a kid. Not only did I get to wander and buy to my heart's content, in just one short week I will get to see the beautiful faces of my children open all those toys. Even if they promptly forget about them as each new wonderful packages is torn to shreds, I will remember the joy I felt making them happy.

Wahoo!!!!

ALL DAY yesterday, my work computer was blocking blogger beta as inappropriate content!
And I was sincerely attempting to waste my entire work day yesterday so I would have greatly appreciated being able to work on and post my photo essays I'm developing!

Today, I am trying to work... so the pictures will have to wait another day. Or maybe I'll stop working before my silly computer blocks this again....

Hmmmmm.....

A photo of my hair

but not my best self-photography....

It's the little things

My son, my wonderful 14 month old son, has started making connections. This is such a fun phase to watch.

This week, I was putting on his coat to take him home from daycare, and he started waving good bye! No one had to tell him to wave, he just knew that when the coat comes on, we leave. I was very touched by it. He is growing up very fast. Now that he is walking, he finally seems to have a personality. He's a touch of a drama king, but it's him.

On that note; file this under "bad mommy".
My son doesn't wear a coat most days. He has a coat, I just don't put it on him. Instead, I put him in a hoodie. In my defense, it's a warm hoodie. AND- I really am looking out for his safety. His real coat is very huge, very puffy. SO puffy, he doesn't fit in his carseat! Yes, ok, I know, I could uninstall his carseat and adjust the straps in the back. But I haven't. It's cold outside, it was in the single digits last week!... I know, thats exactly why I should do it, he needs the coat. And now I have gone in a little circle! I'm a bad mommy running in circles!

I am so horrible at posting!

Things that have happened since my last post:

1. I am actually feeling better after about a week of more medication than I'd like to admit!

2. Grant does nothing but walk now. Seriously, the kid doesn't even stop to play with toys most of the time. He just walks around the house in circles to practice. I hope I can get him to give half this dedication to school or an instrument someday! Now we just need some talking...

3. Brianna is a constant crank. She is in a "do-it yourself" phase. Anything we try and do with her/for her, she freaks out and has some version of a temper tantrum. I won't elaborate, it's too painful.

4. We went bowling with my entire family as a holiday celebration. Bri loved it, Grant only wanted to get down and walk, I suck at bowling, but it was fun. Enough said.

5. I CHOPPED OFF my hair! My hair was quite long, middle of my back-ish, it is now somewhere between chin and shoulder. I did not cry, I actually couldn't stop smiling. I decided that I'm going to be 30 next week. 3.0. people! It was time to give up my ponytail for a while. I love the change but I'm not ruling out the chance that I'll go back someday. I sort of miss my ponytail....

I am working on a photo essay regarding all of the above, but it might be a couple days....

Geico has it all wrong

Neanderthal man should leave Geico alone and sue me today!

With my messy hair (got up late, Thanks Nyquil!), mouth breathing (no thanks to Dayquil), and raspy voice... Today I am a neaderthal woman! Good think I'm teaching about the stone age, I'll just call it part of the lesson.

I feel a sick day coming on....

'Tis the Season

My mom always says 'tis. She even used to call us "Tizylish" but I don't really know what that means and it isn't what I'd planned on talking about today...

I love December!

I love the snow in December. (I hate it in Jan and Feb but that too is a different story.) My Birthday is in December, the 22nd, just in case.... you know. But I especially love all the family and decorating and hot cocoa and lights.

This weekend, we put up our brand new 8ft tree! It looks amazing, and was super easy thanks to the whole pre-lit thing. Even putting on the ornaments only took about 30 minutes. We were lucky enough to have the wonderful help of a 3 year old dynamo and were not impeded too much by the 1 year old fuss-budget. Brianna loved hanging ornaments on the back of the tree. I'm not sure but I think she liked saying excuse me and squezing by her parents as much as possible. We don't quite have enough ornaments for the new, bigger, tree but that was ok because we can't put anything at the bottom anyway. Grant will just break it or eat it!

