Holy Moly, I need a nap after that Halloween party!  :)

 

Cross Kindergarten Teacher off my list of potential occupations. 

 

More later, with pictures! 

Ok so Friday is "All Hallow's Eve", right?  So Thursday is the eve of The Eve, which makes today the eve of the eve of The Eve.  Get it? 

 

Tomorrow is Coco's class party (they are off of school on Friday for a teacher work day).  I've got everything as ready as it can be for now.  The goodie bags are filled with all the supplies I have so far (we have some last minute contributions that at least one parent is bringing tomorrow when we drop our kids off at school).  As soon as I get back home from the morning drop off I am going to finish putting the goodies in the bags and tie them off with curling ribbon.  Something told me to make extra bags and thank goodness the mom that provided the bags and the goodies we have so far bought extras, a new student joined the class today!

 

I've got the Rice Krispie treats made (such a simple recipe and such a HUGE STICKY MESS).  I am waiting till tomorrow morning to cut them and put them in their individual cup cake paper liners (to make serving during the party faster and easier).

 

I wanted to make some kind of table decoration for the 5 activity stations but I don't think that is happening.  I may run up to the drug store first thing tomorrow morning and see if they have their Halloween stuff on clearance.  If prices are good enough I may buy something, but I'm on the fence about it.  Kids don't really notice that sort of thing.

 

I'm going to go ahead and print out the little station passports I made.  I was wise to hold off on printing them, we've added a station since my previous draft!  At this point, I think I am safe to assume no more changes to stations... the party is tomorrow at noon!  :)

 

OK well I had better quit rambling and start printing!

 

I'll write a post tomorrow on how it all went.

 

Love, JEn

Too funny not to share:

 

The article is here.

 

Interesting stuff.  Maybe one day I will actually believe that I wasn't the cause of Wesley's foot...

Oh my gosh, guys!

 

Last Friday at our little get together we got to talking about the PTA (oops, PTSA!) and volunteering at school, etc etc.  It has always been something I've wanted to do, but I keep making excuses not to put myself out there (honesty, I really am shy!).

 

Inspired by Bobbie, Mo, and Deb, I emailed our PTSA about the Safety / Emergency Preparedness committee.  The committee chair is vacant (so I assumed that no one at all was in the committee, after all, if you the only person in the committee, woudln't that make you the chair person by default?).  I worked in the field back in the day before I became a bon-bon eating, sit around on the couch, stay at home mom.  :P

 

The PTSA co-president wrote back today and said she'd be happy to have me on the committee, turns out there are two other people on the committee already (herself and another guy).  I'm NOT going to be the chair.  (and I'm going to keep repeating that to myself throughout the year).  I need to watch and learn before I start assuming leadership roles.

 

I also put my name on the baking and catch-all committees, I imagine those are pretty full already though.

 

Along with her teacher and another parent, I am planning the classroom Halloween party.  I am having so much fun!  I made a little "station passport" for the students.  We are going to set up the 5 tables that the students usually sit at as activity stations.  To make sure each student does everything (and only once!), they will get a stamp or a sticker on their passport at each activity.  Their completed passport gets them a goodie bag at the end of the party.  The other mom donated the supplies and I put together the goodie bags.  I shouldn't speak for her, but when it comes to the goodie bags, I get the distinct impression that we each feel like we got the better end of the deal.

 

I'm making rice crispy treats with halloween sprinkles in them and I am serving them in halloween themed cupcake holders (cut and portioned out ahead of time to make serving time easier) and I am going to have them displayed on my cupcake stand with the juice boxes and napkins arranged around them.  Oooh I can't wait!

 

I hope I actually get to attend the party.  The school has to do a background check before I can volunteer and I didn't turn the authorization in till yesterday.  The school secretary said that my NC drivers license may be a problem, so it is possible that I won't be able to attend.  We'll see, it will be my own fault if I can't go, I have known about the volunteer application and back ground check authorization since the beginning of the school year and I procrastinated until now.  I'm having fun planning it at any rate.

