We can see!!!!!!
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| We picked up our new specs today. |
Monday, October 17, 2011
Sunday, October 16, 2011
31 Days of Enjoying the Busy Season {Day 16}
This has been a great weekend. On Friday night, we attended a surprise 40th birthday party for our neighbor. It was nice to get dressed up and go somewhere with my husband for some grown-up time.
Yesterday, I cleaned house all day! It was so nice to get it done and regain some order. Then last night we had some friends over for dinner. We haven't invited anyone over to the house in the longest time. The kids played with their friends and had a great time and we had some awesome adult conversation.
Then today?? I have sat in this chair and watched all of the shows I have DVR'd, gotten caught up on some blogging, graded assignments and inputted grades, and relaxed.
Enjoyable.
Yesterday, I cleaned house all day! It was so nice to get it done and regain some order. Then last night we had some friends over for dinner. We haven't invited anyone over to the house in the longest time. The kids played with their friends and had a great time and we had some awesome adult conversation.
Then today?? I have sat in this chair and watched all of the shows I have DVR'd, gotten caught up on some blogging, graded assignments and inputted grades, and relaxed.
Enjoyable.
31 Days of Enjoying the Busy Season {Day 15}
A day at the zoo can cure what ails you. Seeing a baby giraffe, snow leopard, and majestic lion up-close-and-personal is an astonishing thing. It's also kind of nice to spend the day with your kids and some of their friends.
31 Days of Enjoying the Busy Season {Day 14}
I can't even believe I am typing this. But, yet, I can.
On Thursday, I was driving home from picking up Eli from school and happened upon a pitiful Cocker Spaniel who was about to wander out into the busy road in the subdivision across the street from ours. Being worried that she was going to be run over, I stopped. She had on a collar, so I wanted to see if there was a tag to call the owner.
There was no tag.
But I just couldn't let her wander on further and further away from her home. She was obviously lost. All I could think about was how I would want someone to pick up one of our dogs should they get lost.
She jumped right in my car and was the sweetest thing. I took her home, made signs, and Dawson immediately went and posted them around the neighborhoods. I posted on our website all about her, with our telephone number. I e-mailed a friend in the neighborhood where she was found, and she posted it on their website. I sat and waited for the owner to call.
Brynne immediately took to her. Her and Dawson named her "Trixie".
And Trixie is still with us. We haven't heard from an owner. And she now acts as thought she belongs in our family. She is the sweetest dog! She is great with the kids, and the other dogs have taken to her as well. She appears to be potty trained. She minds. She fits in just fine.
Each day that she is here, I think there might be a little piece of us that hopes the owner never tries to find her.
What's one more, huh?
On Thursday, I was driving home from picking up Eli from school and happened upon a pitiful Cocker Spaniel who was about to wander out into the busy road in the subdivision across the street from ours. Being worried that she was going to be run over, I stopped. She had on a collar, so I wanted to see if there was a tag to call the owner.
There was no tag.
But I just couldn't let her wander on further and further away from her home. She was obviously lost. All I could think about was how I would want someone to pick up one of our dogs should they get lost.
She jumped right in my car and was the sweetest thing. I took her home, made signs, and Dawson immediately went and posted them around the neighborhoods. I posted on our website all about her, with our telephone number. I e-mailed a friend in the neighborhood where she was found, and she posted it on their website. I sat and waited for the owner to call.
Brynne immediately took to her. Her and Dawson named her "Trixie".
And Trixie is still with us. We haven't heard from an owner. And she now acts as thought she belongs in our family. She is the sweetest dog! She is great with the kids, and the other dogs have taken to her as well. She appears to be potty trained. She minds. She fits in just fine.
Each day that she is here, I think there might be a little piece of us that hopes the owner never tries to find her.
What's one more, huh?
Thursday, October 13, 2011
31 Days of Enjoying the Busy Season {Day 13}
Rick and I went to Eli's parent/teacher conference this evening. It was so great to hear his teacher talk about what a great student he is! She said that he is as normal and on par as the rest of the students. She is a wonderful teacher and it makes me so relieved to know that Eli is in her care every day.
When I picked him up from school today, he was carrying another award. It said, "Eli, I am so proud of you today! You showed bravery and courage in doing your project! Love and Hugs! Mrs. Walters"
Mrs. Walters is one of the other second grade teachers. Eli's class had a project where they were making sarcophoguses with paper mache. Eli does not like ooey-gooey things and said that he couldn't do the project. His teacher worked with him and he actually got his hands yucky and completed his own project! Mrs. Walters is across the hall and heard how loud it was in his classroom, so she came over to see if he wanted to come to her class where it was quiet. He told her that he wanted to stay and finish his project. She was so proud of him that she gave him the award.
