100 things I am thankful for.........

100 things.........this is going to be a snap!
1. Delaney
2. Jackson
3. Kennedy
4. My husband
5. my mom
6 my sisters
7. Amy
8. Jen
9. blogs
10. music
11. Nebraska Football
12. Nebraska Volleyball
13. Adi
14. Kaden
15. Alissa my greatest sitter
16. scrapbooking
17. Deb
18. friendships rekindled
19. calculators
20. heaters
21. my van
22. the store
23. money
24. christmas music
25. health
26. Dr Adams
27. Christmas season
28. church
29. sunday school
30 computers
31. in laws
32. out laws
33. technology
34. Bible
35. God
36 my Dyson
37. stamps
38. post office
39. stubbornness
40. contacts
41. dishwasher
42. microwave
43. shoes that I can't find
44. washer
45. dryer
46. internet
47. Target
48. that perfect ice you know the little itty bitty cubes like shaved type
49. Diet Dr Pepper on the fountain
50. garage
51. no homework
52. Dave Letterman
53. Robin Williams
54. Facebook
55. books
56. simply audiobooks
57. Close To My Heart
58. nieces
59. nephews
60. students who really really try hard and want to learn
61. students who talk to me and are great communicators
62. nice secretaries
63. PC's
64. ichat
65. my pillow
66. crockpots
67. pledge
68. window cleaner
69. people with a sense of humor
70. smiling
71. Mad Libs
72. Crafts
73. Parents who want the best for their kids
74. science
75. televisions
76. flowers
77. summer
78. swimming pools
79. vacation
80. long road trips
81. Coleridge
82. honest people
83. candles
84. sinks that drain
85. science experiments
86. people who think out of the box
87. self confidence
88. markers
89. March Madness
90. Will Ferrell
91. funny movies
92. board games
93. coloring books
94. positive people
95. glasses half full
96. contacts
97. family
98. integrity
99. online banking
100. 15th of the month

Middle School

Can I begin to tell you how excited I am about a middle school here? Yes, I understand there is going to be a big period of change and growth for everyone involved, but really it is going to be a great thing to be a part of. It really has been something that we have talked about for so long I am just so pumped that it is going to be a reality. There is one thing I am upset about......and that is that I won't get to see the high schoolers in our halls anymore. One of the best things about teaching is watching the kids grow up into the fine adults that we have had graduate from this establishment in the past. I will miss that. But I am so excited for all of the opportunities we will be able to provide that we maybe can't provide daily now..........it is going to be great! I am anxious and nervous in many ways to meet the 5-8th graders from Laurel that will be here next year. I worry about not remembering all of their names..............I am sure it won't be long and I will be calling each of them by their brother's or sister's names.............kids this age always just love that :-)
I am also excited that my kids will be Laurel Bears...........and will be able to meet all of the great people that teach in Laurel. I know they have the best in mind for everyone! They are really great people! I am also excited that in the not so long future.........they will also get to be Coleridge Bulldogs...what a great combination!

10 things I would change about the world

1. Cure Cancer
2. Make every student have a zest for life and a huge desire to learn
3. Everyone would have creativity coming out of their eyeballs
4. People would not judge and criticize others
5. Books would be free
6. Free healthcare for everyone
7. no rich or poor..............just everyone equal
8. people would not be given the ability to complain
9. only positive people in the world
10. everyone would have great moral values, be able to say please and thank you .......they would be honest and hard working and would work to their full potential everyday.

Gingerbread letters

gingerbread letters to a kindergarten class in Texas.............

HERE IS THE LETTER TO THE PARENTS:
When we return from Thanksgiving, we will have a big adventure during the month of December. We will read several versions of The Gingerbread Man to the children. Each class will have a stuffed gingerbread man in our room to connect the children with this character from the story. The gingerbread man in our rooms will “disappear” and we will discover that he’s run away from us, just like in the story! After predictable hysteria, we will start making a plan to get him back. We will write letters to him and involve the children in solving the mystery. We will learn about many new places and integrate history and social studies with great excitement! Please help us with this adventure, by having your friends and relatives send postcards from around the country (or even overseas if you can) to report sightings of our missing gingerbread man. Each postcard will be attached to a map and tracked. To keep it exciting, please ask your friends and family to:
• Write as if they were the gingerbread man. For example, “Hi boys and girls, here I am in sunny Florida. I decided to stop by and see Mickey Mouse. He was fast but he still couldn’t catch me!”
• Please ask them to send the card like this: “Dear Ms. Adams’ Class“. The class will be so excited to get cards addressed to them.
• Start sending those in and I’ll hold on to them until we begin. The mail gets bogged down during this time, so contact your friends and family right away!!!
PS…This is a secret, so please don’t tell your kindergartner about it.

Mail postcards to:
Ms. Adams’ Class
Jo Ella Exley Elementary
21800 Westheimer Parkway
Katy, TX 77450

Lost trashcan

So two weeks ago, I bought a new trashcan for my bathroom. Nothing too fancy, just a regular ole trashcan. Which I bring home and put in the bathroom, use it for a week...............and now missing. The lid is on the counter, but the trash can is GONE..............seriously does this type of stuff happen to everyone, or it is just something that happens only to me?

My roommate from college called last night. She told me her 2 year old son was standing in the toilet and her 4 year old was flushing the toilet. He would giggle and laugh and then run to the next toilet when he was taken out. Yeah she tells me can you top this? I said no..........but I refuse to say that something is the biggest, or the best or the worst, because something will always top it. PERIOD. I know how my life works, it isn't ever the end, it isn't ever the top dog.....................there is always something that is going to top it.

Maybe a lesson in the making here...........enjoy the highs and lows..........and understand God always grants us more to live and learn from. Pretty deep thinking from a little boy standing in a toilet. If only she could invent brushes to put on those shoes of his..........we might still be able to recreate males!!!!! HE HE HE

Michaels Photo Entry - Elegant Gift Containers

Michaels Photo Entry - Elegant Gift Containers

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My Bucket List

Top 25 things I would do, if only so long to live

1. Take my kids to the ocean
2. Write cards for each of my kid's major events upcoming
3. Video tape important messages to my kids
4. Fill my linen closets with fresh everything
5. Take my mom on a trip somewhere
6. Get away for the weekend with just Jeff
7. Make a list of my favorite books
8. Get caught up scrapbooking
9. Go to Vegas with college friends
10. Go to Disney with my kids
11. Send flowers to my best friends
12. Tell people that are important to me just how important they are
13. Plan my celebration of life ceremony (aka funeral)
14. Wake up earlier, go to bed later
15. Watch Dave Letterman nightly
16. Quit complaining about the weather or things we can't change
17. Go shopping with my sisters
18. Live without regrets
19. Laugh the longest ALL of the time
20. Spend days on end at home.........just playing, forget housework, be a kid again
21. Write down all my favorite recipes for my kids to have
22. Travel all the 50 states with the kids
23. Go to Ireland
24. Label all my Christmas ornaments
25. Tell my 8th graders how great their bucket lists are, how much I enjoy teaching them, and challenge them to do every last thing on their list

Feathery Flakes

This just might end up being my Christmas card this year. Made with feathery flakes and white daisy grosgrain, and the little pearls from the Connection Club. I stamped Feathery Flakes in outdoor denim and twilight and then sponged over with juniper. Pretty simple, and easy. Hope you enjoy.