 

Gotta run, Wes is demanding attention (the nerve!)

 

Love, JEn

Hello!

 

I'm still in the Christmas Spirit.  I've got 3 more people/families taken care of, my christmas list spreadsheet updated, and I just called to make an appointment for the kids Christmas portrait and stunned the studio.  The girl said, "Um, we don't make appointments that far in advance"  I'm going to call back next week, I want to get them in the first week of November to hopefully avoid the mad house.

Today was a busy day, took Colleen to school (she ate hot lunch, a rarity), took Shawn to work, took Wes to see not 1, not 2, but THREE orthopaedic surgeons (well, our appointment was only for one of them, the hospital threw the others into the bargain as a freebie).  We got his sleeping boots strap fixed up, good as new, and they reinforced the other straps as well so that they won't break either.  Then it was off to my doctor's appointment, I had to get medicine refills.  I've not had my Calm-Happy-And-Focused-Jen medicine for a few days now and it is starting to show.

 

Example: After the appointments today my To Do list was simple - get my medicine refilled, pick Colleen up from school, do laundry, and pick Shawn up from work.

 

What I ENDED UP doing, however, looks more like: come straight home, eat a piece of cheesecake, start writing out Christmas cards (a distraction, I was actually meaning to send a sympathy card to someone and a get well card to someone else), Oh Crap!  Time to pick up Colleen, come home and eat two cupcakes, start reading a book, made it to page 8 before realizing I couldn't remember what I was reading, start working on Christmas cards again, talk on the phone for a couple of hours with mom while writing out more Christmas cards, remember to IM Shawn to see what time he wants me to pick him up, forget why I am at the computer when I get here and play a game of solitaire while I am remembering.  5 or so games of solitaire later, remember to IM Shawn, he is "Away" so I tell him to call me and I go back to the Christmas cards.

 

Shawn called at about 7pm to be picked up.  The kids and I left to go get him.  Colleen and I decided on Rotini and Sauce for dinner on the way.  Tried to read book again while waiting for Shawn to come out (remembered book, forgot jacket, freezing with car off but too cheap to waste gas while waiting).  On the way home decided to pick up a pizza (forgot all about the Rotini and Sauce I promised Colleen).  Got pizza, impulsively added an order of breadsticks when I went in to pick it up.  Got home and it was 10 minutes before we could sit down to eat because there were Christmas Cards, address labels, stamps, by address card file, two empty cans of Mt Dew that I don't remember drinking, a plate and fork from the cheesecake and two cupcake wrappers on the table.

 

After dinner I got the kids to bed after reading the cutest book that Coco's teacher sent home for her to read, called How To Ride a Giraffe.  Adorable.  If I can remember my promise, the kids and I are going to write our own stories tomorrow about how to ride our favorite animals.  Colleen choose a horsey, Wesley choose a car, and I think I am going to choose a comet or shooting star, that sounds fun.

 

Then Shawn asked me if I had run any laundry and I hadn't, so I was rooting through the basket finding essentials for Shawn so that I could get a quick load in tonight and he'd have something to wear tomorrow.  This is serious.  I like doing laundry and it is a point of pride that I don't get behind on that particular chore.  Proof positive that I NEED TO BE TAKING MY MEDICINE.

 

I was able to focus a little bit more tonight and I have the Christmas cards almost totally finished up (except for WA friends, I'll start gathering their addresses soon, Hi Ladies!).  Then the dryer beeped, I got Shawn's clothes out and packed them away.  While I was doing that I thought of the perfect present for his grandfather and when I was finished with the clothes I came down here and designed the custom t-shirt and ordered it.  I should be getting it in 5-7 business days.  We have given Shawn's grandpa a gift card every year since I can remember and I finally FINALLY thought of the perfect gift.  Ahhh, I love Christmas!

