Why Do I Suck at Sleeping In?

Last night at dinner:
Me: (to Josh) Do you want to take the kids to school in the morning?
Josh: Why?
Me: So I can sleep in.
Josh: But you suck at sleeping in.
Me: I don't. I can sleep in until 9:30 or so.
Josh: That isn't really sleeping in.
Me: Just because you go to bed at 4:00 in the morning and are able to sleep until 2:00 in the afternoon, 9:30 is still considered to be a sleep in.

...

This morning:
JOSH's alarm went off at 7:00. Whoo hoo. I had forgotten!! I'm sleeping in!!
7:05:
Keira: The alarm went off in my bedroom and woke me up!! Will you help me brush my teeth?

Wouldn't you know that I haven't been back to sleep since?

Walk to School Day

Today was Walk to School Day. We walk to school everyday. It takes about 8 minutes, give or take FIVE minutes depending on Keira's mood. For this special occasion, the students were meeting at a nearby church, along with teachers and parents, in order to walk to school as a group.

We live about half way between the school and the church, a little bit closer to the school. The meeting time was 7:50, and we usually leave our house around then, so I knew that school would actually be starting a little late. Around 7:30, I called the school to find out if they'd be walking on our street or the street beside us. Of course, it was not OUR street.

I gave the kids the choice as to leaving a little early and walking to the church then to the school or just leaving at the normal time and going straight to the school. Wouldn't you know that Keira wanted to walk with everyone else, and Night wanted to leave at the normal time. Since we were ready early, I contemplated driving Keira to the church then coming home and taking Night the normal route. Then, I thought about the reasons for Walk to School Day (I'm not sure what they are, but probably to be healthy and green, right?), and driving to the church didn't really fit. So, I popped Keira on my back, complete with hoodies and a backpack and ran walked/jogged to the church, dropped her off, and ran sped walked back to the house to pick up Night. I was able to walk fast enough to pick up Night and cross over to the next street before the whole group passed by. So, we joined them and finished walking to school.

I was home and drinking my coffee by 8:30am. Not a bad start to the morning!

A Long Overdue Update

Okay. Time to update this blog and let everyone know how life is a lot different from the last time you heard from me.

In July, we moved from our little town of Franklin to East Nashville in order to finally be closer to work. For the past two years, I had been commuting 1/2 hour to work (not too bad) and 45 minutes home (traffic!) each day in order to work at a small independent middle school in East Nashville. We loved Franklin, so it was a hard decision, but one made easier with the fact that my children would have free tuition this year. Since, as a whole, Nashville public schools aren't the greatest (and Franklin Elementary was fantastic), this was a big part of our decision. Also, Josh had been offered a part time position at my school as well, meaning my whole little family could go to school together everyday! I had always hated being so far away from my family when I crossed into Nashville each day.

Then, my small independent school closed due to financial problems. This happened less than a month before school was set to begin. Fortunately, the school we are zoned for in our new house is one of the best in the area, so my kids would be okay. Unfortunately, I had let my teaching license expire a few years ago--it wasn't necessary at my private school, but it is necessary to get another job teaching at a public school.

So, I am now currently receiving unemployment checks. It is surreal. I go from feeling like a loser who can't find a good paying job despite my education degree to a happy mom who gets paid to stay home! I have very productive days where I bake stuff for the ladies at my kids' school, clean the house from top to bottom, take the dog to the dog park, read books, and make delicious meals that I would've never had time to make before. I also have very unproductive days where I get out of bed long enough walk the kids to school then crawl back in until it is time to pick them back up.

I have been lucky enough to keep my waitressing job on the weekend-the one where I've worked for 6 years. Unfortunately, the way unemployment works, is that if I make more than $68.75 a week, the overage comes out of my $275 unemployment check. Since I usually make closer to $100 each day, I only work on Sundays. Josh has been able to pick up a few odd jobs every now and then, which helps to supplement our income as well.

