It is just me and PJ today - RJ took LJ up to his brother's house to help cut down some tree limbs. I see a trip to Kohl's and other shopping in our future this morning...how easy it must be to only take one child out and about?!
My allergies/sinuses are killing me. It is summer and it has been over 100 everyday for as long as I can remember...what could possibly being growing?
PJ has calmed down from his NOOOOOOOO stage of the last 2 weeks (knock on wood) and he is in a very polite phase. He says please, thank you, and you're welcome all the time and it is too cute. He also likes to sing. He just busts out in song quite a bit. That is hilarious too. Did I mention that he weighed 41 pounds at his dr. visit last month? And, he's 40.5 inches tall. He's 2. Good Gravy.
LJ is all about legos and pretending. He will rearrange this one little lego set I bought him ALL.DAY.LONG. This fascination with legos has given RJ a great new way to approach garage sales. LJ knows he is looking for legos, so now he doesn't ask to buy every toy he sees...he is on the lookout for one specific toy. Evidently, this makes garage sales more enjoyable for RJ. I wouldn't know - this is what he does with them on Saturdays when I'm sleeping past 5:00!
We get in the pool everyday, sometimes before lunch, sometimes after naps, sometimes both. LJ can touch the bottom, so he is good and doesn't need a floatation device. PJ is good in a ring and he scoots himself around the pool rather well. I lay on my raft and "watch on" them (as LJ says) - RJ plays much more with them...pulling them around the pool, letting them ride on his back, etc.
I'm not enjoying this new class I'm teaching. The class itself is ok, the students are fine, but there is a lot of paper-reading and preparation to do on my part...so it is keeping me pretty busy and I always feel like there is work hanging over my head. As soon as this class is done, I start teaching the Axia course...that is totally new and I have deadlines to meet (that I can't change - as I can IRL)...so, I'm kind of not looking forward to it...but, I know that once I've taught it...it'll get easier to teach.
The gym is good - I go to RPM on MWF and this makes me look forward to TR when I'm *only* doing strength training - LOL! I've adjusted my caloric intake and moved toward eating "cleaner" calories. A calorie is a calorie, but instead of eating 100 calories of popcorn, I'm eating 100 calories of apple. That kind of thing. If it weren't for my allergies, I think I'd be feeling better.
RJ is happy to be finished with the concrete. This last part has been under plastic...curing...for the past week. He removed the plastic last night and, now that he is not exhausted and suffering from heat delusions...well, let's just say this isn't the best of all of the pours. It is level and all, but it is kind of rough. He plans to grind it down a little to smooth it out. I believe the next project is electricity for the garage. This involves getting the electric company to come put a pole in a new location.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Saturday, July 04, 2009
What to Do in 103 Degree Heat...
...Pour the last cement of our insanely-huge concrete project. It wasn't the ideal weather conditions, but it was when RJ could get the help he needed to get the last of the driveway poured. So, yesterday, Uncle Bobby arrived around 7:30 am and Uncle Brian around 8:15. The first cement truck arrived around 8:30, but did not have the fiber mesh in the cement, so they had to wait around for someone to deliver the fiber mesh. Things started out well, but quickly
S L O W E D down as the heat was just unbearable. I did my best to keep them supplied with cold water and Powerade, but the sun and heat just beat the energy right out of them. I don't know how many times I looked out the window to see RJ double over with hands on knees trying to get a deep breath. I think he's out of the practice of taking deep breaths as he's been avoiding doing so with his broken rib.
Let's add broken rib to intense heat and you really just don't have good cement pouring conditions.
The 2nd truck arrived around 11:30 and the guys did the best they could to hustle, but it was pretty sad to watch them...I'm sure they felt terrible. I went to get them sandwiches around 2:30 and when I came home they were getting out of the pool. Brian left around 3:30 and Bobby took a nap while RJ laid on the couch. Around 5:30, Bobby got in the pool with the kids while RJ and I picked up tools, cut the expansion joints and started to cover the concrete with plastic for the week of curing,
Around 7:00 we left to get some dinner, came home, put the kids to be and we were all in bed by 9:30. I gave up my morning to sleep in so that RJ could get some rest. I'd imagine our Independence Day will consist of a lot of resting. I need to do a mountain of laundry, grade papers, get ready for Monday's class, plan menus for the week and go to the grocery store. I imagine we'll go see fireworks tonight. My brother and his family are at the lake and we're thinking about trying to go for the day on Sunday, but I'm not sure we have the energy....the energy to go OR the energy to deal with the kids for 3 hours (each way) in the car!
S L O W E D down as the heat was just unbearable. I did my best to keep them supplied with cold water and Powerade, but the sun and heat just beat the energy right out of them. I don't know how many times I looked out the window to see RJ double over with hands on knees trying to get a deep breath. I think he's out of the practice of taking deep breaths as he's been avoiding doing so with his broken rib.
Let's add broken rib to intense heat and you really just don't have good cement pouring conditions.
The 2nd truck arrived around 11:30 and the guys did the best they could to hustle, but it was pretty sad to watch them...I'm sure they felt terrible. I went to get them sandwiches around 2:30 and when I came home they were getting out of the pool. Brian left around 3:30 and Bobby took a nap while RJ laid on the couch. Around 5:30, Bobby got in the pool with the kids while RJ and I picked up tools, cut the expansion joints and started to cover the concrete with plastic for the week of curing,
Around 7:00 we left to get some dinner, came home, put the kids to be and we were all in bed by 9:30. I gave up my morning to sleep in so that RJ could get some rest. I'd imagine our Independence Day will consist of a lot of resting. I need to do a mountain of laundry, grade papers, get ready for Monday's class, plan menus for the week and go to the grocery store. I imagine we'll go see fireworks tonight. My brother and his family are at the lake and we're thinking about trying to go for the day on Sunday, but I'm not sure we have the energy....the energy to go OR the energy to deal with the kids for 3 hours (each way) in the car!
Saturday, June 13, 2009
The Pool is Open (almost)
Today was my day to sleep in and I slept until 8:30! Bliss. RJ had taken the kids out - to garage sales, most likely, so I enjoyed a leisurely breakfast and 2 cups of coffee while I watched some of my recorded shows. Everyone arrived home around 10:00 and I set to work cleaning up the play room in my 100,000th attempt to declutter this house. Ha - as if that will EVER happen. RJ helped by supporting my decision to throw away Happy Meal toys...thank goodness. I believe we have vowed to disallow Happy/Kid's Meals unless on vacation - then, they can order one and get the toy. Otherwise, they'll eat off of whatever we eat if we are getting fast food. We are putting 4 boxes of toys in the attic and LJ can ask to trade toys out if and when he wants to do so. Right now, he's on day 3 of playing with a little Lego set I bought him on sale. He is all-consumed by it. This has given RJ the idea (and it worked this morning) to have LJ look for Lego's at garage sales. This has given LJ a mission and he is no longer interested in other toys. Sweet. We are down to 4 boxes of toys on the back porch...and I've created a reading nook on the ottoman....since I packed away all but 4 stuffed animals!
After RJ got my attic boxes going for me, he started his work on the pool. He decided to drain it (he is so smart to have put that drain in last year when he put the pool up) and start from scratch...the green water just wasn't going anywhere. Interestingly, the pool wasn't that dirty - mostly just sand and leaves at the bottom. He's cleaned the sides and is now filling it back up. He's doing a great job! The kids enjoyed playing in the sprinklers this morning and now they are enjoying playing in the pool while it is filling up. I'm ignoring our water bill and maintaining a smile! I'm going to have to ignore our electric bill too - it has been in the high 90s ever since we got home.
After RJ got my attic boxes going for me, he started his work on the pool. He decided to drain it (he is so smart to have put that drain in last year when he put the pool up) and start from scratch...the green water just wasn't going anywhere. Interestingly, the pool wasn't that dirty - mostly just sand and leaves at the bottom. He's cleaned the sides and is now filling it back up. He's doing a great job! The kids enjoyed playing in the sprinklers this morning and now they are enjoying playing in the pool while it is filling up. I'm ignoring our water bill and maintaining a smile! I'm going to have to ignore our electric bill too - it has been in the high 90s ever since we got home.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
The Catch-up
We are back to normal life...vacation is over. It was great, it was fun, but we were all ready to "get on with summer" - LOL! I feel terrible when I find myself looking forward to something instead of enjoying life as it comes, but I find I am a person who likes to plan, so looking forward is what I do.