 

Anyways, here is the t-shirt I made him, the graphic in the middle is a golf cart:

 

Wes has had a heck of a time falling asleep tonight.  I think I put his "sleeping boots" on too tight or maybe it was that I let him watch Beetlejuice today (oh Lord, why did I do that?  I don't know who rated that movie "PG"  - they must not have been paying attention that day).

 

Regardless, the poor boy was tossing and turning and calling out and whimpering half-asleep.  I went in to try and comfort him a couple of times, even gave him an extra cup of milk, but he still couldn't settle.  Finally, he asked me to lay in bed with him.  Spry young thing that I am, I hopped right into that plastic car shaped toddler bed and snuggled up with him.

 

The very best part of being a mother is the comfort I can bring to my children.  Just my presence reassured him enough that he dropped off into a peaceful slumber within seconds.  I stayed in there until I started falling asleep myself, enjoying the feel of his furry little head against my cheek.

 

Next time I start rambling about not knowing what I want to be when I grow up, remind me that I've already been doing it for over five years now.

 

Love, Jen

We went to the pumpkin patch today, had a blast.  This was a big weekend for us: we had a little party Friday night, took in a play that Coco's friend was in on Saturday (adorable!), and then we stopped by the pumpkin patch farm and took a trip to Baskin Robbins today.  Naturally I forgot the camera on Friday and Saturday, but at least I had it for today (even though the "empty" memory card I grabbed was nearly full *sigh*).

 

 

   Shawn and Wes by the big tractor tire

 

   Colleen and Wes hiding under the medium tractor tire

 

   Colleen, proud of her self for climbing the medium tractor tire without help

 

   Colleen and Wesley doing their best Vanna White impression, the prize behind curtain #1 is Pumpkins!

 

    One of my favorite animals, an alpaca and her two buddies, the african pygmy goats

 

   

Had to make this one bigger because it just makes me so happy!  I'm thrilled that I got to see a pile of Red Warty Things today. 

 

 

 

I just got a letter in the mail from Colleen's school district.  I opened it up and the letter said,

 

"Dear Parents,

The school district needs the help of our Microsoft parents."

 

Stop.  Wait a minute.  JUST the Microsoft parents?  I read on to discover that the school wants Microsoft employees to donate $100 (or more, the letter mentions "every" $100 donated) because of Microsoft's unique charitable contribution matching program.  For every $100 donated, the company will match with a software gift.

 

I highly doubt that non-Microsoft parents got a similar letter asking them to donate $100.  Even though Microsoft will not match their contribution (because they aren't employees), the money could still go in the software purchase fund.

 

Before you start thinking I'm a scrooge, this is just the latest money request.  Colleen's been in school for a month and a half and they have already had two fundraisers (one cost us $50 and the other $44.50) and I have to pay $265 a month for her to go to all day Kindergarten because there were no open spots in the free half day program.  And even though it didn't cost anything but time to do so, as they requested, I've registered my grocery store loyalty card so that money is donated to the school and I've faithfully cliped the Box Tops for Education ten cent coupons and turned them in when they've asked me to.  Not to mention the school supply list the contents of which we are expected to provide several times a year: Donate every three months: two boxes of 16 or 24 count crayons, a box of 8 or 16 count markers, 12 glue sticks, package of Ticonderoga pencils, box of kleenex, two rolls of paper towels, container of wipes for hand cleaning; and Donate monthly a snack like Goldfish, CheezIts, or Ritz crackers).

 

I'm a generous soul, I truly am.  But I'm tapped out.  Our property taxes are extremely high and don't even include garbage collection, which runs us about $33 a month.

 

I am thinking that I may write a letter to the school district and ask that they provide a list of fundraisers we are expected to participate in up front at the beginning of the school year so that parents can plan accordingly.  In this letter I am also going to ask that parents who happen to be employed by a certain company not be singled out for additional contributions.  It's wonderful that Microsoft has such a generous matching policy, but it is not fair to ask just the parents that work there to shoulder the burden of the cost of new software district-wide.