Passion

I think the word Passion is so important in everything we do everyday. I posed this topic to my 8th graders today and it took them a long time to get writing. I think with age it is easier to accept our passions in life and run with them. It is so hard for 13 and 14 year olds just to have enough confidence in themselves that they can just be okay with what they are interested in.
I have a lot of things that I am passionate about. First off..........kids. My kids, your kids........I just really enjoy the process of watching kids grow up and learn through experiences. If I wasn't passionate about kids in general, I know for sure teaching wouldn't work for me. I have a passion for technology. How can I use technology to make my life easier? It is an ongoing search. This blogging is a great way to read journals..........a great way for students to write without thinking so much about it. So much easier than pen and paper. My passion for my own kids hopefully is evident too...........they really make my days brighter, and I am so glad that I have someone to share this world with. There is nothing better than seeing them learn something for the first time and hear their thoughts on it. This morning I was getting ready for work and Delaney from the breakfast table says "This tastes like Florida....................." I then asked her what she was talking about .........and she says "The oatmeal tastes like Florida." That blonde is a natural color............hate to say it.
Another passion I have is papercrafting.........or scrapbooking, cardmaking, etc. You name it, I like to see if I can make it with paper. I sometimes have a fear that my work isn't good enough for everyone else, but it really relaxes me. I am always looking for new ideas. It is such a fun thing to see everyone else's ideas and then try to think outside the box for myself.

Woman thinking

Ok so last night was a meeting for Jeff. I am home with the kids on my own. Delaney and Jackson were having a good night playing together, so I actually got a few things done around the house. Being gone all weekend, I have to make up for lost time. Amazing how I think huh? Jeff is just making up at the store, but I make up at home, and at work. So I cleaned the upstairs while the kids played downstairs. Hear again, I should remember, where ever I try to gain an inch, I will lose a mile somewhere else in the house. Case in point, every blanket we had in the house was spread all over the basement floor, and yes at least three outfits were changed. So I send them up to the tub to so I can clean up the basement, and I hear them laughing and giggling, this should alert me right, well no. I continue cleaning and picking up doing that whole bending over thing that no man is able to accomplish........more giggling. Umm hmm. Go upstairs, to find Jackson in the tub with a super soaker. In that room that I just cleaned. Seriously, why do I try? So we watch the nightly show of Blues Clues, and guess who comes down from her bed, Kennedy. Kennedy who had been sleeping for the past hour, wakes up and comes down to watch Blues Clues. UMM HMM. No diaper on either.........grand, just grand. This is a day in my life here folks, you really can't make it up. So everyone happily finishes watching Blues Clues, and then head to bed. Then Jeff comes home, and says, "How was your night?" Obviously he didn't see the wet floor in the bathroom, or that some of the clothes from Mt Everest have been folded, or smelled anything fresher than a diaper in the house.............yeah, in the whole scheme of things my house alignment doesn't matter................but it will to Granny Smith who is visiting on Wednesday............you really can't make this stuff up.
Delaney...........was building a CONTRAPTION..........with all of her blankets...seriously where does she come up with this?
Jackson is convinced that he can stand upright jump up in the air, and land on his side. He is convinced that nothing can hurt him. Broken arm I feel it coming.
Kennedy has hit her terrible twos! She threw a fit the other night at home for about 20 minutes over nothing, stands and stomps her feet. She did the same last night when we were out for supper.........WOW, I mean screaming, and we went to the van and she sat and screamed for another 10 minutes. And constantly in something. It is just beginning. ...........

By the way...........

I went back and reread my blog of the summer..........yeah I relived every moment..........insanity and all.....................

I am going to come back and reread on those days that I am counting down until summer............

countdown to summer 2010...........258 days.

HI HO HI HO

Yeah........so maybe the statement is I owe I owe so off to work I go. Tomorrow is doom's day. The day where I begin living for the weekend. I haven't won the powerball yet, so I guess here I go again. Seriously have I ever mentioned that I would do a lot of good for a lot of people if I won that big one? When I win it you can hold this against me deal?
So yeah.........today I began thinking of all of the things that I struggled keeping up with when I was home all summer, and yet trying to brainstorm how to fix those problems and keep up with everything else. I usually had meals in the freezer for one night a week, but never got to that this summer. My room at school has one bulletin board done, as I have only been up to school for about 3 hours total, with a 18 month old with me. It just amazes me how my husband can always go back to work and do this and that and for me to put my job first.........yeah that never happens. I guess also I live by the motto that a job is the only thing that can't love you back. I wholeheartedly believe that it will get done........school starts Wednesday, and I will be ready for Wednesday.
I also am struggling with daycare this fall. We are switching daycare and I have that fear for my kids. I know they will adjust fine, and they will love it there, but I guess it is just getting there. Just like my job, the worst part is getting there. Once I am there it will be fine, just getting there is the work of it. I also know that it is my job to schedule everything........schedule daycare, fix the meals, do the laundry, clean the house........etc. It just all piles on. Right now I am so happy I am 2 minutes from school, and I need to focus on my job when I am there and focus on home when I am here. My kids come first and I honestly know it is 4:15 when I pick them up at 8:15 when they go to bed........I need to make those 4 hours the best 4 hours of their day and spend the time with them, and the rest will get done when they are in bed. Period. No negotiations there...........remind me of this please.
Everyone has 24 hours in a day, it is just a matter of what we want to fill our days with.........tomorrow is another new chapter. Let the year begin!

8 years ago........

Yep 8 years ago was our wedding day. Lots of things have changed in 8 years, I can't imagine all the things that will change in the next 8 years. Jeff and I went out for supper for our anniversary. Just him and I. Boy was it quiet without kids......seriously I still had the ability to spill food on myself so that I had a stain on my shirt, but seriously what did I do before kids? I wonder if he belched in front of me the whole first night that I dated him, I am quite sure that I wouldn't have been attracted to that right? And then I understand shopping probably wasn't something that we did on our first date.........but did he really follow me around the whole store? Breathing heavily and asking stupid questions about things that really don't matter? And does he really have to pick up the huge breakable vases and look at them? Just to see how heavy they are? Seriously, I struggle with man thinking. I also think maybe the conversation was a little more in depth back then. Now we talk kids..............and more kids .......and when we get tired of that ........KIDS. Oh and........yeah on our first year anniversary he surprised me with a trip to Ohio.............year number eight..........umm yeah.....not even a card. Don't get me going. I guess I will be purchasing my own anniversary gift. I am sure it will have a lot of thought behind it, be something that I really need or want.........and be bought with his credit card. I guess I have a little something to hold over his head for the next year. He told me that if he would have gotten a card at the store I would have went off on that also.........true........but sometimes the little things really do mean the most..............something else to add to Jackson's man training. Seeing how the bending over and the searching training is still in process, adding one more thing won't be that hard right? Also I am quite sure that those margaritas at Micheal's didn't affect me the way they did tonight. I am a lot cheaper date than I used to be..........I know this.
As for the kids day, we were outside all day today. It is amazing to me how we get outside and they have to have me right there. I tried on various occasions to come in and fold laundry right by the window so I could still see them.........but no.........today I had to be right by them. So........I worked in the garden a little today. Picked tomatoes, cucumbers, and squash................put them in a wagon and pulled the wagon up front and came back to the wagon and all my tomatoes gone.........Kennedy put them into the bounce house and was using them as balls to jump on. Seriously.......................where does she come up with these ideas. Kind of a slow day in Kennedy's world, only 3 outfits......that is all she went through. Seriously the kids go through a lot less outfits per day if I just put them in their swimsuits at the start of the day. Great thinking I know. Also the heat here is nothing after being in Texas heat for a week. Everything really is bigger and better in Texas. Anywhere from 102 degrees to 113 degrees.....down to 85 here.
Got home tonight and the babysitter was a little frazzled. She said that drama was everywhere tonight. UMM HMM ..........how do you get a 18 year old to understand that this is what we go through daily? She is great with the kids but she really does see the work of them too. Not a bad lesson for an 18 year old to learn. Maybe that is really a mission I should attack more, or maybe there is money for me to make here.......people pay how much a month for birth control? I am quite positive that days like today would make some people sterile. Not a bad thought. Maybe it should be called STERILE STRAIGHTJACKETS for everyone! Great thinking if you ask me.

back to reality

Two weeks and we are going to be totally back into reality. I hate to say it, but think we are ready for a routine again. I have a new sitter lined up, I am nervous to see how they all react, but really it was my only choice. Woman guilt. Isn't it great? I tried guilting Jeff into taking a day off so he could be with the kids.........funny how women are the only ones that really get the guilt. It really isn't that he doesn't care, it is just the fact that he can't feel the guilt.
The kids are amazingly crabby today. WOW.......I know they are tired and just worn out but this is crazy. I am trying to tie up the lose ends of the house........and they are into everything they shouldn't be. Jackson is pushing and shoving everyone and then when they push back he just stands there and screams. Yikes!
Delaney has started her Christmas list already.........she told ole Aunt Krissy she needs a new tutu. Jackson has decided he is going to be a monster for Christmas. All fitting isn't it?