Another great milestone (or two!).
When I picked him up from school today, he was carrying another award. It said, "Eli, I am so proud of you today! You showed bravery and courage in doing your project! Love and Hugs! Mrs. Walters"
Mrs. Walters is one of the other second grade teachers. Eli's class had a project where they were making sarcophoguses with paper mache. Eli does not like ooey-gooey things and said that he couldn't do the project. His teacher worked with him and he actually got his hands yucky and completed his own project! Mrs. Walters is across the hall and heard how loud it was in his classroom, so she came over to see if he wanted to come to her class where it was quiet. He told her that he wanted to stay and finish his project. She was so proud of him that she gave him the award.
Another great milestone (or two!).
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
31 Days of Enjoying the Busy Season {Day 12}
In my quest to ENJOY the first 31 days of our busy season, I did a quick inventory and saw that the intentional effort has been a good thing. Despite my quest, I have still been in a bit of a funk. Looking for the positive has helped, but it isn't enough.
I also wonder if anyone else around me is enjoying my busy season. In otherwords, are they enjoying ME in my busy season? Probably not.
I ask myself why I feel funkish. Why do I feel sluggish? Why do I feel under par? Why do I feel unmotiviated?
Much of it has to do with not taking care of myself. The unfortunate part is that in order to take care of myself I have to rise SUPER EARLY in the morning. I don't think that is unusual for women in this season of life. I have been getting up at 6:00 a.m. to start my day. But even at that, I can't fit in time to take a shower and get ready for the day. I tell myself I will do it a bit later, but then the day takes off. I might get a quick body shower. But, it's become all-too-easy to wad my hair up into a pony, throw on comfy clothes, skip the makeup, and move on.
I would imagine that those around me are tired of seeing me look this way. It's not me. It's the Saturday-Me that has now carried into every other day of the week. I am even less concerned about how I look when I am running errands or going to activities with other people.
So, I feel gross.
When I was in college, I did an oral report about Dressing Smart. We have a saying at our house that "if you can't be good at it, look good doing it." I tell my kids that if they dress smart, they will think smart. If we dress sluggish, we will feel sluggish. Even Dawson says that he feels like he does better in school if he showers in the morning before he gets started.
It's time to perk up and feel better about myself. What will follow will be a more enjoyable (and probably productive) day for myself and those around me.
This means I am going to have to rise even earlier, say 5:30 a.m., GADS! But, by doing this, I imagine I will get more accomplished earlier in the day so I can, say, take a little power nap in the afternoon before the evening shift starts? That's my goal. Yes, I'm one of those old women now who loves a 30 minute afternoon power nap.
Look Good ... Feel Good.
I also wonder if anyone else around me is enjoying my busy season. In otherwords, are they enjoying ME in my busy season? Probably not.
I ask myself why I feel funkish. Why do I feel sluggish? Why do I feel under par? Why do I feel unmotiviated?
Much of it has to do with not taking care of myself. The unfortunate part is that in order to take care of myself I have to rise SUPER EARLY in the morning. I don't think that is unusual for women in this season of life. I have been getting up at 6:00 a.m. to start my day. But even at that, I can't fit in time to take a shower and get ready for the day. I tell myself I will do it a bit later, but then the day takes off. I might get a quick body shower. But, it's become all-too-easy to wad my hair up into a pony, throw on comfy clothes, skip the makeup, and move on.
I would imagine that those around me are tired of seeing me look this way. It's not me. It's the Saturday-Me that has now carried into every other day of the week. I am even less concerned about how I look when I am running errands or going to activities with other people.
So, I feel gross.
When I was in college, I did an oral report about Dressing Smart. We have a saying at our house that "if you can't be good at it, look good doing it." I tell my kids that if they dress smart, they will think smart. If we dress sluggish, we will feel sluggish. Even Dawson says that he feels like he does better in school if he showers in the morning before he gets started.
It's time to perk up and feel better about myself. What will follow will be a more enjoyable (and probably productive) day for myself and those around me.
This means I am going to have to rise even earlier, say 5:30 a.m., GADS! But, by doing this, I imagine I will get more accomplished earlier in the day so I can, say, take a little power nap in the afternoon before the evening shift starts? That's my goal. Yes, I'm one of those old women now who loves a 30 minute afternoon power nap.
Look Good ... Feel Good.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
31 Days of Enjoying the Busy Season {Day 11}
I kind of got my wish this morning, about having a pj day ... Eli woke up with a red, goopy eye. It looks like a cold in his eye, as he has a bit of a stuffy nose, also. But figuring he would be promptly sent home from school, I just kept him home.