A few things about vacation that I don't want to forget:
I think I stopped blogging on the Wednesday of vacation...
Thursday, I'm sure we went to the beach in the morning. LJ met a boy named Sanual (Samuel)who is 7 and they enjoyed playing in the water together. I think the older kids and LJ's desire to play with them encouraged him to be more brave in the waves then I think he would have been otherwise. Everyday at the beach starts to look the same - beach, lunch, naps, beach, dinner, bed - repeat. I did laundry everyday...towels and swimsuits. I spent nap time on the computer working on my Axia training. We spent some time looking at different possibilities for houses to rent...we'd love to be on the beach, but those are just too expensive to justify.
Friday - repeat typical beach day.
Saturday - repeat typical beach day.
Sunday - we left the cape by 8:30 to get Jfer to her plane in Pensacola by 12:30 so she could catch her 2:00 flight home for summer school. We ate at Hardees and then drove to Atlanta. I believe we stopped for a snack at a Cracker Barrel and arrived at our hotel around 6:00. It was a nice Comfort Inn and we ate dinner at CiCi's pizza...where LJ would eat every meal, if allowed.
Monday morning - RJ went to the Urgent Care clinic down the road for his suspected broken rib. He knew there is really nothing to do for a broken rib (sustained by aggressive boogie boarding) unless you've punctured a lung, but he figured they'd give him some pain medication so that he could at least get a decent night's sleep. He was in and out pretty quickly with prescription-strength motrin which seems to be doing the trick. Then, we went to RJ's college-friend's house and spent the morning visiting while the kids played. LJ and PJ were beginning to get tired of not being at their own house and their behavior was starting to wane a bit. LJ is a bit on the sassy side right now and, now that we are home, boot camp has begun. After lunch, we went to the hotel for naps and then back to the neighborhood pool until we all went out to dinner.
Tuesday morning - we headed up to Red Top Mountain State Park to meet Alison and Suzanne...two ladies from my mommy message board. The park is BEAUTIFUL and I am jealous that Alison and Suzanne can go to this park any day they want. The kids loved playing and throwing things in the lake. Alison, Suzanne and I got to visit a bit while RJ kind of spearheaded watching all the kids...he's so nice. We left to check into our hotel and then the kids napped while I worked on Axia. Around 5:00 we headed to Alison's for a cookout and some visiting. The kids played - fairly well...the adults talked. Talking to Alison is like talking to an old friend even though I've never met her IRL.
Wednesday morning - we headed to the World of Coca-Cola - don't bother going. Then we went over to Georgia Tech to say hello to a colleague before getting on I-20 to head to Jackson. We arrived at our hotel in Jackson around 6:30 and met Randi (another lady from my message board, but I've met her several times), Mike and Cadence for dinner at 7:00. We enjoyed talking with them - it was great to see Randi again! We went back to our hotel and went to bed by 9:00. They had just renovated the hotel and the carpet and paint fumes were terrible. I wrote to let them know and am awaiting the refund...it was toxic and was in my clothes and hair the rest of the way home.
Thursday - on the road by 9:00 and home by 6:00 pm.
Friday - LAUNDRY and grocery shopping and Axia.
Saturday - my brother and some of his family arrive to spend the night before picking up Jrod at golf camp. They are back today for Bekah's orientation...new babysitter arriving for college this fall!
Sunday - more with brother and family and my sister and her family arrive for their D's football camp.
Monday - 5:30 at the gym...RPM - so happy to be back, but I know my "sits bones" will need to recondition.
Tuesday - 5:30 at the gym...Body Pump - I decided to pick up where I left off with my weight selection. By 6:00 pm I was aware that was not a good idea! My quads were soooo sore (and still are) - we're talking sore to the touch.
Wednesday - RPM - I *have* to go...or I'll never get my "sits bones" conditioned. And, I thought my quads would do good to have some blood pumping. Um - Oh my - sooo sore. I spent Wednesday trying to persuade the kids to let me sit down and not to sit on my lap! Ate dinner with brother and family and relaxed and perused iphone apps.
Thursday - I took today off from the gym...to let my quads stop their soreness!
I'll try to do a better job blogging - my Axia training took over my computer time, but I'm finished and am awaiting to hear from my "scheduler" to find out when I'll teach my first class.
A few things about vacation that I don't want to forget:
I think I stopped blogging on the Wednesday of vacation...
Thursday, I'm sure we went to the beach in the morning. LJ met a boy named Sanual (Samuel)who is 7 and they enjoyed playing in the water together. I think the older kids and LJ's desire to play with them encouraged him to be more brave in the waves then I think he would have been otherwise. Everyday at the beach starts to look the same - beach, lunch, naps, beach, dinner, bed - repeat. I did laundry everyday...towels and swimsuits. I spent nap time on the computer working on my Axia training. We spent some time looking at different possibilities for houses to rent...we'd love to be on the beach, but those are just too expensive to justify.
Friday - repeat typical beach day.
Saturday - repeat typical beach day.
Sunday - we left the cape by 8:30 to get Jfer to her plane in Pensacola by 12:30 so she could catch her 2:00 flight home for summer school. We ate at Hardees and then drove to Atlanta. I believe we stopped for a snack at a Cracker Barrel and arrived at our hotel around 6:00. It was a nice Comfort Inn and we ate dinner at CiCi's pizza...where LJ would eat every meal, if allowed.
Monday morning - RJ went to the Urgent Care clinic down the road for his suspected broken rib. He knew there is really nothing to do for a broken rib (sustained by aggressive boogie boarding) unless you've punctured a lung, but he figured they'd give him some pain medication so that he could at least get a decent night's sleep. He was in and out pretty quickly with prescription-strength motrin which seems to be doing the trick. Then, we went to RJ's college-friend's house and spent the morning visiting while the kids played. LJ and PJ were beginning to get tired of not being at their own house and their behavior was starting to wane a bit. LJ is a bit on the sassy side right now and, now that we are home, boot camp has begun. After lunch, we went to the hotel for naps and then back to the neighborhood pool until we all went out to dinner.
Tuesday morning - we headed up to Red Top Mountain State Park to meet Alison and Suzanne...two ladies from my mommy message board. The park is BEAUTIFUL and I am jealous that Alison and Suzanne can go to this park any day they want. The kids loved playing and throwing things in the lake. Alison, Suzanne and I got to visit a bit while RJ kind of spearheaded watching all the kids...he's so nice. We left to check into our hotel and then the kids napped while I worked on Axia. Around 5:00 we headed to Alison's for a cookout and some visiting. The kids played - fairly well...the adults talked. Talking to Alison is like talking to an old friend even though I've never met her IRL.
Wednesday morning - we headed to the World of Coca-Cola - don't bother going. Then we went over to Georgia Tech to say hello to a colleague before getting on I-20 to head to Jackson. We arrived at our hotel in Jackson around 6:30 and met Randi (another lady from my message board, but I've met her several times), Mike and Cadence for dinner at 7:00. We enjoyed talking with them - it was great to see Randi again! We went back to our hotel and went to bed by 9:00. They had just renovated the hotel and the carpet and paint fumes were terrible. I wrote to let them know and am awaiting the refund...it was toxic and was in my clothes and hair the rest of the way home.
Thursday - on the road by 9:00 and home by 6:00 pm.
Friday - LAUNDRY and grocery shopping and Axia.
Saturday - my brother and some of his family arrive to spend the night before picking up Jrod at golf camp. They are back today for Bekah's orientation...new babysitter arriving for college this fall!
Sunday - more with brother and family and my sister and her family arrive for their D's football camp.
Monday - 5:30 at the gym...RPM - so happy to be back, but I know my "sits bones" will need to recondition.