I missed a week.......

Well we are home. Guess I missed a week blogging, but this too shall pass. We had a great time! I have had a lot of people ask me if it was worth it and ..........YES! Totally! There is nothing like being home though. It really is great to have the kids be happy in what we have at home too! I am back to doing laundry, and cleaning, and cooking.......this real world sucks!!! But I guess we have something to look forward to for the next year.

I can not even begin to start with vacation happenings. But I will admit to the fact that I have changed into my mother and father so quickly I can't even stand it. I remember going on vacation and not having a plan of where to end up........no hotel, nothing just going. And we stayed in some pretty interesting places on those trips. Let me just say my husband is more like my dad than I ever admitted to before I married him. I can't tell you how many times on vacation I told Jeff that he needed gas and I would point out a place and of course he would have to object and just drive on only to pay 20 cents more per gallon 10 miles down the road. Beat me. Then I also am a back seat driver. Mirror mirror on the wall I am my mother after all. Yeah I have to admit I saved us from being killed on a couple occasions, and probably am a little freer with flying the bird than my mother ever was........but yeah the yelling at Jeff is so unbecoming and I know it.

Kid Moments:
Delaney is now swimming full fledged. We swam the last night in Texas and this little mite came in. She told Delaney she was four and then went from one end of the pool to the other........under water........kicking and splashing and everything. Sure enough......that is all it took for a little motivation for ole Delaney. She looks at me and then across the pool she goes. Take that! I don't know where she gets her competitive nature from!
Jackson has a new way of getting a hold of Jeff..........dad...dad...DAD......JEFF. It is great. JEFF ....JEFF ..........JEFF. I also have no idea where he gets that from.
Kennedy loves the middle position in the vehicle. I can't tell you how many times I would look back and she would be pinching, prodding or pushing someone. She too knows how to get attention!!! Funny how that works. She will still be cute when she is doing all of these things right?

Day 2

Ok yesterday being uneventful only led to today being a little more eventful. Wake up 8:00.....continential breakfast delivery ........my job. UMM HMM........there I stand making waffles........so much for vacation. Delivery......everyone happy....husband gone. Yeah making his own waffles and going to eat them on his own leisure. Gotta love the man. Pool time, everyone enjoying the water and the heat of the sun so the morning is going quite smoothly. Then......packing up. Yeah the dreaded getting organized time in our lives. Jeff is out at the van organizing and I am left with the kids.............about that time here comes Kennedy doing the whole need to catch my breathe screaming deal..........yeah hand in the door. First thing that runs through my head is Oklahoma City Emergency Room..........you have the picture don't you? Yeah well........4 stitches later......a little motrin.........and later......a little tylenol with codine (can I use that for everyone?) The doctor said two things that are pretty indictive of my world........"She screams like a Husker fan" and "She is a pretty tough little girl"..... umm hmm she has a sister and brother both 2 yeara older than her, she has to be. Ole brother Jackson might have helped Kennedy earn the first stitches in this family, and I am quite sure that it won't be the last.

So yeah onward again. Everyone slept this afternoon, those might have been the most quiet 100 miles that we will see in this trip.....made a phone call home to my mom and I told her we ended up in the ER and Kennedy has 4 stitches.....she was bawling. Great guilt at it's best...because no one and I mean NO ONE can guilt me like she does. Of course she is convinced that there is no superivision going on in my house at any given time........she is great. Amazing how she has forgotten.......and I have scars of many places that should have had stitches and didn't. Of course there are also the wounds that I wouldn't have shown her at the time I did them either......that is a whole other point.

We stopped to play at another Playland this afternoon...........closed................AWESOME. Jackson continued to scream like a girl laying on the floor for what seemed like an eternity. We go back to the van and of course Kennedy has done her duty so we are looking for a new diaper. Unpacking, repacking.........seriously we should be more organized. I was throwing stuff out of the vehicle left and right and I saw a vehicle pull up behind me.......I ignored them. I really don't care what else goes on around me at this point. I see them pull out and then pull up to the back of the vehicle......I go around to the other side and continue to pull out other items we no longer need..........and then note they are talking to Jeff and Jeff has stopped what he is doing to talk to them. All of a sudden..... I hear them saying some sob story. I turn around, and quickly assess the situation, standing in 105 degree heat with Kennedy the 36 pound wonder, and two other kids running around the vehicle. Here is a newer than mine Explorer, a lady with much more fashion than I have, all of her teeth, husband, clean vehicle..............and yeah..........here goes the tude..........another thing I packed just in case. I looked at them, looked at Jeff who happens to be the world's largest guppy..........and I state "You know what we all have our problems, I am sorry for whatever is going on in your life........but no we aren't helping you. I am sorry we are just trying to make it for ourselves, we have three kids, we have our own bills..........sorry you will have to go on somewhere else thank you and have a great day." UMM HMM..........now the idea of a bullet sticking into my head just came around............no.........even better they gave me the ole " God Bless You and your children, Mam." Yeah great. God on their side. He must have helped them out a lot in about 40 feet as they went through McDonald's drive thru. Then I stuck a hole in my styrofoam cup..........pop everywhere. We drove off and I am ranting and raving to Jeff about the whole situation and I hear Delaney say something dropped out of the vehicle...........yeah her cup..........God was paying me back pretty quickly I guess for being sharp tongued...........gotta love it.
So after a detour not being able to find the hotel, we finally got here. Checked in, had a great visit with the lady at the front desk, once again reframing me to believe that God puts people in your life at the right time, and we are ready to go swimming. We unpack and the kids rush into the room to check things out, and pretty soon Jackson is carrying around a coffee pot. Yeah great Jeff says and then goes and tells him to make coffee. Which........of course he does..........and Delaney gets burned. Jackson once again.....just helping out. That was at 8:30....Miss Drama Queen just fell asleep now.........we have had two runs for ice........I have refilled her cold ice water cup every 10 minutes for the last 3 hours.................I think she is sleeping. I calmed her a little playing with her hair and she suddenly looks at me and tells me she loves me........that is what it is all about. If you don't have that, you don't have much. Jeff went off about how dramatic she is.......and I just reminded him maybe not everyone has the same pain tolerance his wife does!!! Point made. She may have gotten a little of the expressiveness from me I will admit. We always know what Delaney is thinking and feeling. Watch out world. She also was telling me what each cloud in the sky looked like today. She is very creative.
Jackson also got Jeff tonight............great story. We had some beer chillin in the sink with some ice and water.........and Jeff went to put on his swimming trunks. Can't find them. Tells me that Jackson had them...........well they were chillin too! Classic. Jackson does the whole sqealing thing.......and onward. I am sure he will get me tomorrow......and the day after that ..........and the day after that. I just hope we survive the rest of this trip without anymore ER hopping.
Happy trails...........

Kennedy is doing fine too........I told Jackson not to squeal in the vehicle today and about that time she lets out this huge squeal......looks at Jackson and laughs...........the whole belly laugh type of laugh..............great! I think I have met my match.

Shamu tomorrow............think he is ready for us?