I haven't yet put out any of the rest of my decorations, but all the boxes are just sitting in my living room waiting for me. I am a little obsessed with snowmen. By the end of this week, every decoratable surface of my first floor will be covered with snowmen, women, children, and families. This really works for me. Adam was raised Jewish, I was raised Protestant, we haven't really settled on an organized religion yet for our family but we celebrate both faiths. Snowmen are religion neutral. And they TOTALLY work in northern Illinois where winters are full of snow.

I do however draw the line at snowman/seasonal sweaters! I'm 30 people, not 300!

For Hannakah this year, my mother-in-law bought me a very nice, soft sweater... covered in snowflakes and polar bears. I love that she tried to buy me clothes. I love that she even remembered the turtleneck to go under the sweater. I do however plan on returning the sweater. Howard, Heather... please don't tell her, it just isn't necessary. I think I'll share more faux Hanukkah info later.

Later this week I'm planning a photo montage of my best and worst things about December...

and where did my spell check button go?

Holiday Meme

Janet over at Dancing Through is a new site I've found. Her blog really appeals to me because she is a mom with a toddler, and refers everything back to dancing. I haven't actually found yet if she is a former dancer, but I like to think so.

She found a Holiday Meme and I decided to jump on the bandwagon!

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot chocolate

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? For now, Presents are wrapped and go under the tree as soon as they are ready. Grandma and Grandpa take care of the surprise gifts. I can't wait to see how this changes for us over the next few years though.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? I like White for me, I love to see color on other peoples houses. I CAN'T STAND IT when people mix the two. Sue me, I'm crazy like that.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? Nope, The only person worth kissing doesn't believe in mistletoe so why bother.

5. When do you put your decorations up? I would like to do them the day after Thanksgiving but if you know me... you know I'm just not that organized even if I were home that day.

6.. What is your favorite holiday dish? I love anything chocolate... or the green bean casserole... and of course the mashed potatoes.

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child? Making cookies or candies to give to our teachers and neighbors. We always snuck just enough candy to keep from being sick, but way to many to want dinner.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I wish I remembered... I hope it's a very long time before my children do!

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? We open one gift each from my mom aka Grandma Julie. She always buys us pajamas to wear for Christmas morning. Lately the PJs have coordinated with the kids and I just adore the little family pictures of all of us wearing them!

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? The lights are already on the tree... one less fight! We have all memory ornaments from my childhood or from our marriage. I love the family look, no matchy matchy for me!

11. Snow! Love it OR DREAD IT ?? Love the first snow fall... until I have to drive in it, or when it gets all muddy or footprinty.

12. Can you ice skate? A little, we did take lessons as kids but Jamie was much more interested than me.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? Not really, each year there was a favorite... topped by another favorite the next year. If I had to pick one, it was the year my parents agreed to pay for my airfare to S. Carolina so I could attend a wedding for one of Adam's best friends. This was a big step for my parents who firmly believe that sex is for marriage and that traveling with a boyfriend is "dangerous".

14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Cozy times at home as a family.

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? The little peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate that my mom makes.

16. Which do you prefer giving or Receiving? Giving, but receiving is fun too!

17. What is your favorite Christmas Song? Silent Night, it reminds me of the reason for the season and has a comforting melody.

18. Candy canes? Only the fruit flavored ones.

frustration

I really don't have time to post now... because I've spent every chance I had, times I wanted to be posting, fighting with Google and Blogger Beta to find the right log in combination. I think I have it now but don't have actual time to write actual interesting information.

I should never have switched to Beta!

The Circus!

We had such a great time at the circus a couple weekends ago. I didn't actually take any pictures of circus stuff because, well, I don't really care about those people, I care about these people:
Brianna and Grant hugging during intermission in Pop Pop's lap. (see Daddy trying to get out of the frame?)



Brianna was a little afraid when we first arrived but quickly fell in love with the circus. Here is Brianna and Grandma oohing over something.


Grant and his favorite part of the night, clapping! He actually was close to sleeping after intermission. It was really cute... he would be super cuddly and have just closed his eyes, then something big would happen and everyone would clap. He would pop up and clap with everyone, then try and settle into sleep as soon as it was done.