Tuesday - 5:30 at the gym...Body Pump - I decided to pick up where I left off with my weight selection. By 6:00 pm I was aware that was not a good idea! My quads were soooo sore (and still are) - we're talking sore to the touch.
Wednesday - RPM - I *have* to go...or I'll never get my "sits bones" conditioned. And, I thought my quads would do good to have some blood pumping. Um - Oh my - sooo sore. I spent Wednesday trying to persuade the kids to let me sit down and not to sit on my lap! Ate dinner with brother and family and relaxed and perused iphone apps.
Thursday - I took today off from the gym...to let my quads stop their soreness!
I'll try to do a better job blogging - my Axia training took over my computer time, but I'm finished and am awaiting to hear from my "scheduler" to find out when I'll teach my first class.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Wednesday, May 27th
Let's see - what happened on Wednesday? You see, when you are on such a blissful vacation, you lose track of what day it is and what happened on which day. You should try it sometime.
Yes, it started with Jfer having volunteered to get up with the kids so that RJ and I could sleep in. Very nice and we took her up on the offer. RJ slept in, but I had to work on my online training. I finished one 2-week training and another started on Tuesday. I'm doing my best to get my minimum requirements complete first thing in the morning so that I can enjoy the rest of the day.
Jfer made the kids cinnamon rolls and hung out with them. They "found me" on the upstairs deck - where I was working, but she kept them busy so I could get my work done. After breakfast, everyone got sun-screamed and suited up and we headed to the beach. LJ had a terrific time playing in the surf and PJ had a great time being held in the surf. LJ hung out with a boy and girl who were also playing in the surf...RJ talked to the parents as they all hung out close enough to yank a child out of the water. Jfer, RJ and I took turns with the boogie boards and then we headed home...my back was starting to feel a bit scorched.
Everyone showered and ate lunch and then Jfer offered to nap with the kids while RJ and I hung out at the beach. RJ and I took a long walk up the beach, found some great shells, and tried to perfect our boogie boarding. The last run of our stay, RJ yanked my board as I was catching a wave...that gave me just that much more momentum and I rode that wave all the way in...it was F.U.N.
We came home and everyone was still asleep, so we hung out on the deck and tried to dry off. My feet are a bit red as are the tops of my shoulders...
After everyone woke up, we headed out for ice cream and to look around for a different house to rent next year. We want to try to be on the beach - we figure we are more likely to "go" to the beach anytime if we don't have to walk a block to get there. Plus, this house has a ton of dog hair and that is not cool. So, we are scoping some places out.
We ate leftover shrimp, new potatoes, and corn for dinner and then watched HGTV while Jfer did a lot on her computer.
Yes, it started with Jfer having volunteered to get up with the kids so that RJ and I could sleep in. Very nice and we took her up on the offer. RJ slept in, but I had to work on my online training. I finished one 2-week training and another started on Tuesday. I'm doing my best to get my minimum requirements complete first thing in the morning so that I can enjoy the rest of the day.
Jfer made the kids cinnamon rolls and hung out with them. They "found me" on the upstairs deck - where I was working, but she kept them busy so I could get my work done. After breakfast, everyone got sun-screamed and suited up and we headed to the beach. LJ had a terrific time playing in the surf and PJ had a great time being held in the surf. LJ hung out with a boy and girl who were also playing in the surf...RJ talked to the parents as they all hung out close enough to yank a child out of the water. Jfer, RJ and I took turns with the boogie boards and then we headed home...my back was starting to feel a bit scorched.
Everyone showered and ate lunch and then Jfer offered to nap with the kids while RJ and I hung out at the beach. RJ and I took a long walk up the beach, found some great shells, and tried to perfect our boogie boarding. The last run of our stay, RJ yanked my board as I was catching a wave...that gave me just that much more momentum and I rode that wave all the way in...it was F.U.N.
We came home and everyone was still asleep, so we hung out on the deck and tried to dry off. My feet are a bit red as are the tops of my shoulders...
After everyone woke up, we headed out for ice cream and to look around for a different house to rent next year. We want to try to be on the beach - we figure we are more likely to "go" to the beach anytime if we don't have to walk a block to get there. Plus, this house has a ton of dog hair and that is not cool. So, we are scoping some places out.
We ate leftover shrimp, new potatoes, and corn for dinner and then watched HGTV while Jfer did a lot on her computer.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Tuesday, May 26th
Somewhere in the middle of the night - PJ woke up and as RJ went to help him find his pacifier and blanket, he started screaming "Noooooooo...Nooooo Daddy....Nooooo" which is what he screams when we ask him to do anything he doesn't care to do. It is quite annoying as these are blood curdling screams. Then, a bit later...LJ came in to tell us that he is scared of the noises. It was 3:45 - I looked this time. So, I got up and went into his room to lay down with him. I asked him, "what noises?" and he said, "the noises that scare me." Fair enough. We determined that one noise is the AC turning off...a small thud. This is followed by another noise - water dripping into a bucket because the inside AC unit apparently leaks. I explained these noises to LJ and then there was another...a grumbling sound, which LJ informed me was his stomach. Eventually, we fell asleep and everyone stayed quiet until 7:30.
We ate breakfast and decided we would go to Money Bayou and do some crabbing. We recalled that last year, there was a sign posted that informed us that you need a permit to drive on the beach...and this is what we need to do to get to Money Bayou. Last year, we threw cautioned to the wind and decided that, since it was Memorial Day, the Gulf County Court House would be closed and that would be the excuse we would offer up if anyone took exception to our driving on the beach. This year, we decided we'd make it legal, so we figured out where the court house is and headed into town. Turns out - a permit to drive on the beach costs $15.00 per year for Gulf County property owners and $150.00 per year for non-property owners. There is no day permit or week permit...only year-long permits. Message received - Gulf County does not want visitors to drive on the beach. What.Ever. We bought shrimp and crab meat on the way home.
Once home, we swim-suited up and put on "sun scream" and headed to the beach. The boys are both enjoying the water and LJ is doing an exceptional job of enjoying the waves. PJ likes to be held - which gets tiring, but he is placated by using the forms we have to make turtles, starfish, and crabs in the sand. I make them, he destroys them.
We had lunch of leftover hotdogs and hamburgers and then all settled in for our afternoon naps. Around 5:00, we went back to the beach and did the whole thing all over again. We got home, took showers, and made pizza rolls, cheese sticks and mojitos. The kids ate PB&J and then the adults had a shrimp, new potato, and corn boil...it was gooood.
After dinner, the kids went to bed and the adults watched tv until we couldn't hold our eyes open anymore...about 9:30ish.
We ate breakfast and decided we would go to Money Bayou and do some crabbing. We recalled that last year, there was a sign posted that informed us that you need a permit to drive on the beach...and this is what we need to do to get to Money Bayou. Last year, we threw cautioned to the wind and decided that, since it was Memorial Day, the Gulf County Court House would be closed and that would be the excuse we would offer up if anyone took exception to our driving on the beach. This year, we decided we'd make it legal, so we figured out where the court house is and headed into town. Turns out - a permit to drive on the beach costs $15.00 per year for Gulf County property owners and $150.00 per year for non-property owners. There is no day permit or week permit...only year-long permits. Message received - Gulf County does not want visitors to drive on the beach. What.Ever. We bought shrimp and crab meat on the way home.
Once home, we swim-suited up and put on "sun scream" and headed to the beach. The boys are both enjoying the water and LJ is doing an exceptional job of enjoying the waves. PJ likes to be held - which gets tiring, but he is placated by using the forms we have to make turtles, starfish, and crabs in the sand. I make them, he destroys them.
We had lunch of leftover hotdogs and hamburgers and then all settled in for our afternoon naps. Around 5:00, we went back to the beach and did the whole thing all over again. We got home, took showers, and made pizza rolls, cheese sticks and mojitos. The kids ate PB&J and then the adults had a shrimp, new potato, and corn boil...it was gooood.