Day one

Wanted to leave Coleridge by 10 this morning. Yeah we were on our way by 10:30........close enough right? We did stop to get gas, saw Jeff's mom and she loaded the kids up with their first snack of the day, and then stopped at the bank........snacks 2 and 3 of the day on board....and then had to stop at the store for Jeff to do one last thing of the day. His grandma was also there and saw the kids. I just made the statement "How much fun can you pack into one vehicle?" and the response I got was "Amy you are blessed, remember when you didn't think you would have any of them?" UMM.........yeah I guess I just want to state that I love my kids dearly......they make every day bigger and brighter and I really don't know what I would do without them.....but there are times that it is a struggle. A real struggle. But I do love them. I wouldn't do all the things I do for them if I didn't love them. Onward.
So........honestly Friday was a pretty good day. We had naps all staggered in the afternoon, it seemed that there was always someone sleeping. The BUCKET O FUN...........yeah well we were successful with that until about Norfolk, where we picked up snacks 4, 5 and 6........Great thinking, but let me tell you the viewmasters were a hit. I always wanted a viewmaster when I was a kid.........yeah no..........but we do have 2 of them to avoid all agruements and we still find ways to argue about them. Funny how that works. We stopped and had a picnic lunch in Hebron NE, and it is just great how anything we do is awesome for the kids. They just really do a great job of rolling with the punches sometimes. Gogurt.......might quite possibly be the messiest snack ever.........but let me tell you.........10 tubes gone in minutes between all of us! 105 degrees outside and you would have thought we gave those three kids the world.
We then stopped and played at a McDonalds somewhere in Kansas............Jackson didn't make it to the bathroom and ended up stripping in Playland........I was up getting the kids their 1st Happy Meal of the trip............and I come back to these two BIG nine year olds going off about this little boy stripping in Playland. I knew this had to be Jackson. Sure enough. We apoligized to the girls and honestly it was all innocent. The girls continued to go off for the next 20 minutes and good thing I packed my angry eyes............they came in handy. I quickly told the girls we are sorry now drop it. Point made right? Well stubborn little Kansas girls didn't have on their ruby red slippers to get them back to their happy place, so I may have made a comment about them being chubby in their ugly swimsuits. Not directly off course, in passing just loud enough so they could hear the words, chubby, ugly and swimsuits. That is what they get for messing with my obviously well endowed son. HE HE HE
We made it to Oklahoma City and checked into our $49 hotel room........there were some reasons for this of course. First of all , we were a minority in the fact that we had full head of teeth, and we were about the only ones without a bar over our steering wheel when we left our vehicle. Pretty uneventful night........went swimming, Delaney was doing everything that she should have been doing in those swimming lessons that we paid money for but refused to get into the water on the last day..........yeah. Nice.
555 miles down............445 to go. Sea World here we come...........

What was I thinking.....

Back in February on one of the snow days I was enjoying, I decided to book our vacation. You know Texas in August.....4 days.......Shamu........sounds great. It really will be great ........once we get that 15 1/2 hour drive behind us. Today Delaney had dance and the other two went with my sister in law for the day. Seriously, not taking anything away from people with only one child, but seriously........it was a breeze. Don't get me wrong, I did still get to listen to the whining, and she did start various arguments with me instead of her siblings.....and I did get to hear about all of the gorgeous items that she wanted in the nail polish aisle.......but it wasn't in stereo. Kinda nice. Don't get me wrong, I love my kids, but the little things that I used to do just aren't that easy anymore. It really was nice of my sister in law to take them off my hands for the day so I could get a few things done.........but my nap was awesome too.
Confession time.............today was day two of no Hawaii. Nice huh. So Jeff came home this morning, and I made the trip. The hula girls and boy all decided that they needed to sing and hula a little more at this time, not on another island, but right in "my Hawaii." How does that happen, they don't want anything to do with me and the minute I get in the "island" there they are. Doesn't matter if it is on of my 30 second visits or my 5 minute thinking visit.........there they are. Beat me.
So have most everything packed for tomorrow. 9 day vacation. Jeff has managed to pack his clothes........oh actually he just took clothes from the clean pile that has been in our bedroom since May 1st.............I don't make this up............I on the other hand have 3 kids packed, I will pack myself tomorrow, and all of the meals, snacks, and entertainment for the trip pack also. I am sure I will be reminded tomorrow night about all the things I forgot............CHEERS.

MY LIMIT

The one thing I have learned maybe the easiest with being a mom in some aspects is where I have to draw the line to reach my limit. Yes there are still times when I volunteer to do things that I know are over and above the line of duty, but honestly, I have been able to set some limits and know when to stop. I know that there are many people who say they will won't stop having kids until they are 40, or people that are willing to go to 10 in order to get an even number of boys and girls. Honestly, when I was 9 months pregnant with Kennedy I knew enough was enough. I had a C section with her, and I remember telling the doctor at 3 AM that morning if he forgot to COMPLETE THE JOB, I would make sure that he would raise the next of the Hall Children. Point made.........job done.
All of this was decided before we switched from man to man defense to zone...........you people with more than 2 kids get that statement don't you? Yeah the whole have 2 hands and two kids or with my husband one on one attention .........all of that went out the window when number 3 came along. Needless to say, today was one of those days where I knew I was at my limit and had outdone myself. I volunteered to babysit for my 2 nephews while their mom and dad were still in the hospital with number 3. So add to the 4 year old, the 3 year old and the 18 month .....add a soon to be 7 year old and a 2 1/2 year old.......oh and they are both BOYS. You know the ones with that optional listening operation fully installed. WHEW. We had an interesting day. Honestly we all got along well. I didn't get anything else done around the house, and was lucky to have my husband come home at noon so that I could get lunch together, but we survived. They did a little swimming in the pool, and even dived off the redneck diving board (aka.....little tykes teeter totter), crafts were done this afternoon together, and naps........possibly the highlight of the day. I would just get a couple of them entertained and they would be fine and I turn around and Jackson is stamping himself on his face with my stamps, or the 2 1/2 year old would be gone. I tell you that kid is faster than lightening. LIGHTENING I TELL YOU! The 7 year old did help out a lot..........but here again people.............I know my limits. 3 is my limit for kids. We got ready to take the kids to the hospital to see their mom and brother, and guess what.............dog gone. Seriously ...........how often can one dog justify CALGON trips? Oh and that big green leaf is still on Jackson's mouth and when we go to get out of the car he has no shoes. Yep......3 is my limit.

13 years later

Met up today with my college roommate back at our old stomping grounds in Vermtown. Life has really changed in that time. We went to eat at the Cherry Grille.....six kids between us and all of them under 8. Needless to say, hands were full and quite sure they were happy to see us leave. Syrup, ice cream, mac n cheese everywhere by the time we left. Ole Kennedy even learned the new trip of blowing bubbles in her milk......great trick. We also may have entertained these six kids at Walmart in the bike aisle. Seriously I would hate for those bikes to be put together by some poor Walmart worker and just sit there and not be used for the whole summer. And maybe we also helped with the advertising.......yeah that is it........kids riding bikes around in the toy aisles, seriously it was only 3 or 4 aisles. It wasn't like it was the whole store. Don't know why that lady got all cranky about putting the hoola hoops away either. Seriously, what else is there to do in Vermillion on a rainy day?
I left Vermillion after only a few hours today.........naps. Kids needed naps. Wow.....and they have been just SO much fun since they have woke up. We went and met the new addition to the Hall family too tonight........Anderson Willis.......was great to see him here and everyone doing well. Kennedy really didn't know what to think of us holding that new baby. Don't think she wanted to give up the crown of youngest baby Hall. Funny how in also many ways she wants to be all grown up and keep up with her bigger sister and brother and yet in so many ways she wants to maintain the baby status.