Where does the time go?

It is an old question, and one that I seem to ask myself a lot.

Grant, my baby, is a toddler. He is trying to walk. He only drinks from a sippy cup, and that cup, holds real milk instead of formula (well, soy milk due to his alergy). He eats table food. We are donating all our remaining jars of baby food to a food pantry this holiday season. (I overstocked just a little!) He likes all bread products and bread like products, meatballs, chicken nuggets, soy/veggie cheese, bananas, and applesauce. We can't get him to eat veggies but we keep trying and I'm going to start slipping baby vitamins into his milk once a day. I don't know how he manages it all with only 2 teeth, but he's amazing.

Daily, I look at my kids and wonder where the time went. I am especially hard hit when I have to put away the outfits they outgrow after wearing once, or not wearing at all. I save all those... just in case.

This is a dangerous phase for me. I don't have a baby anymore, and my little one is not yet toddler enough to be difficult. It's this phase that I think about another one. And Adam checks my pills daily! (just kidding, but he might consider it!) I'm not ready for another baby now, but I want one, someday. But that, is another story for another YEAR!

Congratulations, It's about Dang time!

Britney has filed for a divorce from Kevin.

Congratulations Brit. I am proud of you and know you will do better with out him. Next time, think about your children when you pick a husband. You should have known he was a dog when he wasn't faithful to Char or his children with her. Why did you think you would be different?

Way to go!

My baby is a teenager in disguise

It has been an interesting start to the week with Ms. Brianna. Did you know that she is 3 now? What no one tells you is that 3 is WAY worse than 2! It might be terrible 2 but it's dreadfully, very bad, appalling 3. She knows what is wrong, and that is why she does things. She chooses to intentionally do the things she knows are wrong. Sorry readers of children who are not yet 3... this is typical and it will happen to you too!

Monday, I picked the kids up from school at normal time in the normal way. She put on her coat, she waved goodbye to her friends, we started driving. Somewhere in the first five minutes, we argued because I told her she couldn't take off her shoes and socks. Sometime not long after that, we argued because she wanted to take off her seatbelt. And then because she couldn't take off her coat. And then she started yelling at me.

I calmly and quietly told her that if she didn't stop yelling, she would be in Time out when we got home. She stopped yelling, for a minute or so.

And then it happened, loudly but not yelling, she said "I don't want to go home, I don't want to go to time out, I want to stay at school." She said it again.... and again... and like 25 times after that. Always in the same angry loud but not yelling voice. I wish you could hear it! BUT... that's not the topper... when she finally realized I was not going to respond, she repeated it one more time with a little addition tacked on the end...
"I don't want to go home, I don't want to go to time out, I want to stay at school. Those are your choices mommy!"

I swear I thought I would pee my pants from holding in the laughter! I barely was able to drive the car with the tears in my eyes. I giggle even now, days later.

Tuesday was a completely different little girl. She had her first Gymnastics class with out a parent in the room! We have been doing parent-tot gymnastics for over a year but this was her first class where mommy watched from the observation room instead of helping out with the class. I would be lying if I said I didn't get a little emotional. The start was a little rough. We'd been talking about this for over a week but she clung to me and wouldn't participate. After 15 minutes, she waved at me and blew kisses but still wouldn't do most of what they asked. Finally at 30 min. through the 45 min. class she was back to her old self. I really hope next week goes better. I think I'll make daddy go!

I am just a little sick

I am a planner!

Today I was having a discussion with some friends about divorce rates. We figured that out of the 4 of us, at least one of us would be getting divorced at some time... probably 2 of us if averages hold.

I revealed the fact that while I've never thought about divorcing Adam, at least not seriously, I have seriously made plans in case he dies. I know that this is a stupid thing to do. Adam is a safe driver, doesn't fly much, and is relatively healthy despite recent events.

