Yesterday morning I put a big box of diapers in the back of Cap'n's car. We have a friend who just had baby #4 and that is my gift to her. I know it is something that she will use. I had hoped Cap'n would drop them off yesterday, but we made an arrangement to do it together today. I'm excited about that, because I get to hold a baby, and squeeze her other cutie pie kiddos!
I saw the news on facebook that one of my childhood friends had her baby yesterday morning. A baby girl, with the middle name Clementine (thumbs up!). I am so happy for that family and I'm on pins and needles waiting for them to post pictures.
Cap'n and I sat and watched some of the TV shows on the DVR. Spoiler alert if you haven't watched the season finale of Bones and How I Met Your Mother. Lily is pregnant. And Brennan is pregnant (with Seely's baby! He looked so happy!). I cried through the ends of both of those shows.
As I went to bed I was hit with baby fever! I haven't felt that way since not long after Repete was born. I was ready to do it all again! I would have had a houseful of kids if life had turned out just a little differently (I used to say I'd like a bakers dozen). If I could have comfortably stayed home with them all. That isn't the road I chose though and while I have no regrets I do sometimes wonder about how it could have been.
It was a weird feeling. I'm too old for that now, and have already closed that door. But sometimes it's fun to wonder....
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
I have a lot to say
It's true. I have a lot to say. I'm just not sure of what it all is at the moment. I went to the last PTO meeting of the year last night. I used to try very hard to get to all the meetings. But they fall on Tuesday nights at the same time my kids have a prior commitment. So if Cap'n isn't home, I choose to take the kids to their Tuesday night aikido lessons instead. It's been a while since I last made it to a meeting.
Every single meeting disappoints me in some way. I'm trying to decide if it's because I go in expecting to be disappointed, or if I just lose it when I am there.
Last night only one of the officers even showed up. One. This mom is a treasure to our school. She volunteers for every event and she even helps be a playground monitor during the week. (I'm envious that she has the kind of time to be able to do that). Other than her, there were two parents there. TWO! And the other parent who was there was there because her name was on the ballot for next years PTO officers. At this point in time, she doesn't even have a kid at the school. Really. Her oldest child is still at the kindercenter, and won't be in first grade until next fall. She took it upon herself to come to the last few meetings and become a part of the organization in advance. I think it is fantastic. It also makes me sad that other parents can't be more involved. And it makes me angry at myself for not trying harder to be more involved myself. Although, I may have some of the best communication with the boys teachers and principal.
There were several teachers in attendance. They all were there to thank the PTO for money we gave them. The district had cut the budget (whose hasn't, I guess), and the school had a difficult time getting money raised to send several grades on scheduled field trips. During parent teacher conferences teachers were asking each parent for $4. Four bucks from each kid going on the field trip would pay for the buses. I gave $20 from my pocket in case there were parents who needed help. The PTO ended up paying quite a bit, because some parents either wouldn't or couldn't give up $4.00. (that is the price of one Starbucks latte). That made me glad to be a part of the organization.
The principal was the bearer of bad news to start the meeting off. The District is in talks with the teachers union... that is a disconcerting way to start the meeting. They are discussing salaries and benefits, no surprise there. There is a lot of politics in this state right now involving the teachers unions and our kids educations. I have opinions on that too, but not for right now. The disappointing part of this discussion is that it looks like there is a high chance that we will loose our music teacher and our PE teacher. They will cut those programs from elementary school. I am pretty sure when I was a kid we had PE every single day. My kids only have it once a week for an hour. They instituted a running program for recess time to keep the kids engaged and active. The problem with that is it's voluntary. And we all know good and well that the kids who really really need it, aren't the kids who are running. I hope someone is fighting hard to keep those teachers. Math and reading are NOT the only important things that kids need to learn in school.
The Title I teacher at our school resigned. And the District took that opportunity to eliminate her position. One less program to help our kids succeed. And still the expectations from the State continue to increase regarding our children's education. It is harder with less support.
It's a parents job to make sure our kids succeed. But in this day and age, we need the help from our teachers. It truly does take a village to raise a child. Every day it gets harder for them to help us, and less parents are helping the teachers with support as well.
Every single meeting disappoints me in some way. I'm trying to decide if it's because I go in expecting to be disappointed, or if I just lose it when I am there.