Man Training ..........Dog Run

Dog went on a run twice today. I stopped these Calgon runs though! First time he got to the neighbors yard and quickly was brought home. Second time I was getting Delaney out of the tub, and Kennedy had just gotten out so she made it to the door, buck naked mind you, and let the dog out. He saw the light and was gone in a flash. So yeah load up the kids (2 naked girls....seriously how would I have explained that to a cop?) and find this mutt standing in a yard about 3 blocks away, I yell at him to get in the van and you can just see the disappointment on the dog's face. It was great. I am thinking I might have gotten to him before the report was put into the local paper! Last week we made the paper........we are sooo cool. Yeah it said, "Cocker Spaniel dog running lose in Coleridge" ......you know a lot of those cocker spaniels are limb eating animals..........and yes the advantage of being in a small town, everyone knows your name and your dog's name too. I was made aware that we made the law log last week......of course obviously I am not snoopy enough to read this.......nor do I have time. I guess they need to put something in the paper so why not this?? Small town living.
Day One Male Training..........this could be one of my biggest jobs in my life. Create a human with the Y chromosome, who has more capabilties than older speciman in the house with the same chromosome make up. Qualities needed: ability to see items out of place, ability to bend at waist and pick up items and place them in appropriate spot, ability to put laundry in correct place, both clean and soiled, and help and assist any female with anything she asks of him. Yes I understand this is a big job, but feels this may be a test that I am willing to take on. If only I can overcome that Y chromosome.........
Day One.............speciman cooperative.........wants to fight with sister about taking laundry out of dryer. May just enjoy fighting with opposite sex, similar to adult speciman in house. Task Two..use vacuum. Speciman sucks up tshirt in vaccum. Unable to bend and pick up anything or see that anything needs to be picked up. Y chromosome may be very stubborn. Task 3 ...clean bathroom. Speciman moves nothing on counter and just smears sink. Subject asks why we need to clean so much...........mother states because you are messy and pee on the floor...........
Younger Specimans with XX chromosomal makeup are also in training...........they squeal more than male subject. But have ability to bend over and put laundry in utility room. I have some hope here!

Whew

Wow.........what a day. I have decided that this whole transition back into a schedule once school starts. My kids are getting pretty used to sleeping in to when they want to and being on their own schedule and not mine. I must admit bedtime is more and more frustrating. They come out of their rooms about 15 times to tell on each other, go through the list of things that they really don't need in their lives.......we are at their mercy and they know it.
Delaney and Jackson were up and ready to go to the fair this morning at 8 to see their cousin show his bucket calf.......the drama just started earlier! I made lunch and supper today at home and both times I hear the statement, "Me no like it." That statement is said if it is peanut butter and jelly or if it is one of my new recipes....."me no like it!" Seriously, I just don't get it. Tonight Jackson did try eating a cucumber......he didn't spit it out......kept it in his cheek and chewed a little here and there, and then the whole time he was eating it, he felt the need to rope me in as his support system. Eyes the size of quarters......and asking question after question about this mystery vegetable he has in his mouth. He did eat 3 slices so it must not have been too bad. Delaney squealed the whole meal. They will eat when they are ready.....I am over it.
Kennedy is my only child that doesn't complain......oh yeah she doesn't talk does she that is right. She took a bath this morning, ate lunch, I got her ready to go with me to take Delaney to dance, and next thing I know she is in the pool. Yeah great. Same thing tonight, we changed her and got ready to go to the fair, and turned around and she is in the pool. 5 outfits.........5 outfits in one day by that child. Seriously.....I love laundry, I love laundry.......and why does it have to reproduce on it's own?
Delaney had dance today, she tells me they tried on their dance outfits for Riverboat Days today. She tells me that she has maracas to match her outfit, and she gets to keep them. She better be smoking something with that last part, those A) will be noisier than ever in my house B) only two will cause a fight as I have 3 people who will want them C) will be on top of my fridge by August 22 D) all of the above. Need I explain to you what the correct response would be?
Maybe the straightjacket needs to match those maracas so I can hide them..........

My Hawaii.............

ok so I am sitting here at 2:00 in the afternoon.........3 kids sleeping and I am in what I call stealth mode. The phone is off the hook, and my kids are sleeping. I know this is a time that I should be up and doing all those things that I don't get done when they are awake, but that causes various individuals to be up and at them too!!! So.........stealth mode it is for the next hour. Sometimes I read my book, look at scrapbooking stuff, or just veg out and watch a little tv..........remembering the days before kids when I could be on my own schedule all of the time. I guess I will tell you this is my time of the day.
If you have ever checked out flylady.com the first rule she has in getting organized is to have yourself get up and get fully ready every morning, and put on shoes..........yeah. That worked for me the first two weeks of summer...... great idea. Then the second part of her program is to clean the kitchen sink.....from top to bottom and keep those two things done. Then you can go on to step three. I will be honest......step one and two are hard enough for me to do, I have never even looked to see what step three is. I am over it. I will also admit, when I do get a chance to take a shower, that is MY HAWAII. Three minutes of sanity in a day. As I said it is 2 pm and I haven't gotten that shower in yet.......but soon. When stealth mode is over, maybe I will get there. I guess everyone can have their list of musts..........but recognizing everyone has different musts is a need too! I have been thinking about writing a 12 step program for parenting.....I will let you know once I have those 12 steps ready. I have been thinking. Like that LaMaze class we all took before we had kids.......you know the breathing and the panting and the husbands stroking their wives to comfort them during childbirth. Yeah I guess maybe I should have known that I wasn't a part of that crowd at those classes when MY husband was sitting up against the wall when I was practicing this breathing. Little did they say that I would be practicing that deep breathing when my kids were 3 and 4. I got it now! Didn't work for pregnancy but maybe just maybe it will help with my preschoolers.
Kid moments:
Delaney and Jackson had swimming lessons this morning. I just keep telling myself they are 3 and 4 this will all happen on their on time. But there was a grandma sitting there by me today watching my kids, and in some ways trying not to evaluate other kids, yet also stating the obvious things about them. You know when they had to jump into the water with lifejackets on and float using those lifejackets. Delaney steps up to the plate first and gets in the water and freaks. Does the whole gulping water and screaming thing.......and scared to death. Then ole Jackson's eyes were the size of quarters during the whole process, but he puts on the life jacket and gets pulled in by the instructor.......yeah.....great........gulping water.........squealing a nice girl squeal. Just can't make it up. But this grandma sitting next to me just couldn't stop making comments through the whole process. I guess maybe that is what grandmas do.....but there is a time and a place to evalate kids.....she doesn't know my kids, why is she evaluating them?
But through this whole process maybe that was my chance to grow as a mom too. I refuse to be a smotherer...........a mother who smothers their kids into fear of doing anything, or the inability to give my kids wings to try new things. I have constantly said that I would never be a smotherer......I want my kids to learn from their mistakes, their fears, and their successes. It is not my job to live my life through my kids, but live my life for my kids. I have said often in this blog that the statement from the book I have read this summer that states "Parenting is not a performance!!!" ........makes more and more sense to me. Also maybe to add to that statement........."I refuse to be judged!" Easier said then done. But maybe that is where more of my problems have been, in the fact that I refuse to let anyone feel that they have the solution to fix my kids, or my problems with my kids. Great if something worked for you when you had kids, but all kids are different, all parenting styles are different, nothing is the same as it is for other parents. I have to make the decision to make the best choice for me and my kids based on what works for us.....not what works for others. Wouldn't the world be a whole lot easier if we all just gave up everyone else's expectations and just deal with the hand we are dealt? Deep thoughts of the day.............

My Hawaii is calling me....maybe even have a little tropical shower gel just to spruce up the deal today. My little HULA girl (Kennedy) is sleeping, don't know who will be able to poke their head in the shower and yell at me if they are all sleeping. I just see them all as pesky tourists when they are in there with me......imagination is a great thing...........maybe my straightjacket will have a lei attached to it.