Still...
If Adam dies, I will:
1. Ask for help from my parents and his to pay off my house. I don't like the thought of groveling but I could never afford the house alone.
2. Apply for assistant principal positions immediately. Right now, I only take home about $1000 a month after you subtract daycare from my take home pay! Can't raise 2 kids on that.
3. I would marry again. Not right away of course but eventually. I am not good at being alone.

Is this sick?

I think it's especially sick that my children might someday read this...
But I am who I am!

Life in the twilight zone

Today:

-I worked at work, most of the day anyway.
-Both kids were awake before we had to wake them up.
-One of the two kids woke up happy and was actually smiling when we walked in her room AND was willing to potty and get herself dressed without argument!
-I didn't spend too much money on lunch/food.
-I got done all the things I set out to do.

I think the life Karma is waiting to really hit me where it hurts....
Waiting.....

Celebrity Best Friends?

Reese and Ryan are splitting.

I am very sad. I always found a lot of connections between Reese and myself.
- We both met and married young.
- We actually got married the same year.
- We have 2 kids.
- She grew up in the midwest (Nashville).
- We are about the same age.

If I had to pick one celebrity to be best friends with, I always thought it would be Reese.

What about you? What celebrity do you connect with most?

Just one moment

My life is full of stress, and some days I thrive in it. I really try and take joy from what I do. Even when I can't find the joy in something, I know that tonight, I'm going to take my beautiful children in my arms and they will love me unconditionally. Grant will snuggle in my neck as he's falling asleep and Brianna will see how hard she can hug me and we will both giggle.

I don't feel that I am a great writer. I am fine, but I will never be able to use my own words to truly make my feelings known. So, today I'm going to borrow someone else's words.

Yesterday, this song really touched me. I had a average to bad day at work, and 2 cranky kids, and spent over $80 buying almost nothing at the grocery store, But this song was me, is me.

Some people think I'm crazy
But try to understand
I get satisfaction
Out of everything I can
The losers and the winners
The laughter and the tears
The noises of the day to day
Is music to my ears
And I like it
Yeah I like it, whooa

Gonna live it up this time
And dance like the song is never ending
Gonna get so high tonight
You won't be able to bring me down
Cause I like it
Yeah, I like it

Driving down the highway
The wind is in my hair
And if I hit a traffic jam
I swear that I won't care
Living the lows
Makes the highs that much higher
And the sun will shine through
The smoke and fire of love
Whooa, love
Whooa

Gonna ride this merry-go-round
And dance like the night is never ending
Gonna get so high on life

You won't be able to bring me down
Cause I like it
Yeah, I like it
Oh, baby, I like it
Whooa, I like it

A sea couldn't wash away
The happiness I've come to find since love
Has taught me how to break
Break these chains that hold me back

Noisy streets and the sleepy bars
And the neon signs and the rusty cars
How many nights have I wondered how
One goes through life without seeing the beauty of love
Whooa, the beauty of love
Whooa

Gonna live it up in this town
And dance like the song is never ending
Gonna get so high tonight
You won't be able to bring me down

And I like it
Yeah, I like it
Whooa, baby, I like it
Oh, yeah, I like it

(That's the beauty of life)

Artist: Dixie Chicks Album: Taking The Long Way Title: I Like It

The Halloween Parade!

Brianna, looking all cool, TOTALLY excited to see mommy in the middle of the day:




Grant, totally adorable, at least until he noticed me and started WAILING!!!!

Worst mommy in the world... or the best?

Wednesday I was called away from work again to pick up a sick child. This time it was Brianna. She was running a minor fever and was just very lethargic. I took her home. She stayed home Thursday with Adam, partly because she was still not herself, partly because the daycare center makes you keep them home for 24 hrs after a fever. By last night she was begging to run around and play so we let her attend her normally scheduled gymnastics class. She did great!

However, around bed time last night I noticed she was running a low fever again. I think we let her over do it! I really should have kept her home from school today. I didn't. I gave her Tylenol before bed, and again right before school, and I have my fingers crossed that she will make it through her day. The worst mommy in the world, right? I sent my sick kid to school where she could be miserable... not to mention possibly passing along her bug.