After dinner, the kids went to bed and the adults watched tv until we couldn't hold our eyes open anymore...about 9:30ish.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Monday, May 25th
The day started early as PJ woke up at 5:!5 - central time, so 6:15 here. I gave him his busy bag and that kept him happy in his crib for about 30 minutes. Then, we all got up, got dressed and went into town to eat breakfast and shop for groceries. Breakfast was at McDonald's and grocery shopping was at Piggly Wiggly. Jfer and I did the shopping and RJ took the kids to a park. This was terrific because everything would have taken much longer with the kids. The store is unfamiliar and the list was long - we have to buy everything down to salt and pepper. It took 2 carts, but these carts were rather small. Then we stopped at the dollar store because Jfer forgot to pack beach shoes, shorts or a brush....and then, it was discovered that she forgot to pack money. Very smart of her as this allowed her to get her dollar store items for free...!
We got home, unloaded the groceries, got dressed and headed for the beach. PJ wants to be in the water all.the.time. And he'll charge right out there, so we have to be vigilant. LJ likes the water too, but he is, and always has been, more cautious. The water is more brown than last year...because of all the rain they have been getting. But, the beach restoration project is finished and the beach is still nice, white, beautiful sand. We played for about an hour and then came home and showered off and ate lunch. The kids had PB&J and the adults had sandwiches...except Jfer who collected the tiniest of little mussels and boiled them open and took out the tiniest morsel of meat. She decided it was not worth it to collect those again.
The boys and Jfer took naps and I laid out on the deck for about 20 minutes and then came back in. LJ was not napping, so I laid down with him until he fell asleep (and took about a 1/2 hour nap in the process) and then went back on the deck for another 20 minutes. RJ watched tv shows and surfed the internet. PJ took a very long nap.
After naps, we went to rent our boogie boards and then headed back to the beach....around 5:00 eastern time. We spent about an hour and a half playing with the boogie boards and building sand castles. Then, we came home for showers and dinner - which was hamburgers and hot dogs...the kids ate a pizza shaped like Mickey Mouse's head. The kids then went to bed and Jfer, RJ, and I watched one episode of season 1 of Monk - which we brought with us. The DVD player does not have a remote, so we aren't' sure how we'll watch the 2nd episode since we're sure we'll have to put a DVD in for the kids at some point on Tuesday.
We got home, unloaded the groceries, got dressed and headed for the beach. PJ wants to be in the water all.the.time. And he'll charge right out there, so we have to be vigilant. LJ likes the water too, but he is, and always has been, more cautious. The water is more brown than last year...because of all the rain they have been getting. But, the beach restoration project is finished and the beach is still nice, white, beautiful sand. We played for about an hour and then came home and showered off and ate lunch. The kids had PB&J and the adults had sandwiches...except Jfer who collected the tiniest of little mussels and boiled them open and took out the tiniest morsel of meat. She decided it was not worth it to collect those again.
The boys and Jfer took naps and I laid out on the deck for about 20 minutes and then came back in. LJ was not napping, so I laid down with him until he fell asleep (and took about a 1/2 hour nap in the process) and then went back on the deck for another 20 minutes. RJ watched tv shows and surfed the internet. PJ took a very long nap.
After naps, we went to rent our boogie boards and then headed back to the beach....around 5:00 eastern time. We spent about an hour and a half playing with the boogie boards and building sand castles. Then, we came home for showers and dinner - which was hamburgers and hot dogs...the kids ate a pizza shaped like Mickey Mouse's head. The kids then went to bed and Jfer, RJ, and I watched one episode of season 1 of Monk - which we brought with us. The DVD player does not have a remote, so we aren't' sure how we'll watch the 2nd episode since we're sure we'll have to put a DVD in for the kids at some point on Tuesday.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Vacation!
Vacation! Finally! This past week was busy with the conference and I was exhausted. It is over and was a success. Yesterday, I woke up, posted my 3 substantive posts and we left home by 9:00 am...picked up Jfer on the way out of town. The kids got their morning busy bags (snacks and a small toy or book) around Houston. We ate lunch at...wait for it...Cracker Barrel and the kids napped for a while. Upon waking, the kids got their afternoon busy bag and we got to the hotel around 5:00 pm. The hotel has this great 1 foot deep kids' pool with lots of fountains in it, so we all put on our suits and got some energy out.
We ate dinner at Sicily's Italian Buffet...which was actually pretty good. After dinner, the kids went to bed and then I worked on my University of Phoenix class, Jfer registered to win a free house and DH watched I Am Legend on tv. We all ended up watching I Am Legend and Jfer had to sing God is Bigger Than the Boogy Man so that she could fall asleep!
This morning, we got up, ate the wonderful breakfast at the hotel and were on the road by 9:15. We stopped in Pensacola for lunch at...Cracker Barrel and then PJ took a nap, but LJ did not. We stopped a few more times than we did yesterday, but made it to Port St. Joe by 5:15 (6:15 Eastern Time). We ate dinner at Joe Momma's Pizza...where they do not have cups with lids nor do they have straws??? ...the pizza was good though! A stop at McDonald's for milk chubs for the morning and we were on our way to the Cape. We got to our house and got the car unpacked, figured out the tv and then headed to the beach as the sun was setting. PJ fell down and busted his knee, we got bit by mosquitoes, BUT - we can't wait to play in the gulf tomorrow.
We've made our grocery list, know where to rent our boogy boards and plan to go to the grocery store and then play, play, play tomorrow!
We ate dinner at Sicily's Italian Buffet...which was actually pretty good. After dinner, the kids went to bed and then I worked on my University of Phoenix class, Jfer registered to win a free house and DH watched I Am Legend on tv. We all ended up watching I Am Legend and Jfer had to sing God is Bigger Than the Boogy Man so that she could fall asleep!
This morning, we got up, ate the wonderful breakfast at the hotel and were on the road by 9:15. We stopped in Pensacola for lunch at...Cracker Barrel and then PJ took a nap, but LJ did not. We stopped a few more times than we did yesterday, but made it to Port St. Joe by 5:15 (6:15 Eastern Time). We ate dinner at Joe Momma's Pizza...where they do not have cups with lids nor do they have straws??? ...the pizza was good though! A stop at McDonald's for milk chubs for the morning and we were on our way to the Cape. We got to our house and got the car unpacked, figured out the tv and then headed to the beach as the sun was setting. PJ fell down and busted his knee, we got bit by mosquitoes, BUT - we can't wait to play in the gulf tomorrow.
We've made our grocery list, know where to rent our boogy boards and plan to go to the grocery store and then play, play, play tomorrow!
Thursday, May 14, 2009
A Flat Car and More...
First, the "more":
I am about to gouge my eyes out with this online training portion of my interview to teach this online course. There are like 8 of us acting as students in this class and we have assignments to do...only one assignment worth getting excited about each week, but we have to respond to 2 discussion topic questions this week - one was on Wednesday and the other is due tomorrow...and then we all have to post at least 3 substantive posts a day for at least 5 of 7 days in a week. This is the part that is killing me. To be substantive, it has to further the discussion and people seem to have a favorite way of doing this...by asking a question. So we have 8 people asking questions to try to get their substantive post points and about 1/2 of them are getting answered - and then another question gets asked. It is the infernal questioning loop of hell. But, I've devised a plan:
I go to the gym at 5:30 for RPM on MWF and for Body Pump on TR. After class and shower/getting ready, I go someplace with free wi-fi and coffee. I spend 1/2 an hour working on assignments and 1/2 an hour writing my 3 substantive posts. I discovered that for years, I've been getting an e-mail newsletter about online classroom instruction (I have no idea why, but I think it might be connected to this teaching newsletter I get) - this thing is a gold mine...it has all kinds of researched stuff about online classrooms and how to make them great. It is indexed by topic, so I just read someones post, search my online newsletter for the topic and write a reply that is substantive because it brings outside research in or expands on the poster's topic. I get my 3 done and then, I've fulfilled requirements within 1 hour's time each day. Any other time I get on and any other posts I read for the training is "bonus". Before I came up with this routine...this training was taking me TONS of time. Reading every post is a beating.
I've also been working on this conference next week. AUGH. And, I'm exhausted from all the exercise. But, I'm feeling good that I'm organized.