Let's go Back to School People

Today was my breaking point. Seriously.......we went out for supper at a friend's house and my kids were out of control. They are just naughty. And once naughty happens, they just continue to add to the naughtiness and just get worse. My whole thing is may I never forget what this is like. May I never be an old woman that sits there and just puts my nose up in the air to the little kids in the room. I had one lady SHUSH my kids tonight. Yeah you know what spend a few hours with them and then see if SHUSHing works..........SHUSHing just adds to the noise. SHUSH this WOMAN.......of course this woman has 2 kids....5 years between them, they are adults and they have the 3 perfect grandkids........blah blah blah. Perfect people are hiding something. Just so you know.........I have nothing to hide. Just ask me. I will tell you!
Kid Moments:
Jeff and I were talking on the phone this morning......and he tells me that the kids have a new trick. GREAT I love hearing this. Yeah he was on duty Monday night, and he admits to the fact basically that he was babysitting from the chair. (ok so no he doesn't admit this, but that is basically what I can put together of the actions of the night) He tells me that the kids were all together playing in Jackson's bedroom. And all of a sudden he hears giggling. Giggling really? hmm.......then he says he hears someone come in the front door and thinks that it is me....so all of a sudden Delaney comes down the steps. He really doesn't check into it from what I can gather.......and then a few minutes later he asks where Jackson is....he is told that he is playing. And this goes on and he admits to the fact that this goes on for about 40 minutes, and then at one point he asks where Jackson is and Delaney says he is outside riding his bike. Umm hmm.........so he gets up to check out what is going on.........and he goes into Jackson's room and he finds the screen out of the window in his room and they are using this window as an entrance and an exit to the house. Yeah nice....................MAN LAND. They would have ran the same game with me I am sure.......but A) I would have been up checking on them...and B) if it did happen I wouldn't have admitted to it in such detail. WOMAN's Thinking!!!

Nothing they do amazes me right now....if they haven't tried it........the next one will. I need a super duper heavy duty to the max high end straight jacket.

Day in the Life

Tomato gone. Yeah nothing to say there. Granny Smith was here this afternoon and ole Jackson did some picking. Love it. Delaney talked Granny into picking mulberries off a tree in the back yard and then continued to talk her into making "flushies" (aka slushies) out of these berries. So out with the blender....................and it spills all over the carpet in the dining room. Nice. Just good to see that my mom got a taste of what happens to me on a daily basis here. I will also tell you that I had to question if this was my mother. As I know for sure that my mother wouldn't have fallen for the "Let me Make a Flushy" trick. Wonder why she didn't answer the phone when we were gone..................maybe she has more of an idea after spending 6 hours with ole Delaney and Jackson.
Jeff and I ran to Sioux City this afternoon to start putting together everything for our vacation to San Antonio.........17 hours in a vehicle with 3 kids. NUTJOBS!!!! What was I thinking? So Kennedy got a mom and dad day....which is really good for her. Amazing how much she talks when it is just her and when someone listens to her!
So the last stop on our outing was a quick run into Barnes and Noble.........looking for my next book.....you know the sequel to "I Was A Good Mom Before I Had Kids" and yeah so I go to the parenting section and it isn't there. So I have to go and ask a lady at the customer service desk for help finding the book. "What title please?" Umm.........."I Would Trade My Husband For a Housekeeper"...........she is an older lady.........she has no idea what my story is...........but she looks at me over her reading glasses and just smirks. Umm hmm. Just take me there woman. So she does.............into the Love and Sex section. Seriously...........I wouldn't have looked there for it.........right next to the Kuma Sutra books..........you know I have 3 kids.......seriously Love and Sex......not so much. I won't go on. But I proudly pick up my new book and pay for it and go to the van. Jeff wants to know what book I bought. So I show him and he says "Oh one of those male bashing books huh?" What is he talking about? I just looked at him and said, "No not male bashing, that would be such a waste of my time." Point made.

Organization.......or Lack of it

Ok organization is something that I suffer from to start with, now add 3 kids and a husband to the mix and I tell you there is not a thing organized in my life. I can't begin to tell you how frustrating it is to me. I am a Type A personality. I like to be in control of things..........I know this........I admit to this..........but dang it I am at frustration level right now.
Beer bread. That is what really set me off today. I made a couple dips this afternoon and went to make some beer bread to go with them.........something different once I was thinking. I buy the beer bread in 3 packs and those packs are too big to store once you have one or two out of the box........so I am sure one day I was thinking that I would just leave the spare one down in a cupboard and hope to remember what it was. So yeah.........today get the crappy Coors Light that someone left at my house and going to make beer bread. Go to the cupboard.......get out this bag of what I hope is beer bread. Mix it up and the whole time I am thinking about is this really beer bread.............wonder what a cake mix and a beer will do together...............seriously for an hour while this SURPRISE mixture was baking I was sitting there wondering if I had the right mix. It did turn out to be the beer bread, but it is just the whole aspect that I really didn't know. Next time.......maybe writing on the bag would be a good idea huh? So yeah beer bread and dip right? Yeah dog got the dip off the table ................seriously. Here is what I am looking for in my next dog........one that doesn't bark, one that doesn't shed, does not poop on the front yard, is unable to stand on hind legs to reach anything on the cupboard................maybe something with gills and stays in a bowl on the counter is really what I need. So really I worried for an hour about this beer bread .............and didn't have anything to go with it anyway. Beat me.
Made my trip to the grocery store today and still ended up with Jackson in the vehicle. Chugged a diet coke in aisle three............ice cold......it was great. Reminded me of a late night trip to HyVee with my college roommate back in the day, but that is a story for another day. Another vent of the day..........I bought bananas last week.............green. Seriously those should change in a couple days right? Yeah no......nothing. Jeff tells me oh yeah those are the green bananas and they will change to yellow in about 3 weeks. Umm Hmm. Because I have three weeks for a flipping banana to change yellow. Of course Jeff didn't understand why I threw those bananas away...........I guess he doesn't get the fact that Kennedy has been carrying them all around the house already for a week wanting me to give her one...............I will not have bananas all over my house for another week. I bought yellow bananas today. Done deal...........woman thinking near as I can figure.
Kid Moments:
One tomato..........that is what I can see in my neighbor's garden. One tomato. It is a nice sized tomato........and I have to listen to her tell me how she doesn't get much out of her garden each year, but she does have this one tomato that she thinks will make it but she doesn't see much else in her garden. Jackson also has spotted this same tomato. I had to have a talk with him today about how we don't go into her side of the garden........we have to stay on our side. Yeah any bets here?
Delaney and Jackson started swimming lessons today. Yeah Delaney is down in the 4 foot deep water and going under, not listening and doing her own thing the whole lesson..........meanwhile Jackson is basically glued up to the two foot wall. He did warm up a little, but the kid has been dunked one too many times by her........thinking it might just take more than one day for him to trust being in the same pool with her.
Kennedy is into pinching. Great fun. I am usually her target right now. She doesn't get something she wants or I pick her up to take her away from something and immediately she grabs my necks and pinches. Not so fun..........this too shall pass, right? May have hickies on my neck here for a couple months but all is good right? Maybe that straightjacket needs to have a turtleneck on it............hide the battlewounds.