I enjoyed having him here. He mostly played, but did join us for our glue fossil project. We also were able to get his spelling words practiced and his reading done early in the day which let us have a relaxing afternoon instead of one packed with after-school work.
I enjoyed having him here. He mostly played, but did join us for our glue fossil project. We also were able to get his spelling words practiced and his reading done early in the day which let us have a relaxing afternoon instead of one packed with after-school work.
Nicole's Daybook
Outside my window... I sit with my coffee, my dog, and the beautiful morning. I can hear geese honking in the distance, and some lingering crickets. And is that the sound of chipmunks??
I am thinking... about how I would love to have a true pj day where we did absolutely nothing but lay on the couch and rest all day.
I am thankful ... that a small storm seems to have passed, the clouds have cleared a bit, and some sunshine is peeking through (metaphorically speaking).
I am wearing... black nylon pants, tennis shoes, and my "Queen Mom" t-shirt with a zip-up hoodie tied around my waist.
I am planning... outfits for a family photo.
I am creating... A fun Halloween t-shirt (or two or three), thanks to this post.
I am going... to seriously make sure I get everything done early today so that I can get in my pjs and into my favorite chair by 7:00 p.m. to start watching my favorite night of t.v. shows!
I am reading... The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (Geez ... I haven't been reading at all), The Captain's Dog by Roland Smith, (Dawson's read-a-loud), lots of books each day with Eli and Brynne, 1 John (as part of the Good Morning Girls Bible study) and getting ready to start The Borrowers with Brynne because we are going to see the play at the beginning of next month.
I am hoping... that a certain fellow at Rick's job gets put in his place so that he doesn't make the whole company (primarily Rick) miserable for the next year until he retires.
From the learning rooms... This week things are changed up a bit because of a free field trip to the Tulsa Geoscience Center that popped up. Brynne is learning about fossils and Dawson is taking a break from Biology to learn about solar energy. Brynne is also doing a unit on Columbus Day this week, which she is really loving so far. She is also way into learning all 51 states and the Fifty Nifty song, so I am going to have to get it on cd for her. Eli is pushing ahead. We will be having an emphasis on reading in the next two weeks because he needs to read about five books and test on them to meet his quarterly reading goal. He can do it! And, Kyndal has decided that maybe she should start doing her homework and taking school seriously, now that she knows I am serious about her being grounded. She does do schoolwork better when she is doing it with a friend, so I have agreed that her one friend can come over in the afternoons so they can do their homework together. Cheaper than a tutor.
Noticing that ... I am a control freak and have extreme trust issues.
From the kitchen... I think we'll just do some hot dogs and brats tonight. Keep it simple.
Around the house... The usual piles of school projects. That is neverending and just a part of our life now. We call it "home decor".
One of my favorite things... Sunday afternoon naps. I've been making a point of having them.
A few plans for the rest of the week... It's a little busy this week. Today is our one day with nothing going on (other than Eli's bowling date with daddy). Tomorrow, Dawson and I have early eye appointments and then we are headed to Tulsa for the day. Dawson will have youth in the evening. Thursday we are home, but I have to get everything ready for the sub for my Continent Crossers class and deliver it to her in the evening. On Friday, we are going to the zoo with Eli's class. That night we have a surprise 40th birthday party to attend for our neighbor (he doesn't read this). And on Saturday we have invited some friends over for dinner. We'll have church on Sunday and then I'm taking that nap!!!
I am hoping... that a certain fellow at Rick's job gets put in his place so that he doesn't make the whole company (primarily Rick) miserable for the next year until he retires.
From the learning rooms... This week things are changed up a bit because of a free field trip to the Tulsa Geoscience Center that popped up. Brynne is learning about fossils and Dawson is taking a break from Biology to learn about solar energy. Brynne is also doing a unit on Columbus Day this week, which she is really loving so far. She is also way into learning all 51 states and the Fifty Nifty song, so I am going to have to get it on cd for her. Eli is pushing ahead. We will be having an emphasis on reading in the next two weeks because he needs to read about five books and test on them to meet his quarterly reading goal. He can do it! And, Kyndal has decided that maybe she should start doing her homework and taking school seriously, now that she knows I am serious about her being grounded. She does do schoolwork better when she is doing it with a friend, so I have agreed that her one friend can come over in the afternoons so they can do their homework together. Cheaper than a tutor.
Noticing that ... I am a control freak and have extreme trust issues.
From the kitchen... I think we'll just do some hot dogs and brats tonight. Keep it simple.
Around the house... The usual piles of school projects. That is neverending and just a part of our life now. We call it "home decor".