And, it is good thing I am getting this job because RJ keeps finding "good deals". The latest acquisition. A car. He is like some kind of predator with cars that sit in people's driveways or at the side of their house. He can tell you where 10 such vehicles are at any given time. Well, there is one that he's had his eye on for like 2 years and it appeared that the people were packing up the house yesterday. So, he stopped by. 19 hours later, we own a 1995 Oldsmobile Aurora with leather interior and 39,000 miles on it. It was driven by the lady's mother. It really is in great shape and it looks rather modern for being 14 years old. It must have been the cat's meow in 1995 - leather, dual airbags, fully automatic, dual position memory seats, side mirror defrost, cd player, etc...The owner said it needs a new rack and pinion, which RJ is not convinced is true, but even if it is - the part costs $140 + labor and RJ's labor is free. So, we have a "flat car" as LJ says (not a truck or suv) for the price of $1200 - that's right...$1200. So, a great deal, but...we are 2 people - we don't need 3 vehicles. So, RJ and I decided we would only buy it if he will sell his truck and then we can sell this Oldsmobile and buy a truck that we can all fit in...his current truck has no back seat....but - I am happy to have an Oldsmobile in the family again. You know, they don't make them anymore and prior to the Tahoe, I'd only ever driven Oldsmobiles. This one has a V8 4L engine, so it'll be peppy...I want to drive it for a while :-)
I am about to gouge my eyes out with this online training portion of my interview to teach this online course. There are like 8 of us acting as students in this class and we have assignments to do...only one assignment worth getting excited about each week, but we have to respond to 2 discussion topic questions this week - one was on Wednesday and the other is due tomorrow...and then we all have to post at least 3 substantive posts a day for at least 5 of 7 days in a week. This is the part that is killing me. To be substantive, it has to further the discussion and people seem to have a favorite way of doing this...by asking a question. So we have 8 people asking questions to try to get their substantive post points and about 1/2 of them are getting answered - and then another question gets asked. It is the infernal questioning loop of hell. But, I've devised a plan:
I go to the gym at 5:30 for RPM on MWF and for Body Pump on TR. After class and shower/getting ready, I go someplace with free wi-fi and coffee. I spend 1/2 an hour working on assignments and 1/2 an hour writing my 3 substantive posts. I discovered that for years, I've been getting an e-mail newsletter about online classroom instruction (I have no idea why, but I think it might be connected to this teaching newsletter I get) - this thing is a gold mine...it has all kinds of researched stuff about online classrooms and how to make them great. It is indexed by topic, so I just read someones post, search my online newsletter for the topic and write a reply that is substantive because it brings outside research in or expands on the poster's topic. I get my 3 done and then, I've fulfilled requirements within 1 hour's time each day. Any other time I get on and any other posts I read for the training is "bonus". Before I came up with this routine...this training was taking me TONS of time. Reading every post is a beating.
I've also been working on this conference next week. AUGH. And, I'm exhausted from all the exercise. But, I'm feeling good that I'm organized.
And, it is good thing I am getting this job because RJ keeps finding "good deals". The latest acquisition. A car. He is like some kind of predator with cars that sit in people's driveways or at the side of their house. He can tell you where 10 such vehicles are at any given time. Well, there is one that he's had his eye on for like 2 years and it appeared that the people were packing up the house yesterday. So, he stopped by. 19 hours later, we own a 1995 Oldsmobile Aurora with leather interior and 39,000 miles on it. It was driven by the lady's mother. It really is in great shape and it looks rather modern for being 14 years old. It must have been the cat's meow in 1995 - leather, dual airbags, fully automatic, dual position memory seats, side mirror defrost, cd player, etc...The owner said it needs a new rack and pinion, which RJ is not convinced is true, but even if it is - the part costs $140 + labor and RJ's labor is free. So, we have a "flat car" as LJ says (not a truck or suv) for the price of $1200 - that's right...$1200. So, a great deal, but...we are 2 people - we don't need 3 vehicles. So, RJ and I decided we would only buy it if he will sell his truck and then we can sell this Oldsmobile and buy a truck that we can all fit in...his current truck has no back seat....but - I am happy to have an Oldsmobile in the family again. You know, they don't make them anymore and prior to the Tahoe, I'd only ever driven Oldsmobiles. This one has a V8 4L engine, so it'll be peppy...I want to drive it for a while :-)
Saturday, May 09, 2009
Long Time No Post
I have fallen off the wagon with blogging. Actually, it seems like I have other things to do when I'm online and blogging has fallen to the bottom of the list. I'll try to get it back in gear. Of course, if you remember from last summer - you'll be getting daily reports from beautiful, sunny, Florida one day soon!
Kids:
LJ and PJ are both fine...growing like crazy. Would you believe PJ's foot is nearly as big as LJ's? It is actually a bit frightening. LJ is asking all kinds of inquisitive questions and has gotten much better at remembering where he last saw things. This helps us parents not to have to look for things ALL.THE.TIME. PJ is talking quite a bit and he is currently saying, "nope" instead of "no". So, if I ask him if he wants to read a book, his reply is, "ummm...NOPE". LJ, on the other hand, wants me to read him books all the time. I try to show him small words (he knows all his letters) and tell him what they are, but then he'll say something like, "why is hello spelled H-E-L-L-O?" and I don't really know what to say. The other day, he asked me why dinosaurs and people did not live at the same time. #1 - how does he know this, and #2 - I think the explanation is beyond what he can handle. I find myself doing a lot of thinking about what he's asking and what he can understand. Of course, I admit that there are times that I tire of the constant questions and I give him the big explanation with words I know he won't understand...and he usually goes on his way. LJ and PJ play pretty well together, but there is a A LOT of wrestling, screaming and crying. LJ will be playing with something, PJ will want it, LJ will say no and PJ will scream NOOOOOO at the top of his lungs...and all the possible combinations of that scenario. Some days are great, other days, I send each of them to their own rooms and tell them not to come out until I come get them.
RJ:
Work is work. The end of the semester means students are graduating and that always makes RJ a little sad. We have several leaders who have been with us for 2-3 years, so we will miss seeing them. We are hosting a conference week after this coming week and that means this next week will be very busy. Not only do we need to get all the conference components in place, but we each have to plan our own sessions and the workshop we will be co-facilitating. But, RJ's true love - his garage - is where he'd rather focus. He has 1/2 of the driveway left and then the concrete will be finished. He was hoping to get it finished this month, but we are not sure that will be possible. He found a lathe - after a major string of being in the right place at the right time and being persistent as well. He has had fun admiring it and fixing it up.
MJ:
Work is work. Classes are pretty much over - one more final to give and then grades to turn in. I'll be off the month of June, but will teach the month of July. My goal - to break no bones this summer. I've taken on a second very-part-time job - someone has to pay for all the concrete and garages and lathes. I am going to teach a communications course for an all-online school. The application progress is insanely long and complicated, but I am to the training portion - which starts this week. After 4 weeks of training, I'll be given 2 courses that I will teach with a mentor watching over me. Should I make it through that - then I'll have my own courses. I'll actually be facilitating the course as the school has the syllabus, course materials, assignments, rubrics to grade assignments, etc. all laid out - and I must use them...so, I'm just following directions. But, all from the convenience of my home for just a few hours of my time a week. I've been going to the gym 5-6 days a week (it is rare that I go 6 times, but since it has happened a few times, I'll say it) - As usual, if I were being more vigilant about my calorie consumption, I'd be seeing more dramatic results. But, I've been doing some strength training 2 times a week and that has resulted in some changes...for example, I have some muscles in my arms and back...that have surfaced. I'm trying to decide if I'll keep getting up at 5:00 am or, if I'll try to go later in the morning (and take the kids) during June.