Grandma and Honesty

You know basic white is probably what I need in that straightjacket. No reason screwing around and looking for colors..........just go basic and call it good. Today was one of those days that I would have just sat in the straightjacket...........no fight......nothing. Just put me in it. I won't even rock or anything........just put me in it and get me away from the little people.
You know I just feel terrible saying that but really I have learned that there is a reason why I work 9 months out of the year. I love my kids..........I love my job....................I now love my job more because of my kids. It isn't meant to be mean, I just know that I could not stay at home everyday of the year and do this job. I struggle to find the balance between work and school during the school year, but seriously...........this full time home mom gig isn't for me.
Today was the day of beating the tar out of each other.........every time I turned around they were into something and then beating each other. I really needed to go to the grocery store, but soon figured out that wasn't going to work. They did spend about a half hour this morning collecting spare change...........maybe from Jeff's pants pockets........and putting it in a purse...........that was as good as it got all day. I tried to get them to go outside to play.....no go. Tried the coloring attempt.......yeah Kennedy wanted to color too.........she broke a crayon............you know that no matter what color it was that was everyone else's favorite color. UMM HMM. Delaney took a 30 minute nap and let me just say she continued the rest of the day being extremely HAPPY and being a total joy to everyone around.
We went to Granny Smith's tonight. On the way over Delaney remembers she forgot her money. Good thing we were going to Grandma's she said...............and I said why because she spoils you for free? And Delaney's response was "Yeah she is great!" That is as good as compliments get from her.
We got to mom's and Delaney managed to get a big jar of strawberry rhubarb jam...........nothing like being subtle............reminding Grandma that we were out of that jelly that she had on the cupboard. Mom tried giving her a small jar and she put it back up on the counter and said we will take the big one. Maybe she is learning!! HE HE HE
Kid Moments:
I was sitting in a dark house last night unable to sleep and kept seeing something blinking. Yeah lightening bugs........loose in my house. Seriously. This just happens to everyone right? I am quite sure that they just got into the house right?
We also got to taunt Granny's cat for about 30 minutes tonight. Amazing to me no matter where that cat goes they can find her. They would kill a cat at our house. Also today was a record for us here at the Hall House........4 days between us letting the dog loose. That dog sees the light and is gone in an instant. Of course this happened to be the point at which Delaney and Jackson were supposed to be napping, and Jackson spots a butterfly out his bedroom window and is immediately out the door.............and there goes the dog. Maybe it is like his Calgon for him to run and not have the kids after him.............I don't know where he goes, but he comes back and seems unwound. Maybe tomorrow I will go with him.............

more July Stamp of the month

More of the cards I made today!

Naps until 6 pm...great idea

10:30 at night and I am still fighting the fight. The kids took late naps this afternoon and now I am paying for it. Jackson has been laying in bed screaming that he wants to watch the weather.....I am sure he needs to know that we are going to be stuck in the house all day tomorrow as it is going to rain again tomorrow. Yeah........maybe rainbow straightjacket if it rains all day tomorrow.
Needless to say during naps I did get a chance to make a few cards that I have been putting off. I have sympathy cards to send out from the last six months. I am a firm believer that it is never to late to send these cards...............good thing I have that opinion.......and personally I don't care what anyone else thinks about this stance. It is how it is. I will post a few of the pictures of the cards I made today .......all with the July Stamp of the Month.......Boom Di Ada, terracotta, and petal are the colors I chose. I used a water color brush to color them. The terracotta was used on a brayer to make the Best Wishes card. Thought it turned out pretty good. Fun to play with..........that was my destressor of the day.
Kid Moments:
Delaney and Jackson and Kennedy were playing with ROCKETS tonight. Yeah rockets from my bathroom closet..............that pop out and have a string and everything.............also known as tampons. Dear Lord. I thought I had them all picked up (because I am the only one in the house that has the ability to bend over to pick stuff up) and then next thing I know is they are using them as candles on their pretend birthday cake.........................yeah. I am getting closer to checking myself in.

Lord grant me the Patience to deal with my Blessings!

Fun In the Little Things

Wow..........what a day. 11 pm and I am just getting everyone into bed for the day and each of them only had about a 40 minute nap today. I fear TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!!! Today we packed up and went to Yankton for an outing with my college roommate Amy and her kids. Between the two of us we have 6 kids under 8. What a great day. We really didn't plan anything until around 11 this morning and just went with it. Fun in the little things and fun in being spontaneous. Not bad! Sometimes I go out of my way to plan, plan, plan................and then that plan sometimes just gets in the way. We went to McDonald's, ate and played at playland there. Amazing how well these kids played together for not seeing each other very much!!! Then we went to the fish aquarium, fed the fish, ate ice cream and fed the ducks. I want my kids to realize that the little things are what they need to find fun in. There were no fights, no yelling, it was just a carefree day...........
Ok I also have to admit I have the love/hate relationship with the duck pond. I love taking the food and just stopping there for a few minutes.............but the whole idea of who is going to be the first swimmer makes me nervous. I know Jackson is going to have to have fins at that place someday. There were a couple things that stood out to me at the duck pond............first of all I got out the puff corn and Amy's oldest looks at it and says "You can make carmel corn out of that?" I guess she thought there was a bigger purpose than feeding ducks. Then the kids out on the farthest rock they could get on......not a care in the world, they were just carefree and enjoying the moment. They were going to do it and it didn't matter to them if they were wet in the whole process.
Then...........duck sitting on eggs. The farm girl legacy in me broke out......I have been chased by a mean chicken.......seriously the hissing duck was more than I can handle. And once again.........all 6 kids are 3 feet away just feeding the hungry ducks. Seriously.......the DUCK IS HISSING............this is not normal behavior. No one else saw this as an issue.........once again, enjoying the moment.
Then there is a round castle looking building at the duck pond, immediately the kids turn into prince and princesses. They were instantly in their own little world. Just fun to see how even the littlest things sent them into a totally different world. Delaney talked about being a princess a couple times tonight when she was talking about the day. She is a diva.
Amy's oldest daughter, Kate is on the hunt for a turtle for a pet. There were a few turtles in the duck pond and she looks at her mom and says, "There is a turtle.........get it for me." That whole statement reminded me that no matter what we parents are capable of anything. Kate didn't see an issue here at all.........just get it. Seemed easy enough. She was dead serious too. Just wants a pet and doesn't see any barriers in getting this pet. All in all it was a great day and a great way to spend the day with friends we don't get to see nearly enough.

Kid moments:

Delaney and Jackson got to do sparklers tonight at Jeremy and Heather's.........it was great to see their reactions................one of those things that they really wanted to do and yet scared of them. But when it comes to being up and around the fireworks that are being lit...........they are right up there. No middle of the road for them...........where do they get that?

Kennedy sat and just checked out Amy's youngest Luke today when they were playing at the park...........she fell down and Luke just kept on playing. The look on her face was classic........just like she knew he was a man and wasn't going to do anything to help her. She didn't say anything just sat and looked him up and down. My mother always said it was a man's world..........now I understand!!!!!!!!!!!!

Groundhog's Day

You have seen the movie right? You know the movie where the guy wakes up and relives the same day every day and just can't get the calendar to turn no matter what? Yeah that explains me. Get up, put in contacts.........see the mess and begin. Dishes, laundry, make beds, get out toys, make breakfast, .........etc. It is the same routine every day.
Today was a tough day. Kids fighting over stuff that everyone wants all at once and yet no one wants at all. No one would just settle in and play at all. Then naps.....yeah .........ole Kennedy decided today that an hour nap would be long enough for her, and she woke up and a GREAT mood. She had her first trip to time out today. It is so effective for everyone else, why wouldn't it work for her right? (That is sarcasm in case you missed it)
I think a part of my problem rested with the fact that the kids were all excited about going to the circus tonight. Let me just mention the drama was a little more than I could handle. I need to learn not to let them in on what is coming up. One would think that I would have learned this by now. I have gotten better with the fact that I have put my kids and their schedule first. I have learned that they need a schedule..........and when we don't have one that is when we have problems. Yes summer is a lighter schedule but we wake up, eat breakfast, play outside, eat lunch, nap and then the rest of the day is unscheduled. But the littlest schedule is helpful. Routine may be boring and predictable, but kids need it. It may be frustrating for me to do the same thing day in and day out but we all need it.