I feel a happy sense of accomplishment right now.  I just finished making the Christmas presents for Shawn's two aunts, Donna and Kathy.  I'm making as many Christmas presents as possible this year, partly because money is tight this year and partly because I know we will not see any family this holiday season and crafting something with my hands makes me feel a little closer to them.

 

I don't think that they read this site, but just in case, I'm not going to post exactly what I made.  But I am quite proud of how it turned out.  Rarely does the end result surpass the concept in my mind's eye.

 

It's fairly late here, but I feel energized by the accomplishment and I'm wondering if I have two more in me before bedtime.  I work on them assembly-line style in pairs, it really does go faster that way for me.

 

YAY!  Christmas!  I can't wait for it this year, we decided today where we are going to put the trees.  The big green one is going by the fireplace in the living room.  The big white one is going in the computer room.  The medium green one is going down in the TV room.  The kids each have their own small tree for their rooms.  Shawn always says that I have to wait till after Thanksgiving to put the trees up.  Harumph!  I'll wait till after Halloween, and I may give it till the second week of November, but I don't think I can hold out longer than that. 

 

A neighbor from the HOA welcoming commitee came by yesterday afternoon with a copy of the HOA bylaws and a potted mum.  I forget her name now, but I remember that she said they have a Christmas Lights contest each year.  I'm really looking forward to seeing the neighborhood all lit up and festive looking.

 

We are completely across the country from nearly all of our family and I feel the distance acutely.  I miss our loved ones and I am lonely at the thought that we will not all be together at the holidays.  However, I feel "at home" here.  I didn't realize how disconnected I felt in NC until we got here and I felt an immediate connection with the area and community.  I haven't been this content in years, probably since we left Ohio for North Carolina.  All I know is that I am home.  And although a part of my heart will always be in Ohio, I have never before anticipated with such joy spending a Christmas in my own home with my own little family.

The kids went to the dentist yesterday.  Neither had any cavities, what a relief!  I worry so much about Coco's teeth.  Between her milk and soy allergies and having to take so much prednisone, her teeth aren't in the best of shape, but no cavities this time!  We'll have to keep up the good work.

 

This was Wesley's first time in the chair.  He did great.  I was a little worried because he is so high-energy, would he be still?  Would he cooperate?  I needn't have worried.  He is a good kid.

 

The dentist is so different than the one we know and love in NC.  In NC each room was private, we knew all of the staff, the dentist himself was personable, but not silly.  This office in WA is open, the chairs are all lined up in a row.  This dentist is very silly.  You can tell he just loves kids (he ought to, being a pediatric dentist and all), and the kids just loved him right back.  He named all of their teeth funny things - Colleen's were all princesses and girly things, Wesley's were all superheros and cars.  When the dentist would name a tooth a particularly interesting thing for Wes, he would immediately try to feel the tooth with his tongue.  You could tell he was thinkging "Is that REALLY a Spiderman tooth?"

 

I got a lecture on Colleen's thumbsucking that seemed bizzare to me (basically: She's a "morphine" addict and sucking her thumb is her fix and that way more girls than boys are thumbsuckers, gum chewers, and smokers because they have oral fixations and just have to have something in their mouth.  Also, her thumbsucking is hereditary, which I immediately spoke up about: neither Shawn nor I were thumbsuckers and I'm almost certain that neither of us used a pacifier either.)

 

Other than the weird thumbsucking lecture (we've stepped up efforts to help her stop, we'll see how it goes), and the hygentist working on Wesley being all disapproving because he had tartar on two teeth (two!  thats all!  give me a break!), I suppose it was a good visit.  At least there were... NO CAVITIES!  :)

 

We go back in 6 months for another cleaning.