I'm working on getting my license updated. I have to fight through some red-tape, though since my license is in Indiana, and we live in Tennessee. I guess the most discouraging part is that once I get my license, I can't really expect to find a teaching job in the middle of the school year. I can sub, but unless it is full time, it isn't really worth it. Here is my dream: get my license updated and then transferred over to this state and then get a teaching job at my kids' school, which is a mere 5 minute (or 15 minute with the kiddos!) WALK to school. Since that is unlikely to happen in MY timing, I will do my best to get some subbing jobs there so the principal gets to know me, and my face pops into her head when a position becomes available.

I am enjoying my time, although I feel guilty at times. My house is cleaner than it has ever been--people could even stop by without warning, and I wouldn't be too embarrassed! I've spent a lot of time volunteering at the kids' school (which is good for them, but makes me kind of sad sometimes). Overall, my life seems a lot more...calm, but it is only a matter of time before I start to get stir crazy. I might me alphabetizing the soup cans soon.

I was Playing On-Line Poker, What Did You Expect?

I just heard a pounding noise from the other room. Like a good mother, rather than going to look, I yelled, "What are you doing?"
Keira yelled back, "Nothing."
"It doesn't sound like nothing."
"Well, we aren't doing anything to break the house."
"Okay. Well, don't break each other either."
"Okay. We won't."

Need parenting lessons? I offer them for a small fee...

Weekly Winners 12/27-1/2/10

The Gingerbread House THIS week.

We left the dogs alone with it for too long!


Lego Rock Band!

Go check out the other Weekly Winners from Sarcastic Mom.

Weekly Winners 12/20-12/26

In an attempt to SLOW DOWN and remember what life is all about, I'm joining Sarcastic Mom's Weekly Winners photo gallery. I really enjoy writing in my blog, and I really enjoy taking pictures, but when I have a minute to sit down, I think of it as more of a chore than a hobby. I don't want it to be that way!

Here are my weekly winners:

The first day of Christmas break.

We made the Gingerbread House on the second day of break!

Decorating cookies for Santa. Everyone except for Keira gave up after about 3 cookies. She stayed at the counter by herself for about an hour, making sure every one of them was perfect.

Keira in her new Snuggie!

Rachael and Mari

I feel like Julie!

Another successful recipe from Rachael Ray's 365: No Repeats cookbook.

We cooked #83, Ginger Vegetable Chicken Noodle Bowl. It worked out fantastically because Josh was the chopper and dicer and I was the stirrer and combiner. It was a lot of fun working in the kitchen with Josh, and I didn't have to do the part that I hate.

The noodles were DELICIOUS. Seriously, I had some of the leftovers for breakfast the next morning. It had the perfect amount of ginger. I would add more bean sprouts next time. Josh wants to try it with shrimp too. That'd be so yummy!

I can't wait to make this one again!

My Family Left Me...Again

My kids and handsome husband went back up to Indiana to visit his family for about a week. They will be back Sunday night. I stayed here because I had a few inservices for school, but most importantly, we needed someone to take care of the FOUR DOGS (what were we thinking-four dogs?!).
Here is how it has been so far:
Day One: Bliss. It was so quiet, calm. Did I mention QUIET?
Day Two: I cleaned.
Day Three: I got drunk. (Okay-it was Night Three, but that didn't fit the pattern, and I didn't really get drunk, I just had two glasses of wine, but with my new eating style, not having food to buffer the alcohol, it made me drunk!)
Day Four: The novelty of having the house to myself has worn off. I'm counting down the hours until I had have someone to mess it up and make it loud... Well, maybe just one more day to myself will be okay.

Such a Slave-Driver

Last night, when it was time for Keira to get ready for bed, I told her to politely ask Night to pause his game and help her brush her teeth. She sighed and said, "He's just going to say, 'Why do I have to do everything around here?' again."

Well, she was right, he said it, but he was fine with brushing her teeth too. "Everything around here" entails brushing Keira's teeth and occasionally turning the channel to a cartoon for her. Its a pretty good gig.

Tonight as I was cleaning up the dinner dishes (right before Keira's teeth-brushing time), I thought how much I liked this new routine of having Night brush her teeth. She can be quite... um... belligerent when it comes to doing anything brushing her teeth, so Josh and I are both happy to pass off this chore special bonding moment to her big brother. It is also nice because he brushes his teeth at the same time, so it is one less task to deal with before he goes to bed.