Kids:
LJ and PJ are both fine...growing like crazy. Would you believe PJ's foot is nearly as big as LJ's? It is actually a bit frightening. LJ is asking all kinds of inquisitive questions and has gotten much better at remembering where he last saw things. This helps us parents not to have to look for things ALL.THE.TIME. PJ is talking quite a bit and he is currently saying, "nope" instead of "no". So, if I ask him if he wants to read a book, his reply is, "ummm...NOPE". LJ, on the other hand, wants me to read him books all the time. I try to show him small words (he knows all his letters) and tell him what they are, but then he'll say something like, "why is hello spelled H-E-L-L-O?" and I don't really know what to say. The other day, he asked me why dinosaurs and people did not live at the same time. #1 - how does he know this, and #2 - I think the explanation is beyond what he can handle. I find myself doing a lot of thinking about what he's asking and what he can understand. Of course, I admit that there are times that I tire of the constant questions and I give him the big explanation with words I know he won't understand...and he usually goes on his way. LJ and PJ play pretty well together, but there is a A LOT of wrestling, screaming and crying. LJ will be playing with something, PJ will want it, LJ will say no and PJ will scream NOOOOOO at the top of his lungs...and all the possible combinations of that scenario. Some days are great, other days, I send each of them to their own rooms and tell them not to come out until I come get them.
RJ:
Work is work. The end of the semester means students are graduating and that always makes RJ a little sad. We have several leaders who have been with us for 2-3 years, so we will miss seeing them. We are hosting a conference week after this coming week and that means this next week will be very busy. Not only do we need to get all the conference components in place, but we each have to plan our own sessions and the workshop we will be co-facilitating. But, RJ's true love - his garage - is where he'd rather focus. He has 1/2 of the driveway left and then the concrete will be finished. He was hoping to get it finished this month, but we are not sure that will be possible. He found a lathe - after a major string of being in the right place at the right time and being persistent as well. He has had fun admiring it and fixing it up.
MJ:
Work is work. Classes are pretty much over - one more final to give and then grades to turn in. I'll be off the month of June, but will teach the month of July. My goal - to break no bones this summer. I've taken on a second very-part-time job - someone has to pay for all the concrete and garages and lathes. I am going to teach a communications course for an all-online school. The application progress is insanely long and complicated, but I am to the training portion - which starts this week. After 4 weeks of training, I'll be given 2 courses that I will teach with a mentor watching over me. Should I make it through that - then I'll have my own courses. I'll actually be facilitating the course as the school has the syllabus, course materials, assignments, rubrics to grade assignments, etc. all laid out - and I must use them...so, I'm just following directions. But, all from the convenience of my home for just a few hours of my time a week. I've been going to the gym 5-6 days a week (it is rare that I go 6 times, but since it has happened a few times, I'll say it) - As usual, if I were being more vigilant about my calorie consumption, I'd be seeing more dramatic results. But, I've been doing some strength training 2 times a week and that has resulted in some changes...for example, I have some muscles in my arms and back...that have surfaced. I'm trying to decide if I'll keep getting up at 5:00 am or, if I'll try to go later in the morning (and take the kids) during June.
Friday, April 24, 2009
2 Years Old Tomorrow
I cannot believe PJ is going to be 2 tomorrow. Amazing. Oddly, I can hardly remember him being an infant...it seems like he was always just along for the ride and I don't have lots of infant memories. What I do remember - him in his swing taking 3 hour afternoon naps, me watching TV while I fed him in the middle of the night, and his not being all that interested in baby food. I am officially one of those people who "doesn't remember" things about her babies. :-(
PJ is talking a lot in the last month. He talking 3-4 word sentences and using pronouns. He is very into ownership as in, "mine" or "P's ___" or "L's ____" - he either wants it to be his or he wants to know whose it is. If you send him to the naughty chair, he can tell you why he was sent there...so, he knows what the offensive behavior was...this doesn't tend to stop him, however. If you call on the phone, you'll hear him in the background saying, "who is it?"
Today L and I are cleaning up the house (RJ got a great start while I was at work this morning) and making cupcakes for P's birthday. They will be decorated like Bob (and maybe Larry) from Veggie Tales...perhaps, I'll post pictures...?!
PJ is talking a lot in the last month. He talking 3-4 word sentences and using pronouns. He is very into ownership as in, "mine" or "P's ___" or "L's ____" - he either wants it to be his or he wants to know whose it is. If you send him to the naughty chair, he can tell you why he was sent there...so, he knows what the offensive behavior was...this doesn't tend to stop him, however. If you call on the phone, you'll hear him in the background saying, "who is it?"
Today L and I are cleaning up the house (RJ got a great start while I was at work this morning) and making cupcakes for P's birthday. They will be decorated like Bob (and maybe Larry) from Veggie Tales...perhaps, I'll post pictures...?!
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
RJ - Diego
RJ was late to work Monday - he was rescuing baby possums. Driving down the road, he saw a grown up possum smashed on the side of the road and noticed little balls of fur moving around it. He pulled over and got out - and saw they were babies. 2 of them were for sure alive and maybe one more...it wasn't moving much, but it *is* a possum, so maybe it was playing dead - LOL. Great. What to do. I think possums are so ugly they creep me out, but RJ insists that even a baby possum is cute. So, he gets on his iPhone and rather quickly finds an animal rescue website and finds a local woman who is...get this...licensed! to take possums. Licensed. Who knew you needed a license? Anyway, she tells him to bring them to her, so he puts the 2 live possums and the 1 questionable possum in a box and drives about 20 miles to her house. She says they do better in pairs and these look good, so the 2 will probably live. The 1 - she'll bury for him. I've been calling RJ "Diego" ever since.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Cookie Kings!
Over the weekend was the local cookie contest...I was miffed that RJ and I would miss it because we were at the conference AND miffed that they had it so early...it was in June last year - April this year. BTW, when we found out it was going to be in April, RJ asked if PJ would be able to get a free cookie a day until June, since it was "a free cookie for a year". They said, "only until the contest in April", so PJ got ripped off 2 months. This whole thing is rather disorganized.
But, we arranged for Jfer (who was keeping them all weekend) to take them - and also arranged for another babysitter to meet her there so that each person could be in charge on one child. Jfer is more loving than competitive, let Erica be in charge of the child who was competing during the competition. Since I wasn't there, I don't really have any stories to tell except PJ won his age group (2 and under) by eating 3 cookies in 6 minutes! LJ won his age group (3-5) by eating 7 cookies in 6 minutes...and there was an 8th on his plate that he went ahead and ate after the buzzer went off...LOL. Apparently, there was some controversy as LJ's counter wasn't paying a lot of attention and claimed LJ had only eaten 6 cookies. Erica said, "no - he ate 7" and a parent of another competitor said the same thing, so LJ did win. We have 2 Cookie Kings - who can each get 1 cookie a day for a year...if the store holds up to their claims this year. The contest was on Saturday and we have yet to go get a cookie, but it'll be a fun thing to do!
But, we arranged for Jfer (who was keeping them all weekend) to take them - and also arranged for another babysitter to meet her there so that each person could be in charge on one child. Jfer is more loving than competitive, let Erica be in charge of the child who was competing during the competition. Since I wasn't there, I don't really have any stories to tell except PJ won his age group (2 and under) by eating 3 cookies in 6 minutes! LJ won his age group (3-5) by eating 7 cookies in 6 minutes...and there was an 8th on his plate that he went ahead and ate after the buzzer went off...LOL. Apparently, there was some controversy as LJ's counter wasn't paying a lot of attention and claimed LJ had only eaten 6 cookies. Erica said, "no - he ate 7" and a parent of another competitor said the same thing, so LJ did win. We have 2 Cookie Kings - who can each get 1 cookie a day for a year...if the store holds up to their claims this year. The contest was on Saturday and we have yet to go get a cookie, but it'll be a fun thing to do!
Friday, March 27, 2009
ACK!
Um - I downloaded a Hilary Duff song.
My treat for making it 7 days without eating anything off of my plan AND weighing foods to ensure I'm eating the correct portion.
I heard this song at the gym and quickly tried to remember some lyrics so I could google it and find out the name and who sings it. Hilary Duff. Slightly mortified, but whatever. It is catchy and upbeat.
My treat for making it 7 days without eating anything off of my plan AND weighing foods to ensure I'm eating the correct portion.