I'm really trying not to post so much of my political outrages.  It is not a representation of what is going on in my life.  I'm happy, nearly healthy, kids are doing great, house in WA is coming along, Shawn's settling in to his new job, etc.  But I just can't stand what is going on right now!  It is frustrating and infuriating!

 

I can't even check on the news each morning without getting heart burn.  I would have been much better off not knowing about AIG's big fancy POST BAILOUT executive retreat.  Fuckers.  I want my tax money back.  Supposedly we have so much freedom here.  If that's the case, I choose NOT to pay taxes to a government that is going to scare us all with predictions of doom and gloom and then turn around and bail out failing companies that use the money irresponsibly.

 

Now that I've got that off my chest I need help.  All the help you can spare!  I need good vibes, prayers, fingers crossed, whatever you can manage.  We had a viewing on the house in NC yesterday and they have indicated that our house is still on their list of possibilities.  It's not much, but its the most promising thing we've heard in several weeks.  We really need the house to sell, the sooner the better.  So please think happy thoughts for us.

 

Hugs, Jen

Last Thursday the crew started working on replacing our roof.  Tear off took most of Thursday.  Friday was skylight installation.  We got a 2'x4' light in the computer room, almost above my desk, two 16"x4' lights in the living room, and a 12" solar tube with electric light kit in the kitchen.  The only one that we can see on the interior right now is the solar tube.   I've not had an electrician out to run the electricity for the solar tube yet, so the light part doesn't work.  The drywall guy comes out tomorrow to cut the wells in the ceilings for the rectangular skylights.

 

Far as I can tell there is one guy out here working today on laying shingles.  His power tool / compressor thingy keeps tripping our breaker and turning my PC off.  It is driving me crazy.  I went outside to drop some cardboard in the recycle can and I checked out his progress so far.  He's got the new metal flashing down, it is a shiney black.  Looks sharp.  He's got several rows of shingles down in the front, they look nice.  We chose a black roof (the old one was a tan) and the darker roof looks much nicer.

 

I am happy that it is coming along so well, work should be complete by the end of this week.

 

Love, Jen

 

I just read this article, I think you should too.  It is short and when you are done you will know what percentage of the American population you are in, income-wise, and percentage of taxes-paid wise.

 

Since the title gives it away, I'll say that if you make at least $32,000 a year, you make more than 50% of all Americans.  Feel any richer?

 

Other than that, still not feeling well enough to blog.  Shawn is sick (he's so bad he's going to the doctor this afternoon) and Wes is fairly sick.  Colleen, the one I suspect brought this bug home has gotten off with a sniffle here and there and a weak cough every once in a while.  Lucky girl!  :)

 

Love, Jen

Hi everyone!  I've got the same cold that everyone else has. Hopefully it is at the tail end.  It's not been terrible, just draining. 

 

Tomorrow is School Picture Day for Colleen.  We can't figure out what she is going to wear.  Colleen wants to wear her new rock star outfit (took care of that problem, she is wearing it today), Shawn wants her to wear her "marry dress", the beautiful satin dress I got her for her birthday, and I want her to wear one of her new school dresses because she looks so grown up in it, plus I would be so dissappointed if she messed up her beautiful "marry dress" on the playground.  The school dresses are much more sturdy - cottons and courdoroys.

 

The only other decision is which package to buy.  We need 2 8x10s and several 3x5s and of course, lots of wallets.  There isn't a single package that matches what we need so I have to sit and think about it.  The most expensive package is $58, which is high but is also the only one that comes with the portrait CD, which of course I want so I can post the picture here and email it to everyone I know.

 

Because naturally everyone wants to see how grown up and beautiful my little angel has become.  :)

 

OK I'm off for now, Wes is demanding attention.  He likes me sick... I sit around and watch TV with him all day and I am much more likely to give in to his wants.  Poor guy is going to be dissappointed when I start feeling better.  :P

 

Love, Jen