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?