One of my favorite things... Sunday afternoon naps. I've been making a point of having them.
A few plans for the rest of the week... It's a little busy this week. Today is our one day with nothing going on (other than Eli's bowling date with daddy). Tomorrow, Dawson and I have early eye appointments and then we are headed to Tulsa for the day. Dawson will have youth in the evening. Thursday we are home, but I have to get everything ready for the sub for my Continent Crossers class and deliver it to her in the evening. On Friday, we are going to the zoo with Eli's class. That night we have a surprise 40th birthday party to attend for our neighbor (he doesn't read this). And on Saturday we have invited some friends over for dinner. We'll have church on Sunday and then I'm taking that nap!!!
From my picture journal.
I saw this on the Five J's blog yesterday and haven't been able to get my mind off of it.
I saw this on the Five J's blog yesterday and haven't been able to get my mind off of it.
Lots of women Daybook. See what they have to say at The Simple Woman's Daybook.
Monday, October 10, 2011
31 Days of Enjoying the Busy Season {Day 10}
It is so easy to get stressed, especially this time of year. Attitudes, unexpected plan changes, weather, etc., can all play a part.
But, we have control over how we respond to the craziness of our days. Today I just let the day be what the day was going to be. It's not that I had that much control over it anyway.
Because of weather we had to make a change to our homeschool picture location. No big deal. Sure, we had to wait a bit. But, who cares? No, not as much school got done as we had planned today. But, who cares? There's always tomorrow.
While working on Brynne's Columbus Day activities, she got excited about some of her work pages and wanted to spend more time on them. In fact, she veered off into drawing a map of the United States and drawing the states she knew. I was so impressed with how many she remembered and how she knew generally where they belonged. She was excited, so I didn't see the need to move onto something else until she was ready.
We were using rye bread (only one slice out of a whole loaf) in a fossil demonstration. Seeing that gave me a craving for Patty Melts. I had a meal planned, with all of the ingredients purchased and ready to be used. I had to make a quick trip to the store to get what we needed for the patty melts. But, no big deal.
It rained a bunch this morning, so the backyard was a mud pit. I had to take the dogs out front to potty all day, which meant I had to be out there with them so they didn't get out into the street. It was time consuming, but that's fine. It saved me from cleaning up muddy floors.
Dawson and Brynne should have been cramming in a little bit of schoolwork between lunch and Dawson's guitar lessons. But they wanted to do P.E. for a while instead. Why not?
Kyndal is grounded and has been having a difficult time understanding the 2011 definition of "grounded". She has pushed and pushed, a little every day. Today she wanted to know if her and her friend could work together on their Cosmo project. That question would typically make my blood pressure rise to an unhealthy level. But today I said, "Fine. But you are doing it here." They are currently actually working on our back patio.
ALL of these things could have thrown me into a tizzy today. In fact, just one of them really could have. But I decided to just let our day happen and go with it.
But, we have control over how we respond to the craziness of our days. Today I just let the day be what the day was going to be. It's not that I had that much control over it anyway.
Because of weather we had to make a change to our homeschool picture location. No big deal. Sure, we had to wait a bit. But, who cares? No, not as much school got done as we had planned today. But, who cares? There's always tomorrow.
While working on Brynne's Columbus Day activities, she got excited about some of her work pages and wanted to spend more time on them. In fact, she veered off into drawing a map of the United States and drawing the states she knew. I was so impressed with how many she remembered and how she knew generally where they belonged. She was excited, so I didn't see the need to move onto something else until she was ready.
We were using rye bread (only one slice out of a whole loaf) in a fossil demonstration. Seeing that gave me a craving for Patty Melts. I had a meal planned, with all of the ingredients purchased and ready to be used. I had to make a quick trip to the store to get what we needed for the patty melts. But, no big deal.
It rained a bunch this morning, so the backyard was a mud pit. I had to take the dogs out front to potty all day, which meant I had to be out there with them so they didn't get out into the street. It was time consuming, but that's fine. It saved me from cleaning up muddy floors.
Dawson and Brynne should have been cramming in a little bit of schoolwork between lunch and Dawson's guitar lessons. But they wanted to do P.E. for a while instead. Why not?
Kyndal is grounded and has been having a difficult time understanding the 2011 definition of "grounded". She has pushed and pushed, a little every day. Today she wanted to know if her and her friend could work together on their Cosmo project. That question would typically make my blood pressure rise to an unhealthy level. But today I said, "Fine. But you are doing it here." They are currently actually working on our back patio.
ALL of these things could have thrown me into a tizzy today. In fact, just one of them really could have. But I decided to just let our day happen and go with it.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
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