I heard this song at the gym and quickly tried to remember some lyrics so I could google it and find out the name and who sings it. Hilary Duff. Slightly mortified, but whatever. It is catchy and upbeat.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
How 'bout Tales
PJ is a freak for Veggie Tales. He ALWAYS wants to watch "tales" - he carries the DVD case around the house, he wants to listen to the CDs we have (thanks Aunt Sharon - the kids LOVE this CD!) - he says "Bob" and "Larry" all the time. He says TONS of words and started to put 2 together a few weeks ago...things like "help me" or "hold me" - this week, he's started putting 3 together...when we turn on the TV to watch something, he now says, "how 'bout tales"...cracks me up. LJ likes Veggie Tales too, but also likes to watch other things, but so far -he's been pretty patient with watching Veggie Tales pretty much every time we watch TV.
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Thinking About School...
Last week, we visited the pre-school we planned to send LJ to in the fall. We've heard such rave reviews from everyone we talk to, so we went ahead and filled out the application. Earlier in the week, we got the paperwork saying he'd been "accepted" - which means they have space for him during the time we wanted to send him...MWF 8:30 - 11:30. There are 16 kids to a class, so space is an issue. The enrollment fee is due March 6th, so we decided we'd better get over there and check it out for ourselves. Oh wow. This place is so idyllic.
When we arrived, the 4-year-old class was at some picnic tables outside - having their snack. LJ is way bigger than the kids we saw...heck, PJ is just a little smaller, but what can I say? Our kids are giants. The "campus" (it only has 3-year olds, 4-year olds, K and 1st grade) is comprised of little houses that are dotted along the acreage. The 4-year old house...on the porch there are a couple of easels with art paper and paints, a table - which that day held metallic paper and you could practice cutting with scissors, a table with hammers and wood blocks for carpentry, and a table with 2 big trays that held giant bubble wands. You walk into one room that has a board with all the kids' pictures on it, a schedule for the day, a loft with building blocks underneath and reading up top. In another room is a "work center" where you can pretend you are at work. There is a binder ring with laminated cards attached - each card has the name of one of their classmates, so you can write them a letter, if you want. There is a "home center" with a table, play kitchen, cookware, baby dolls, etc. There are a couple of art centers and music centers and reading centers as well. In another room, is another loft where you can read or play underneath, there are HUGE building blocks and hard hats and a wall with hooks for their coats and back packs - each hook has a child's picture above it - oh, and their is a cubby for each child. There is another room where they meet with the teacher's aid individually - to work on supervised crafts...they are currently making a barnyard.
Outside is HUGE play ground with all the usual playground stuff. All grass and dirt. There is a storage building that houses the bikes, trikes, and scooters (my jaw dropped)...and a big figure 8 side-walk that goes throughout the whole play area. There is a garden area (it is fenced off and requires a parent to volunteer to watch the kids for it to be open (which is supposedly not a problem once the weather is warmer) - the kids actually plant vegetables, herbs, etc. and harvest them and there are 4 festivals throughout the year that seem to be themed around the garden. There is a bridge over a pond/stream...the pond has minnows and little fish in it...and there are nets and buckets, so the kids can catch the fish (and put them back when they are finished). There are trees everywhere - so lots of shady areas.
The "schedule" does something like this:
8:30 - arrive and check-in with teacher
- journal time (they draw or write or whatever they want in their journal - which is blank sheets spiral bound. There is a date stamp they use to date their page and they can ask the teacher to write things on it if they want to dictate).
8:50 - circle time/sharing - telling each other whatever they want to share
9:10 - "center time"
9:30 - "clean up" - each child has a job to do
9:45 - music/songs/stories
10:10 - snack
10:30 - playground
10:55 - "center time"
11:20 - "clean up"
11:30 - go home
Once a week - a music teacher comes in and teaches them age-appropriate music stuff and once a week they go to chapel.
I think LJ is going to LOVE it.
Over the summer, his teacher will send him a postcard. Then she'll come to the house to meet him and tell him about school. She'll take the picture of him that will be over his coat hook. The first day of school - they have 8 kids come only. Then the other 8 come the 2nd class day and then on Friday - all 16 will be together. So, it is very transitional. I'm super-excited about it. His teacher has been teaching there for 17 years and her teacher's aid has been their for 15. I would LOVE to go to school there - LOL. Of course, I'll cry when I take his First Day of School picture.
When we arrived, the 4-year-old class was at some picnic tables outside - having their snack. LJ is way bigger than the kids we saw...heck, PJ is just a little smaller, but what can I say? Our kids are giants. The "campus" (it only has 3-year olds, 4-year olds, K and 1st grade) is comprised of little houses that are dotted along the acreage. The 4-year old house...on the porch there are a couple of easels with art paper and paints, a table - which that day held metallic paper and you could practice cutting with scissors, a table with hammers and wood blocks for carpentry, and a table with 2 big trays that held giant bubble wands. You walk into one room that has a board with all the kids' pictures on it, a schedule for the day, a loft with building blocks underneath and reading up top. In another room is a "work center" where you can pretend you are at work. There is a binder ring with laminated cards attached - each card has the name of one of their classmates, so you can write them a letter, if you want. There is a "home center" with a table, play kitchen, cookware, baby dolls, etc. There are a couple of art centers and music centers and reading centers as well. In another room, is another loft where you can read or play underneath, there are HUGE building blocks and hard hats and a wall with hooks for their coats and back packs - each hook has a child's picture above it - oh, and their is a cubby for each child. There is another room where they meet with the teacher's aid individually - to work on supervised crafts...they are currently making a barnyard.
Outside is HUGE play ground with all the usual playground stuff. All grass and dirt. There is a storage building that houses the bikes, trikes, and scooters (my jaw dropped)...and a big figure 8 side-walk that goes throughout the whole play area. There is a garden area (it is fenced off and requires a parent to volunteer to watch the kids for it to be open (which is supposedly not a problem once the weather is warmer) - the kids actually plant vegetables, herbs, etc. and harvest them and there are 4 festivals throughout the year that seem to be themed around the garden. There is a bridge over a pond/stream...the pond has minnows and little fish in it...and there are nets and buckets, so the kids can catch the fish (and put them back when they are finished). There are trees everywhere - so lots of shady areas.
The "schedule" does something like this:
8:30 - arrive and check-in with teacher
- journal time (they draw or write or whatever they want in their journal - which is blank sheets spiral bound. There is a date stamp they use to date their page and they can ask the teacher to write things on it if they want to dictate).
8:50 - circle time/sharing - telling each other whatever they want to share
9:10 - "center time"
9:30 - "clean up" - each child has a job to do
9:45 - music/songs/stories
10:10 - snack
10:30 - playground
10:55 - "center time"
11:20 - "clean up"
11:30 - go home
Once a week - a music teacher comes in and teaches them age-appropriate music stuff and once a week they go to chapel.
I think LJ is going to LOVE it.
Over the summer, his teacher will send him a postcard. Then she'll come to the house to meet him and tell him about school. She'll take the picture of him that will be over his coat hook. The first day of school - they have 8 kids come only. Then the other 8 come the 2nd class day and then on Friday - all 16 will be together. So, it is very transitional. I'm super-excited about it. His teacher has been teaching there for 17 years and her teacher's aid has been their for 15. I would LOVE to go to school there - LOL. Of course, I'll cry when I take his First Day of School picture.
Friday, February 27, 2009
The Last Vestige of Baby-hood (sniff, sniff)
I have to admit that LJ still has (had) his pacifier. We have always kept pacifier use confinded to the bed and only available during sleep-time, but - up until last Sunday, LJ still had his. Mind you, this is the same pacifier he's had since he was 8 months old (the last time we bought a pacifier for him). It was part of a 2-pack and one has been lost for a long time, so this was it. This thing was mangled, had holes in it and could not be too satisfying for him. About a month ago, I told LJ that he could take his pacifier to the toy store and trade it in for a toy. He thought about it and said, "when I get 5, I'll do that". I told him I didn't know if his pacifier would make it until he as 5 and I let it go. Last Thursday, I noticed the top bulb of the rubber part was hanging by a thread and I told him I had to take it off because it was dangerous...so, he had a stump for a pacifier. I told him that he needed to trade it in soon - if it gets too bad, the toy store won't take it. Last Friday, during nap time, I gave it to him and he told me I could put it back in the drawer - he didn't want it. Frankly, for about 6 months now - whenever I'd go in his room at night - he wouldn't have it in his mouth anyway. Last Saturday, we were out running errands and he said he wanted to go to the toy store, so I asked if he brought his pacifier and he hadn't, so we made plans to go on Sunday. Sunday came and he was ready to go. We took his pacifier and headed to the toy store.