Kid moments:
Delaney and Jackson and Kennedy got to see the elephants up close at the circus tonight. Watched them water them, and wash them......neat experience for them. Delaney said she loved the elephants and didn't want to leave.
Jackson is off and riding his bike now. Just took off on it Sunday and hasn't stopped at all. He also has befriended the neighbor Darryl. I am quite sure that this is a one way friendship, as Jackson likes bossing Darryl around and telling him what to do. This morning Jackson was over on their drive and fell off his bike.......I went over there to pick him up and Darryl and Marvel pulled up. Marvel just looked at me and said we won't bother you. See we can even scare the neighbors away from their own house. Still thinking on the color of my straightjacket. Always have been a fan of red. ............
Kennedy is showing her temper more and more...........loves to throw things when she gets mad. Maybe I need a black and blue straightjacket.........it will all blend right?

Tour of Restrooms

Went to a movie today with Delaney and Jackson. As I am standing in the third bathroom of the day, and discussing with each of them from the outside of the stalls about their bodily functions, I think of all of the bathrooms I have been forced to go into with the "TOUR of RESTROOMS" that I have been on in the past 3 years. Ever since they have started the potty training, I am forced to go into every restroom possible at the most inconvient times. No matter how much I try to avoid the tour, I quickly am reminded every where we go, I am there puppet. Every restroom in Northeast Nebraska, Southeast South Dakota and Northwest Iowa.........been there. We even checked out a couple porta potties this weekend. Yet a whole other list of questions there.
My other "bird walk" of the day is about lightening bugs. Lightening bugs are immediate ADHD for kids. No matter what is going on a kid sees a lightening bug......and life stops. They drop whatever they are doing and immediately slapping their hands together to catch these illuminating creatures! Last night we are sitting watching fireworks......a huge display......and there goes a lightening bug...........and soon about both Delaney and Jackson are chasing them. At the nursing home the other night, I was amazed to see how many people loved watching the kids catch them. People had oodles of questions about the bugs. It was just funny to see how something so simple could bridge the generations. May I never forget what it is like to have little kids and may I remember to enjoy the simple things in life.

Kids moments:

Jackson---We ate a late brunch this morning and took naps and then went to a movie and didn't eat a lunch so to speak. We got to the movie and had popcorn, and Jackson is sitting next to Jeff with his 3D glasses on eating popcorn. He just couldn't get enough of it! He will eat when he gets hungry........and on his schedule not mine.

Kennedy ---- This morning I was cleaning in Kennedy's room and she had something in her hand that she shouldn't have, so I was following her out, and she was giggling so loud knowingly having something she shouldn't have. She catches Jackson's eye and he laughs at her and she just giggles all the louder, knowing that she was doing something she shouldn't. ......dear Lord......I am going to have another one totally against me in a year. Thinking maybe just a white straightjacket might be nice so I just blend in with the other nutjobs!

Delaney--- It was raining cats and dogs when we got out of the movie. We started driving out of the parking lot at the mall and water was going up around the Explorer. Delaney was just chucking it up..............look mom a boat! It was funny how she really does see fun in everything! I hope she can remember to always find a little fun in life! Cheap fun too!

Fourth of July

Happy 4th first of all. I always love this holiday.......we really have so much to celebrate that we sometimes take for granted way too often. We are just settling in for the evening. WHEW.......what a day. I have been thinking a lot about a few statements of the week. Someone told me this week that when kids are screaming, that is really them laughing. We are happy people if I choose to believe that! I am also constantly reminded that this too shall pass. I know that it is going to be just a few minutes and I am going to turn around and wish they were this age again.........I just have to keep reminding myself of this.
Maybe the hardest thing about parenting is I HAVE NO CONTROL. EVER. Just when I think I have things under control...............BAM there it goes. Case in point.......today I am getting things ready to go to my sister's for lunch, and everything is going well.........I am mulitasking.........I have about 4 things going at once, all is great..............and then....turn around and there is Delaney standing on the sink in the bathroom pulling down her hair tyes to play with, then I go back into the kitchen and there is Kennedy spraying PAM all over the garbage can. Seriously you just can't make this up. I teach school, in many ways, I have control there. I make decisions, I have the students help make decisions, etc.............but overall things are manageable. I have some control in where we are going, and what we are going to do when we get there, but in no way shape or form do I have any control of how my kids are going to act when we get there. Church.........yeah church......seriously our minister has commented about the beautiful noise (AKA screaming Hall kids) coming from the back of the church the last two times we have went. Church is a workout............some people go to the gym, we go to church to workout. I won't mention how many times my kids have come into the house buck naked since summer has begun..........seriously I have no control......... but this too shall pass. My mother I don't think ever warned me about this aspect of parenting. Maybe wanting the control of them is my biggest downfall...........seriously when we aren't on a schedule or pushing to get somewhere, life is easier to take. All will happen in due time I guess.

Ok.....kid moments of today

Jackson peed through 3 outfits in 10 minutes at my sister's today. I enjoy laundry......I enjoy laundry........I enjoy laundry. Maybe a red, white and blue straightjacket ........what do you think?

Kennedy........belly laughing.............I have got to hear it everyday.........she wears I diaper......I guess I don't know if she is wetting herself !!!! Less laundry! It makes my heart smile. I have also caught her this week biting herself and then comes to me and screams.......knowing Delaney or Jackson will get in trouble.............yeah........going to get even more interesting!!???!!!!!

Delaney......looks at the moon tonight and asks........."Does the moon move?" Yeah deep thought. But Jeff replied "Yes the moon is in space and a lot of things move in space" and her response was "Can we go there in a rocketship?" At my ever ongoing point to get her off of wanting to be a momcooker when she grows up, I told her she will need to grow up and be an astronaut to go to the moon when she is older. No not good enough ...........she wants to go there as a kid. Hope she always has big dreams for herself.

Here I go..........blogging

You know I have felt like I need to start something like this for a while now.....but maybe more now than ever. I am a teacher and have the summer off, so right now I am really experiencing how tough this parenting job really is. I am currently with my three children 24/7 and I get it. I know how important and how tough this job is all together. First of all I want to tell you that I thank God for Delaney (4), Jackson (3) and Kennedy (18 months).........but man there are days that they challenge me. I just got done reading the book I WAS A BETTER MOM BEFORE I HAD KIDS......and let me tell you it speaks in many tongues to me. I sat and nodded my head and on occasion screamed YES!!! Today I saw the authors of this book on Oprah.......and I have more books I need to read of theirs. But it is great to know that other moms are also in the position. I believe more and more in the fact that moms need to have more of a support system these days, that motherhood is not a performance and more often than not moms have unrealistic goals in their heads. I have created a great support system for myself........first of all facebook is a great new way to communicate for me, and amazes me how much other moms think like I do! But my friends Amy and Jen are my sounding boards, they both have kids my kid's ages and they get it. They understand things I am saying and on occasion sit on the other end of the phone and just listen or don't try to fix the problem........or often laugh at me, yet I know they understand my position. But I got off the phone with Amy today and I heard her say her mom was making cookies with her daughters for 4th of July...............and 2 hours later........yeah sure as heck there I am making cookies with Delaney. They didn't turn out well because I was in such a rush, but Delaney enjoyed the idea. I have to quit the expections and just do for me and my kids..........PARENTING IS NOT A PERFORMANCE.

kid moments today....
I asked Delaney in my very patient mom voice, ......"Hey can you put your shoes away for me?" And she does it.........then comes back to the table and says "Now mom I need you to put your shoes away for me by the door" I think I would look really nice in an orange straightjacket don't you?

Went to a friend's house for fireworks tonight......and all of a sudden Delaney and Jackson were gone..........oh yeah........putting on rollerblades..........let me just say that was a insurance deductible just asking to be wasted!!!

Have a good day today and a better day tomorrow. Happy 4th!