April 10, 2008

I have joined an online scrapbooking group. There is a challenge going on in this group to help us use what we have in our stash without spending money on new things and get what we have organized. One of the things they were talking about on this group is making page kits ahead of time so you've got several layouts just waiting to be made.

I decided to give the page kit thing a try. Tonight, I put together 10 page kits with pictures. I started with the pictures. This is usually how I start a page anyway. I pick my card stock and paper colors according to my pictures, so I figured this was the best way to go for me. Now, I have 10 pages waiting to be created. It took me about 2 1/2 hours to do this because I went through almost all of my stuff to add things to the kits. I put more than what I'll need in each kit because I like to change my mind and I like to build as I go.

As I was doing this I decided I really need to purge a couple of my boxes and I need to do something different with my ribbons. My daughter and I just went through the ribbons not long ago and straightened them up and they are already a mess again. So, hopefully this weekend I'll be able to get that accomplished.

Other things that happened today: Our dishwasher finally came (the right one), Michael finally got his truck back, and I had a very enjoyable conversation with my MIL.

April 9, 2008

OMG, what a freaking day it's been. I had to write three behavior referrals today. I've not had to write that many ALL YEAR and now three in one day. I don't have any idea what has gotten into some of my students. Two of my boys have been in trouble for throwing paper wads the past two days.

Michael went to get his truck today. It was finally done. He went out to look at it to find that they had painted it a totally different shade then the rest of the truck and then got an attitude with him because he wouldn't accept it. So, we're still using a rental car.

My dishwasher was supposed to be delivered today. They didn't get here until supper time (nice timing, eh?). They got the old dishwasher out and then brought in the new one. As they were taking it out of the box, we could tell something was wrong. First of all it was white. We ordered black. Second of all it was not even a Maytag. It was some cheapo brand. We've looked it up and that brand only costs a couple hundred dollars. Um, wrongo!!! So, it has to be reordered. No telling when we'll get it.

A valve broke when they were taking out the old dishwasher so Michael and his dad have been rushing around this evening trying to get that fixed just to have another one break.

Then, just a little while ago I spent an hour typing a response to an email to a friend just to have gmail log me out and NOT save what I typed except for the first couple sentences.

My plan had been to quickly shift through some emails and then get started on a scrapbook page. I was going to do the one that I have to do for Caleb's class. And, here it is over an hour later and I've not started yet. So, now it's time to get to it.

April 8, 2008

I've got a cold and I cannot stand being sick. I'm tired and I just want it to go away.

My Children are My Inspiration

It is Monday, April 7, 2008. I am 39 years old. I hate to say things like, “Where does the time go?” Because it sounds so cliché, but there it is. I’m of the age now where the passage of time just baffles me. I hate that. It makes me feel old. I don’t think I’m old. I mean I know I’m not a kid anymore, but I’ve still got a long ways to go before I die. At least I hope so.

I was watching my daughter walk from the van to my mom’s house this morning and just could not reconcile that big kid with the little four pound baby we brought home from the hospital. How is this the same child? She will be 9 years old in about seven weeks. She’s getting so tall already. Her legs are really long. I am so proud of her it’s unreal. But at the same time my hear breaks when I realize she’s never going to be that little child that needs me completely anymore.

Ah, but that is the catch 22 of parenting isn’t it? You want them to become independent and it actually is a help when you realize they can do things for themselves and do things to help you. But, it also means they don’t need you quite as much anymore.

I loved it when all my kids wanted/needed was to be in my arms. Knowing that they needed me that much was very gratifying. However, it was also stressful. Having to do everything for another person takes a lot of time and physical and mental energy. Caring for a baby, toddler and younger child is definitely a labor of love.

Now that they are getting older, it is so much fun to play games with them that they could not play when they were younger. There’s something bonding about doing household chores together and the teaching process that goes along with that. Giving them these responsibilities and sharing new fun stuff with them makes them develop and blossom. I can see both of my children becoming incredible people right before my eyes.

Caleb is one of the most loving and caring people I’ve ever met. He wants so badly to just have time with all of us and to have someone around all the time. He does not like to be alone, but at the same time he is becoming more independent and is developing his own interests. This means sometimes we have to do things we’re not interested in just so we can spend time with him and get to know him on his level. This can be annoying and joyful all at the same time.

Having children has taught me that it is possible to feel a hundred different emotions all at the same time. It’s taught me to take each day and enjoy the little things in it. It has taught me to love my children for who they are and be patient with their learning process. It’s taught me that each day is precious and that each smile is precious.

Being a parent has taught me that sometimes I have to have heartache in order to teach them something they need to understand. It’s taught me what my parents meant when they said, “This is going to hurt me more than it will you.”

Becoming a mother has taught me exactly what the word love really means. Love is realizing you want time to stand still and move forward at the same time because you want to hold on to those precious moments forever, but you can’t wait to see what new adventure there will be to share with your children.

(Note: This was written during my lunchtime at work after thoughts started swirling from watching my daughter walk from the van to her grandmother's door. It's also started giving me ideas for at least two scrapbook pages.)

April 6, 2008

I have not felt good today. I did not go to church. However, I did manange to get a few things around here done. I have not made it downstairs to get any scrapbooking done, which I really wanted to do this weekend. This week I'll need to work on averaging grades and getting report cards and packets for parents ready for PT conferences on the 17th and 18th.

It has been a beautiful day here as far as the weather is concerned. I would have loved to take my camera for a walk and get some of the blooming trees, but I just felt so icky I could not get myself to do it. However, I did get a few pictures of the kids taken outside. They spent most of the afternoon out in the back yard.

April 5, 2008

We spent the greater part of the day shopping for a new dishwasher. Ours died earlier this week. It was about 10 years old so it lasted a good amount of time.