Last night only one of the officers even showed up. One. This mom is a treasure to our school. She volunteers for every event and she even helps be a playground monitor during the week. (I'm envious that she has the kind of time to be able to do that). Other than her, there were two parents there. TWO! And the other parent who was there was there because her name was on the ballot for next years PTO officers. At this point in time, she doesn't even have a kid at the school. Really. Her oldest child is still at the kindercenter, and won't be in first grade until next fall. She took it upon herself to come to the last few meetings and become a part of the organization in advance. I think it is fantastic. It also makes me sad that other parents can't be more involved. And it makes me angry at myself for not trying harder to be more involved myself. Although, I may have some of the best communication with the boys teachers and principal.
There were several teachers in attendance. They all were there to thank the PTO for money we gave them. The district had cut the budget (whose hasn't, I guess), and the school had a difficult time getting money raised to send several grades on scheduled field trips. During parent teacher conferences teachers were asking each parent for $4. Four bucks from each kid going on the field trip would pay for the buses. I gave $20 from my pocket in case there were parents who needed help. The PTO ended up paying quite a bit, because some parents either wouldn't or couldn't give up $4.00. (that is the price of one Starbucks latte). That made me glad to be a part of the organization.
The principal was the bearer of bad news to start the meeting off. The District is in talks with the teachers union... that is a disconcerting way to start the meeting. They are discussing salaries and benefits, no surprise there. There is a lot of politics in this state right now involving the teachers unions and our kids educations. I have opinions on that too, but not for right now. The disappointing part of this discussion is that it looks like there is a high chance that we will loose our music teacher and our PE teacher. They will cut those programs from elementary school. I am pretty sure when I was a kid we had PE every single day. My kids only have it once a week for an hour. They instituted a running program for recess time to keep the kids engaged and active. The problem with that is it's voluntary. And we all know good and well that the kids who really really need it, aren't the kids who are running. I hope someone is fighting hard to keep those teachers. Math and reading are NOT the only important things that kids need to learn in school.
The Title I teacher at our school resigned. And the District took that opportunity to eliminate her position. One less program to help our kids succeed. And still the expectations from the State continue to increase regarding our children's education. It is harder with less support.
It's a parents job to make sure our kids succeed. But in this day and age, we need the help from our teachers. It truly does take a village to raise a child. Every day it gets harder for them to help us, and less parents are helping the teachers with support as well.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Therapy, Romance, and Painting!!
Where did the weekend go?? I could barely pull myself out of bed this morning.
Friday night was Quilt Therapy. We saw several of the poster projects come together just a little bit more. What a FUN project we are working on. I think each time we pick a project it turns out to be more fun than the last one. This one is a real challenge sometimes, but the results are fabulous!
We didn't sew this month. We made beaded bracelets this time. It's refreshing to spend time with these crafty and talented ladies. I had a great time!
I spent all day Saturday tidying the house. I actually had to clean my room! I had a Pure Romance party at my house on Saturday night. I invited some of my friends (who I thought could handle that kind of party). I think some of the ladies had the coordinator overwhelmed (yep, they could handle it!). I know there is video of the game we played, but I'm not sure I can share it on here. After the coordinator left some of the girls stayed and we drank some wine and had some really fun conversations. No husbands and no kids, and the ice was already broken. It was fantastic.
And then on Sunday I helped some friends repaint their kitchen. I feel like I was very busy all day, but I'm sure that Nikki and Eric did most of the work. I worried over them on the ladder (which was on the table a lot of the time) a lot and ended up pausing in my painting. I finished one wall (the one that only goes from the counter to a plant shelf and has cupboards and a window (there wasn't a lot of wall there). They did the rest. I hope I was a little helpful. I know it wore me out! I really really like how the paint job turned out and feel proud that I got to participate in that a little!
Cap'n came home from being away for a week. It's going to be drizzly this whole week that he is home, and then he is away again. I'm so lucky to have people looking out for me when he is gone. But it's kind of nice to have him home. (except he tries to steal the covers back from me all the time).
Friday night was Quilt Therapy. We saw several of the poster projects come together just a little bit more. What a FUN project we are working on. I think each time we pick a project it turns out to be more fun than the last one. This one is a real challenge sometimes, but the results are fabulous!
We didn't sew this month. We made beaded bracelets this time. It's refreshing to spend time with these crafty and talented ladies. I had a great time!
I spent all day Saturday tidying the house. I actually had to clean my room! I had a Pure Romance party at my house on Saturday night. I invited some of my friends (who I thought could handle that kind of party). I think some of the ladies had the coordinator overwhelmed (yep, they could handle it!). I know there is video of the game we played, but I'm not sure I can share it on here. After the coordinator left some of the girls stayed and we drank some wine and had some really fun conversations. No husbands and no kids, and the ice was already broken. It was fantastic.