So, when I mentioned to both kids that it was just about time for brushing teeth, I was looking forward to the new routine we've begun establishing. (Yes, the routine includes Night's mention about having to do everything around here.) Before getting up, Night calmly told me, "I was thinking that maybe one of you guys could start doing some of the work around here."

(me)"WHAT? Like cooking for you, getting your drinks, washing your clothes, paying your bills?"

(Night)"Bills? I don't have any bills..."

(me)"You think your food is free? You think this cushy air conditioning is free? You have bills. We just pay for them."

(Night)"Well, anyway, do you think that one of you two could brush Keira's teeth and maybe start changing the channels for her?"

(me)"You are right. We shouldn't expect so much from you. We really do need to start helping, don't we?"

(Night)"Yeah."

(me)"Well, you brush tonight and one of us will do it tomorrow."

(Night)"Okay."

Glad he set us straight before the Department of Labor caught us for breaking all those child labor laws.

Hair

Here are the before and afters, for Anna. I can't find an "after" of me with my eyes open. I can't find a "before" for Josh, but I know I've taken some. Interesting...

Anyway, here we are!!

Tooth

Night had a loose tooth.


After much whining, he let Josh pull it out. He is so adorable!


The new tooth is popping through already.





This is his third "lost" tooth. Actually, only one is lost...

His bottom two adult teeth, much like this most recent one, were coming in before the baby teeth were pulled. They were both loose around the same time. I distinctly remember the first one. We played tooth fairy and Josh put the tooth in his little treasure box.

As for the second tooth, I don't remember it coming out! Josh doesn't remember either. Night says that he does, but he is 5, what does he know?

We checked the treasure box--the second tooth is not there! He now has both adult teeth in the bottom, so it had to have come out some time, but I think the tooth fairy missed that one!

True Romance

Tonight, my husband bought me the book that was in my purse when it was stolen six months ago. He said he had been looking for the book ever since, and this was the first time he had seen it in the store. I had no idea! I didn't even remember the name of the book.

That book is one of the most romantic presents I've ever received.

I love my husband.

12/23/08 A Night at Home

Josh is away working on a video. Here is what a quiet night at my house looks like!





The dogs are being themselves. The puppy Dash was just locked up, otherwise you'd be looking at completely different photos. He likes to play... a lot! Night is busy with his (my old) ds. Keira is playing with her little ponies (she made me do a reshoot because the ponies weren't ready in the first photo). And what am I doing during all of this? I'm getting dinner ready, of course!

I'm Jealous

of my three year old daughter's coat.

and boots.

Cuddle Night

Every Friday night at my house is cuddle night. Sounds nice, doesn't it? Don't be fooled. Don't get me wrong-it can be nice, but it isn't always nice...

Cuddle night started when Josh was working 3rd shift on Thursday nights. I would let Night sleep in my bed-we'd watch a movie through once then fall asleep to it the second time through. Okay, he'd watch a movie once then force himself to fall asleep the next time. I'd be out like a light within the first 5 minutes...

When I started teaching and Night went to school, we moved cuddle night to Fridays since he was staying up later than usual. Then, Keira wanted cuddle night. Good-bye to those romantic weekend nights with Josh. Night had me Friday. Keira had me Saturday. Then, Night decided to share cuddle night with Keira,

At least I have my Saturday nights back! The main problem with cuddle night is that these tiny little people I sleep with in my Queen size bed turn into giants with the longest (and meanest) legs and arms in the world! I wake up on Saturdays with bruises! Seriously.

Bombay Potatoes

I love to try new things. I love to buy things that are cheap and/or on clearance. Imagine my excitement when I saw this:

Bombay Potatoes. Listed as chick peas, potatoes, and spices slow cooked in a tomato sauce. INDIAN. All natural, vegetarian. AND, it is marked down from $3.09 to $1.25. Of course I snatched it up. We love Indian food-and from looking at the box, it looked healthy. There were about 3 of them in the little sale basket, so I scooped them up.

And, it was easy to cook--either pop it in the microwave for 2 minutes or boil it on the stove for five. Being the gourmet that I am, I chose the microwave.