BUT... don't get out the electric chair yet! Today at school was her Halloween parade and party. She has been talking about showing her friends her Cinderella dress for W.E.E.K.S. And I was so excited that I got a friend to sub for one of my classes today so I could run over there and take pictures of the parade. I just couldn't make her stay home today. Best mommy in the world?

I'll settle for somewhere in between.

Funny Funny Funny

Check out this ad.


(you don't have to pay to watch the ad, only to download it.)

The HAT!

One more picture of Grant's general attitude during the festivities.

Thanks for the hat Aunt Judy!

Birthday Pics!

Grant and his Dairy Free cupcake lovingly baked by Mom!



Grant after Mom took away his Binky to eat cupcake!
I hope it wasn't a reflection on my cooking!!!!!

One more reason why I can't post all that fun stuff

I am... at WORK on SUNDAY!

What the heck is wrong with that woman you ask????
Last week is the matter:
Monday and Tuesday- Every spare minute and some not so spare minutes
spent cleaning and generally preparing/shopping for big first birthday
party.
Wednesday- left work early to finish preparation... Birthday party at
5:30 (which by the way, guests (who do not work for a living) did not bother to show until around 6... more on that rant later perhaps!)
Thursday- received page in middle of important meeting, Grant was
running 103.4 temp! leave meeting.. rush to dr... only to have them
say that it's "nothing" and to wait it out. Arrange for my mom to
come out and spend day with Grant on Friday because he can't go back
to daycare and I have to teach an important lesson on Friday!
Friday- get interrupted while teaching important lesson to have
building nurse tell me that hubby is in nurses office in such severe
stomach cramps that he can't walk... do I want to drive him to the
hospital or should they call the ambulance? (Have I mentioned before
that Adam and I work in the same building?) Spend rest of Friday in ER
with A getting IV fluids and medicine only to have dr say... it's
"nothing" probably just stomach flu. (see also vomiting and diarrhea!)
Saturday- A is actually fine, Grant is improving quickly, I sleep- A
LOT, but we have to cancel big night out plans! We actually were
planning on going to a friends wedding... babysitter and hotel room
cancelled.

I can't wait to see what this week will hold!

When it rains, it pours

More things I will blog about when I have the time:

Grant’s birthday party
The stress of prepping for Grant’s birthday party
Pictures of said party
Memories of Grant’s first year
Funny things Brianna says now that sound grown up
Pictures, of course
Why my husband can be a real donkey sometimes
Why I put up with said donkey
Why work stinks
Why I should never try and be innovative
Why I am proud of being a good, working, mom

Horrible World

This makes me sick!

How could a mother....
UGH!

Crazy Busy and just tired!

No time to post... no energy to think... up coming posts may include:

Brianna and her fear of just about everything!

Grant and his ability to climb stairs faster than me!

The BIG BIRTHDAY!

Photos and more photos!

The worlds most delicious cupcakes which I, myself, baked and thus completely ruined my Weight Watchers week!

Work and how I think I am awesome at it!

Any other suggestions?

And today's another "normal" day

When you have children, every emotion is magnified. The Joys are so much better. The sadness can be so much worse. But mostly, the fears.... they come more often and usually hit me like a freight train.

Last night, I feared for my life a little. I feared for my husbands life a little. I feared for my children's lives so much my body physically ached.

We spent a lovely evening in Chicago having my favorite meal, cooked by my mom, in honor of my dad's birthday. In the distance we could see dark clouds rolling in and lightening flashing. After the presents and pie, we packed up the kids, in their 'jammies, and headed home. We expected to hit rain. Adam was driving because I'm not good at night, my eyes start to hurt and I get REALLY sleepy. One thing about Chicago though, if you don't live there, is that the tall buildings deceive you on distances. The storm that looked miles away was really just outside the downtown area.

As soon as we hit the highway, the rain starting coming down in sheets. Sheets! Waterfalls! A Deluge! Long story short... our drive home was done entirely in various stages of invisibility. At good times, we could see 50-100 feet in front of the car and we drove about 40 mph. At the worst times we drove less than 10 mph and couldn't see our own headlights through the rain and marble sized hail. We thought about pulling over but two things stopped us.