And then on Sunday I helped some friends repaint their kitchen. I feel like I was very busy all day, but I'm sure that Nikki and Eric did most of the work. I worried over them on the ladder (which was on the table a lot of the time) a lot and ended up pausing in my painting. I finished one wall (the one that only goes from the counter to a plant shelf and has cupboards and a window (there wasn't a lot of wall there). They did the rest. I hope I was a little helpful. I know it wore me out! I really really like how the paint job turned out and feel proud that I got to participate in that a little!
Cap'n came home from being away for a week. It's going to be drizzly this whole week that he is home, and then he is away again. I'm so lucky to have people looking out for me when he is gone. But it's kind of nice to have him home. (except he tries to steal the covers back from me all the time).
Monday, May 9, 2011
Mothers Day was Great!
I had a fantastic mothers day weekend. It started on Friday, after work. Pete went on a sleep over and Cap'n ended up with Repete and his friend, while I went on a Scrapbook camp retreat with my own friends.
We arrived in time to set up our scrap tables and the cabin where we would sleep. I think we may have even started scrapping before the dinner bell rang and they fed us a yummy lasagna dinner. After dinner we went right back to scrapping, while the camp volunteers cleaned up and did the dishes (awesome!). We turned in early this time. I think we were back at the cabin by 11:30. It must have been a long week at work, because I normally would have stayed up much later. I didn't feel like I had slept very well, but I didn't hear the train go through camp or anyone snoring, so I must have slept pretty soundly for a while. I was up by 6:30 on Saturday though.
The camp offered scrapbook classes to learn some new techniques and page layouts. I did a couple of those on Saturday. And I won a few prizes. I did get a lot of pages done and I may decide that the Disney album is finished. It tells the story. And I can't keep working on it, when I have another fabulous vacation in the making at the moment. I know that I'll never have any of it finished to my satisfaction, so I just have to know when to call it quits.
We came home on Saturday night. On the way home we drove through a sudden thunderstorm that dumped buckets of rain and hail for several minutes. When it was over, I saw the most beautiful rainbow I've ever seen. I often have trouble seeing the purple in the rainbows, and this one had the brightest purple I can remember. If I had been driving with my own family, I would have pulled over to admire it. But I was a passenger this time and just watched it as long as I could.
When we got back the the house Cap'n had the 3 boys, plus an extra one, and a Mom. He had taken the kids to Free Comic Book Day and then to see Thor. He seemed to have had a good time, but was pretty wiped when the kids had all gone.
We all slept late on Sunday. Then went to see Rio, which was cute. After that we went to my parents for Mothers Day dinner. My uncle is in town and this was my only chance to see him this time. Dinner was fantastic, the company was even better.
Happy Mothers day!
We arrived in time to set up our scrap tables and the cabin where we would sleep. I think we may have even started scrapping before the dinner bell rang and they fed us a yummy lasagna dinner. After dinner we went right back to scrapping, while the camp volunteers cleaned up and did the dishes (awesome!). We turned in early this time. I think we were back at the cabin by 11:30. It must have been a long week at work, because I normally would have stayed up much later. I didn't feel like I had slept very well, but I didn't hear the train go through camp or anyone snoring, so I must have slept pretty soundly for a while. I was up by 6:30 on Saturday though.
The camp offered scrapbook classes to learn some new techniques and page layouts. I did a couple of those on Saturday. And I won a few prizes. I did get a lot of pages done and I may decide that the Disney album is finished. It tells the story. And I can't keep working on it, when I have another fabulous vacation in the making at the moment. I know that I'll never have any of it finished to my satisfaction, so I just have to know when to call it quits.
We came home on Saturday night. On the way home we drove through a sudden thunderstorm that dumped buckets of rain and hail for several minutes. When it was over, I saw the most beautiful rainbow I've ever seen. I often have trouble seeing the purple in the rainbows, and this one had the brightest purple I can remember. If I had been driving with my own family, I would have pulled over to admire it. But I was a passenger this time and just watched it as long as I could.
When we got back the the house Cap'n had the 3 boys, plus an extra one, and a Mom. He had taken the kids to Free Comic Book Day and then to see Thor. He seemed to have had a good time, but was pretty wiped when the kids had all gone.
We all slept late on Sunday. Then went to see Rio, which was cute. After that we went to my parents for Mothers Day dinner. My uncle is in town and this was my only chance to see him this time. Dinner was fantastic, the company was even better.
Happy Mothers day!
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