Imagine my surprise when I tore open the pouch and it was GREEN. The picture shows a redish color, so I thought that maybe it would turn after being cooked. (Serious doubt, though-how can 2 minutes in the microwave make that much of a difference?)

Well, this is how it turned out:

Those chunks you see? Not chick peas at all. Tofu. Definitely tofu. Definitely NOT chick peas. Well, I like tofu, so I decided to dig in anyway.




Keira asked what I was eating. I showed her and asked if she wanted some (in all honesty, it looks like baby poop). She looked. She said, "What kind of food is it?" I said, "Indian food." As I brought the spoon to her mouth, she said, "I don't like that kind of food," in a very panicky voice. "You haven't even tried it." "Oh." I put a tiny bit in her tiny mouth. "mmm." Then she ran away.

Night asked for seconds, though, so I guess it is a good sign. I have no idea what we ate, but I'm fairly sure it is healthy, and it tasted yummy. I dipped a tortilla in it and pretended my tortilla was buttered naan. Yum.


I just wonder what are in the other boxes. Something green with tofu or bombay potatoes...

Maple Roses

I tried making these. It didn't turn out very well, but Keira likes them! I didn't read about the needing thread part until I already started, and I can't find the thread. Yes, I'm quite the home-maker. I can't even FIND my thread... Cute idea, though!!

Keira Turns THREE

OCD or Terrible Twos?

It seems that whenever I do...anything with Keira, she takes whatever I do, starts it over, and then does it all by herself. ("All myself" is how she pronounces it.)

Brushing teeth time? I open the drawer with the toothbrushes. She CLOSES the door and opens it herself. I pick up her toothbrush. She puts the toothbrush down and picks it back up. I turn the water on. She turns the water off then back on again. (you get the picture...)

It never changes. The thing is if I just wait for her to do it without my intervention, she argues and says she doesn't want to do it. (It being ANYTHING that I want her to do.) I just think she likes the process of being obstinate. You should see what she does if we skip the whole let her do it herself step. It gets pretty ugly.

So, tonight as I was watching Keira put the lid back on the vitamins so she could take it off, I began to wonder if this is how OCD starts? She gets so used to repeating everything that she does that it becomes habit then it becomes a need. Am I fostering OCD in my 2 year old because I don't want her to yell at me?

I'm hoping it is just the terrible twos. She turns three in a few weeks. It will all end then, right? We leave the terrible twos and go into the terrific threes, right? Her attitude changes completely, right???

The First Week of School

Whew.  I feel like my week has consisted of waking up before dawn, running around like crazy, then sleeping (dreaming of running around like crazy) for 5 minutes, and then starting all over again by waking up before dawn!

I started my new teaching position last Monday with inservices, which also included reading a whole lot of books about Garner's Multiple Intelligences.  Then, this week was the first week that the kids came to school.  It has been a wonderful week.  I love my students.  I love only having 16 of them in a class!  I'm overwhelmed with trying to do all of my lesson plans MI style, but I'm sure I'll get it down... eventually. 

Night also started school for the first time this week!  Actually, he went for half a day one day the previous week, but the actual first day was the same as mine.  I was very sad that I couldn't be here, but such is life!  I do have the pictures to post, but they are on my phone, and I'm not sure how to get them onto the computer!  Night insisted on riding the school bus rather than being taken to school.  To me, riding the bus seems scary, but what do I know?

So, we've all been trying to adjust to our new schedules.  We all went for so long doing the same thing over and over that we had grown accustomed to our monotony.  Then all of the sudden, EVERYTHING CHANGED at once.  Josh is adjusting to waking up early and getting Night off to school.  The bus stop is at our corner, so luckily he doesn't have to wake up Keira.  I think she usually wakes up before the bus arrives, though.  I think the first day the two of them were alone in the house, they just sat and stared at each other!

Thursday night, Night had his open house, which just happened to be the same night of MY open house.  Great timing!  I got to Night's open house, though, with about 5 minutes to spare.  Josh was there for the whole thing, though.  I did get to see Night's classroom, which by the way is about 5 times bigger than my own classroom.  I have bigger kids with less space.

1 week of school down, about 40 to go!