In the back seat were two little heads, both slumped to the left, pudgy faces sleeping like angels. All we wanted was to get those two little people safely home, into their own beds. I turned around to check on them every time a semi-truck barreled past us. I checked on them after every minor accident we drove past. I spent a long time looking at them after the multiple car pile-up we drove by.

I used to worry about myself if my husband passed. I used to worry about him if something happened to me. Yesterday I worried about our will and our finances and what situation am I leaving my children in.

Am I over-reacting? Yeah, maybe a little. But I'm a mom, I get to over-react anytime I want to if my children are at stake. I guess that over-reacting gets bigger/better/worse too!

Birthdays

I started to write a post all about the drama and stress I felt in trying to plan Grant's first birthday party. But the problem is, it turns out it wasn't that dramatic, and now the stress is gone.

Long story short: October weekends are SO packed for my family, we just couldn't find a date when the family could all get together to celebrate. Or at least not one that was remotely close to his actual birthday. So. We are having it on a weeknight. And I feel bad that some family is inconvenienced to come after work, or leave work early, but I feel I had no choice.

In other news; Today Amalah made me cry. I only wish I could say the same things about my life, about my kids, about my husband... because I feel all the same things, I just can't write like that! WOW!

Halloween has been decided!

Halloween... the 2nd most important decision of my month, has been settled.

Luckily, I did not get the Dora dress I was bidding on. Sorry kids, Mommy was not willing to spend over $30 PLUS shipping to get ONE costume! It would have been at least another $30 for the other one.

Really though, it was a good thing. I went home Monday debating on paying too much for the princess Dora costume, or settling on the regular Dora costume. So I asked Brianna which one she wanted... to which she promptly answered... "I don't wanna be Dora anymore, I wanna be a princess! I wanna be Cinereya!" (That's Cinderella for all you people who don't speak three year old.)

SOOOOOOOOO, That actually made Brianna's costume really easy because we already have a Cinderella play dress. The only debate was what should Grant be....
Not Prince Charming, he's way to short!
Not a stepsister because, duh, he's a boy.
Maybe the dog... or the horse...
NO! WHAT WAS I THINKING... OF COURSE HE'LL BE A...... MOUSE!

Tuesday I won a very cute, and very reasonably priced mouse costume on e-bay. I will add a little t-shirt and some booties, and Voila! Cinderella's best friend, the mouse!

It's a little scary how thrilled I am!

Soon to come... the drama of planning Grant's first birthday party....

Stuff...

Halloween... I think we have decided on Dora and Boots. Brianna is almost out of this Dora phase and if we don't do it this year, it's never going to happen. Besides, I think I found the right costumes on E-bay and will be purchasing today to make sure I get them in plenty of time.

New Stuff... Did I mention that Grant can clap now? And that he loves music? Well, yesterday we were at my in-laws with all the 30 year old toys... I started playing on one of those little xylophone things and he stopped dead in his tracks, stared at me while I was playing, and then clapped for me when I was done. It was SO cute!
... Also... We have officially taken Grant off the bottle and put him on sippy cups cold turkey! I was so tired of washing the 4 cracking, leaky, bottles we own daily, I found a sippy he likes and today will buy a boat load of them... or atleast 12! (Why did we only own four crappy bottles... see January and February posts about discontinued bottles!)

Bad Mommy... Grant's dinner was all thrown off by a crazy schedule yesterday (he napped through lunch and didn't eat until 2:30!). It was made worse by dinner at the in-laws (7 adults and 4 kids in a room about 400 square feet). So, I did his dinner out of order; snacks, then veggies... then I should have done the bottle later. PEOPLE... I FORGOT TO GIVE HIM HIS BOTTLE! He didn't even mention it... until 2 am. Then he mentioned it, he mentioned it over and over for a half an hour until obtuse mommy figured out the problem! UGH, Sorry Grant!

And Bri- is fine. No real news. She's a stinker but I love her.