We looked online at Consumerreports.com at the ratings and then went off to look at some in the stores. We went to Home Depot first and saw two models we liked. One was a Maytag and one was an LG. But, we decided to look further before making a final decision.

We stopped for lunch at Culver's. I'd never been there before. I was very leary of it because it just did not sound good. Butter Burger sounds like a stomach ache waiting to happen. But, it wasn't too bad. I got a Mushroom & Swiss burger and wish I'd gotten at least mayo on it because the mushrooms are not in a sauce like most places. The kids enjoyed it, too. Michael had eaten at one before out where he works.

Then, we went to American to look at dishwashers. We saw the same two models that we saw at Home Depot. But, still could not decide. So, we came home to look them both up on the Internet again. On a side note here, American had this deep freeze that was so huge you could put a body in it. I've never seen one of those that is that big. It just amazed me. The sales person told us that it was the model that Jeffery Dahmer had bought to put his victims in. He was serious, but I don't know if I believe him.

Anyway, we came home and looked up both models online again. It didn't really make it easier. There were just enough complaints about the LG to make me weary, but the Maytag is a brand new model so there are no customer reviews of it yet. We decided that we'd go with the Maytag since that's what we have now and have been happy with it.

So, we went back to Home Depot. Michael's dad went with us while the kids stayed with him mom. The plan was to bring the dishwasher home. But, they do not keep appliances in stock at the store. So, it's ordered and will be delivered and installed on Wednesday. Michael's dad will come over to supervise the installation since Michael and I both be at work.

April 4, 2008

I spent this evening sorting through and organizing two years worth of pictures. I had two photo boxes stuffed with picture envelopes. There was no rhyme nor reason to how they were shoved in there, they were just put in there to get them out of the way. So, they needed to be sorted and filed correctly in a desperate way.

Part of my problem is I take TONS of pictures. I've cut back lately, but still there are some events that I will just take hundreds of pictures at. My camera I got last summer makes it hard to delete any, too, because it takes such good pictures. Although, I've had a couple times I've put it on the wrong setting and oh boy did I get some bad pictures.

Then, there is the fact that I seem to order tons of prints at one time. When I pre-pay for prints at www.clarkcolor.com I can get them for 9 cents a print. You won't find them any cheaper anywhere else and the quality is good.

And, of course, the fact that I will never be able to scrap fast enough to keep up with my life means that I'll always have tons of photos sitting waiting for me. Especially since I am a procrastinator and have a tendency to just let things sit somewhere until they are driving me crazy. So, I had a mess.

It took me over two hours to get them in decent order. I ended up filling up the two empty photo boxes I had. At some point I will put some in just plain photo albums. But, that will have to wait until I know I've used what I wanted for my scrapbooks.

I do have a goal to do two layouts a week during April. I also want to finish the one layout that's been laying on my table for a month now. And, I need to make a get well card for my SIL. So, that is my plan for exercising my scrap booking creativity. Next is to make a plan for my writing and my photography.

April 3, 2008

There are times I feel like something is supposed to be happening or is about to happen. Or, I feel like something is trying to just bubble out of me. I've been feeling like that a lot lately. I am pretty sure it's a muse trying to happen, but nothing is actually coming out. I've got myself so blocked I'm not sure how to come out of it.

I'm embarrassed to admit it's been a long time since I've written anything other than a lesson plan, blog or grocery list. I know part of it is because I've gone so long and now I'm afraid to even try to start. I know that doesn't make sense, but it's the way it works.

However, the fact remains that my creative muscles are in desperate need of some flexing. I've not even done any scrap booking in well over a month. I've not taken any artistic type pictures in a couple months, either. No wonder I'm feeling pent up. I seriously feel like I'm going to burst. I have not exercised any of my creative outlets lately.

April 2, 2008

Tonight I went to Michaela's girl scout meeting. I stayed around for the whole meeting. I hadn't really planned on it tonight, but I was there anyway. I don't know maybe I'm too picky, but the girls in Michaela's troop have a real problem with showing respect by listening when the troop leader is talking. They have their meetings in a room in a church where sound just bounces and echos and of course they are girls so they tend to get noisy.

But, tonight it really got to me. The leader was trying to explain the procedure to putting out the April Showers bags and none of them were listening. They were giggling and talking (loudly) amongst themselves and interrupting the leader. I finally stood up and yelled "TIME OUT!" Mainly to get their attention. They quieted down and looked at me and I preceded to tell them they were being rude and disrespectful and that we needed them to listen. They all looked at me like I had two heads. Maybe I'm too used to being in the classroom, but I just cannot take that kind of behavior.

What gets me is there were four other moms there that told me they were happy that I did that and that the girls needed someone to reign them in, but I seem to be the only one there out of 6 adults that was willing to put my foot down. I guess I'm just the mean grouchy mom.

April 1, 2008

I stayed home from work today with Caleb. He had a fever when he woke up this morning. I really had not planned on taking anymore sick days this year. I do have one personal day I’m going to use later this month, but you have to plan those ahead of time.

Anyway, Michael did not know if the one person who could fill in for him was going to be at work and his parents have been sick themselves. So, I stayed home. Once the Tylenol did it’s thing, of course Caleb wanted to play.

I took him to the doctor. She gave him some Zithromax. I guess he has a sinus infection. I’ve kept him dosed with Tylenol today. It seems to have helped. He’s got more energy than I’ve got. Although it comes in bursts and then he lays down for a short time.

He and I played Raving Rabbids 2 on the Wii for a little while. Other than that we didn’t do much but hang out around the house.

By the time Michael got home I was not feeling great. I’m getting a sore throat, but I think it’s from sinus drainage. Yeah. It’ll get worse before it gets better. The minute the oak trees start blooming my nose will start going crazy. At least it’s not as bad as the ragweed in the fall.