Halloween 04 and 05

Halloween Help Needed

Halloween is coming! Mothers everywhere are either working diligently to make their child the best costume ever, or scouring the stores to buy the one costume that will make their child have the perfect Halloween.

My mother made me Halloween costumes every year that I would let her. Some of my favorite costumes are still hanging in my closets in the hope that some year, they will fit my children just right. My mom spent hours and hours, late at night usually, sewing instead of sleeping.

2003-For Brianna's first Halloween, I made her a Tinkerbell costume. OK, honestly, it was just a green sleeper but I made a little tutu and wings.
2004-For her second Halloween, I made her a strawberry costume. Well, really, it was a red turtleneck and sweatpants but I hand sewed little black beads all over the shirt and made a collar out of felt that looked like leaves.
2005-Last Halloween, Brianna was a cowgirl. I bought a little denim dress and added fringe and bandana print detailing. That year was also Grant's first Halloween. He was a cow! I took a white sleeper and attached black felt spots.
2006-I don't know what to do! I love the idea of my kids having coordinated costumes, I think it's very cute and they are too young to protest. I think I will have to give up on making my kids costumes this year which makes me really sad. I just don't have the time and my skills are sorely lacking. My friend is having the same problem... Any ideas for us? Please help me decide:

Brianna- Princess; Grant- Frog... (not quite right because I really don't want the princess to kiss the frog).

Brianna- Dora the Explorer; Grant- Boots the Monkey... The Dora costume would be pretty easy but the monkey, not so much.

Any other ideas?

Photos, finally, I hope

Too Little, Too Late

Grant can clap his hands! People, this is amazing!

Suddenly on Sunday he just started trying this, and on Tuesday he actually made noise. He was SO excited he kept doing it over and over again. I, ran for the camera!

Of course by the time I put the batteries in (they were charging), and put the memory card it (I'd taken it out to do some downloads), HE STOPPED.

I tried in vain to get him to do it again for the next 20 minutes! No dice. Maybe next weekend...

Trying to post pictures for the third day in a row!

This is what I get instead of pictures... not nearly as enjoyable!

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No time to write, will post newish pics instead

Can't even post pics as blogger is being snotty!

Will try again later.

Confirmation denied

Grant has not really been calling me mama like I thought. I am saddened to think that it may have been a coincidence that he was babbling that sound combination at that time.

He can however wave to me! This is new and exciting and just shut up if you don't think so!

Worst mother in the world; part 35976

Today I sent Grant to school sick.

More specifically:
Grant woke up around two and had a fever. I did not actually take his temperature but people, a mom knows, he was hot, and not in the Paris Hilton way. I gave him Tylenol and we cuddled until I could feel that it was working. I tried putting him to sleep. For the next hour, we played the comfort the baby game. I comfort him for a few minutes and put him down. He sleeps for a few minutes, teasing mommy into thinking it worked, and then he screams until I come back again. Finally at around 3:30, I took him into bed with me. From there, we both slept in 30-45 minute stretches until whatever was wrong started bothering him again.

This morning, the fever was back, he was one hot little guy! However... I can't take off work today because I'm taking off (sort of) for a conference tomorrow and I can't stay on schedule if my students have 2 days of substitute instead of one... SO, I gave my little sicky more tylenol and hope that the 5-6 hours it buys me until daycare figures out that he's sick and shouldn't be there is enough.

That being said... what the heck am I doing writing on my blog when I should be working?

Momentous Occasion

Grant's first word is Mama!

He has been babbling mama, dada, gaga, etc for quite some time now and I didn't think they really had any meaning to him. I still took every opportunity to point to myself and say mama, or call myself mama when talking to him. Still, it sounded like babble when he said it.

Well this weekend, he specifically used Mama to refer to me. How can I be so sure all of a sudden?

WELL, when I left the room to use the restroom, he crawled after me and proceeded to sit outside the door crying and saying "Mama" over and over until I came out! Not my favorite way of finding out, but still momentous!

Ways I would have preferred to hear his first word, for the first time...
- When I pick him up from his crib in the morning.
- picking him up from daycare, with a big smile!
- anytime other than in the JOHN!