LJ picked out a round-house for his train set and he was all-too-proud to hand the cashier his pacifier. I stayed behind to "get the receipt" and we went home and set up his round house. LJ has talked a little about missing his pacifier, but it is quickly followed by how much he loves his new toy. He has some ideas for what PJ should get when he trades in his pacifier...that kid is always scheming.
So, that is it. He is no longer a baby at all. That was the last thing. He still has a blanket he sleeps with, but I still have my baby blanket too...I don't sleep with it, but I have it.
I remember having my pacifier, so I was never itching for LJ to get rid of it...I figured it'd happen when it happened. I remember being told that we left my pacifier at my grandmother's house - being very upset about this sudden loss - and then SEEING MY PACIFIER IN THE TRASH CAN. I didn't take it out because I think I knew what was going on. They were going to take it away from me anyway. I recall feeling socked in the stomach - now, I would label that emotion...betrayed. It all worked out fine - I am a functioning adult with no parental issues, but I wanted LJ to come to this decision on his own...with just a little prodding from me!
LJ picked out a round-house for his train set and he was all-too-proud to hand the cashier his pacifier. I stayed behind to "get the receipt" and we went home and set up his round house. LJ has talked a little about missing his pacifier, but it is quickly followed by how much he loves his new toy. He has some ideas for what PJ should get when he trades in his pacifier...that kid is always scheming.
So, that is it. He is no longer a baby at all. That was the last thing. He still has a blanket he sleeps with, but I still have my baby blanket too...I don't sleep with it, but I have it.
I remember having my pacifier, so I was never itching for LJ to get rid of it...I figured it'd happen when it happened. I remember being told that we left my pacifier at my grandmother's house - being very upset about this sudden loss - and then SEEING MY PACIFIER IN THE TRASH CAN. I didn't take it out because I think I knew what was going on. They were going to take it away from me anyway. I recall feeling socked in the stomach - now, I would label that emotion...betrayed. It all worked out fine - I am a functioning adult with no parental issues, but I wanted LJ to come to this decision on his own...with just a little prodding from me!
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Confession
Out of the blue - LJ told me that he helps himself to cookies on the counter. We made cookies for Valentine's Day and he told me, "I go in the kitchen and open the bag and get a cookie. If I hear Daddy coming, I shove the whole cookie in my mouth so that he won't know I am eating a cookie." It is hilarious to me that he can be so deceptive in one moment and then, out of the blue, just spontaneously rat himself out. I took this opportunity to remind him how sad Daddy was that he and PJ ate all of his Valentine's donuts. LJ has said he is sorry, out of the blue, about this many times. This time he said, "I'm sorry that we ate them, but Momma, I just like donuts."
Monday, February 16, 2009
They Played So Well Together...
This morning, my alarm went off at 5:00 am (I'm still going to the gym at 5:30 - 5 days a week) - and RJ told me he hadn't slept since 3:30...when LJ woke us up to tell us he had to go to the bathroom. Many times, he just goes, but for some reason - this time he decided he must inform us.
Once I got to work, I called the house and RJ told me that he was laying in bed and the kids were playing really well together. They had watched some TV (I set it up to where all LJ has to do is turn the tv on) and they were playing trains in LJ's room. Some days - they play really well together and some days they antagonize each other.
When I got back from class I went into RJ's office where he recounted the whole story of the morning...
RJ reiterated how nicely the boys had played together...how LJ was getting frustrated with PJ playing trains, so LJ set up a circle of train track for PJ to run his trains on, etc. RJ said that once he got out of bed and walked into the kitchen, he realized why that had been "playing so well together"...we bought RJ a bag of chocolate covered donuts for Valentine's Day and that bag was cleaned out...empty...zero donuts left. There were probably 12-15 donuts in that bag and those kids sat there and ate every last one of them. Hilarious. I can just imagine LJ bossing the whole process and giving PJ just enough to keep him from crying for more and blowing the whole operation.
Once I got to work, I called the house and RJ told me that he was laying in bed and the kids were playing really well together. They had watched some TV (I set it up to where all LJ has to do is turn the tv on) and they were playing trains in LJ's room. Some days - they play really well together and some days they antagonize each other.
When I got back from class I went into RJ's office where he recounted the whole story of the morning...
RJ reiterated how nicely the boys had played together...how LJ was getting frustrated with PJ playing trains, so LJ set up a circle of train track for PJ to run his trains on, etc. RJ said that once he got out of bed and walked into the kitchen, he realized why that had been "playing so well together"...we bought RJ a bag of chocolate covered donuts for Valentine's Day and that bag was cleaned out...empty...zero donuts left. There were probably 12-15 donuts in that bag and those kids sat there and ate every last one of them. Hilarious. I can just imagine LJ bossing the whole process and giving PJ just enough to keep him from crying for more and blowing the whole operation.
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Recovering from the Weekend
We were out of town over the weekend. A friend's 40th birthday celebration. We had fun and the kids behaved well all weekend. We are such sticklers for routine that I admit I was a bit worried about how the kids would do when not following the normal sequence of events, but we kept it tight and they did great.
One thing I hate about being away for the weekend - all the things I get done over the weekend (laundry and grocery shopping, for example) are still waiting for me when I get back...and I hate having to cram that stuff into the work week.
I learned that I had been committing an exercise blunder - a sin, really - on the treadmill. I had been holding onto the bars. Shhhh...please keep my secret. I knew it was kind of lazy, BUT - I was walking over 4 mph and on an incline, so how lazy is that? I was doing some research on HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) and was looking up ideas for a routine on the treadmill. The article I read said, "click here if you are still holding onto the bars on the treadmill" - and then chastised me about it. So....I knocked my speed down to 3.2 mph and ceased to hold on. OMG - talk about getting my heart rate up...I spent the entire workout (walking up 3 hills...with an incline between 2% and 10%) in the upper ranges of my maximum heart rate. According to my monitor - I burned as many calories in 30 minutes as I was burning in 40. I did this on Friday and again yesterday. Today was Body Pump and that is always a challenge, but so rewarding. I have 2 new muscles (biceps and deltoids) to show for my efforts - which is good because I have not lost one single pound in 4 weeks. Which brings me to...
I am mad at my newest ipod app. It uses linear regression to analyze your weight (which you enter everyday) and it'll tell you what your "true weight" is and if you are on a losing trend or gaining trend. It also estimates how many calories extra you consumed or how many you were in deficit. It is just doing a these stats that I could do, but wouldn't. I needed something to entertain me while I am not seeing the scale move. Well, my weight was 2.5 pounds higher yesterday than it was on Friday (I didn't drink much fluid over the weekend and I ate out...so, while I didn't eat HORRIBLY - I did "gain" 2.5 pounds). Yesterday was the last day of data my "weight trend" needed to start analyzing my situation. It shows that I am on a STEEP weight incline trend and that I ate 2950 calories more (per day) than I need to maintain...and that, if I keep it at this rate - I'll gain 25 pounds this month. Of course, I know it just doesn't have enough data to be accurate, but still...talk about rude!
One thing I hate about being away for the weekend - all the things I get done over the weekend (laundry and grocery shopping, for example) are still waiting for me when I get back...and I hate having to cram that stuff into the work week.
I learned that I had been committing an exercise blunder - a sin, really - on the treadmill. I had been holding onto the bars. Shhhh...please keep my secret. I knew it was kind of lazy, BUT - I was walking over 4 mph and on an incline, so how lazy is that? I was doing some research on HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) and was looking up ideas for a routine on the treadmill. The article I read said, "click here if you are still holding onto the bars on the treadmill" - and then chastised me about it. So....I knocked my speed down to 3.2 mph and ceased to hold on. OMG - talk about getting my heart rate up...I spent the entire workout (walking up 3 hills...with an incline between 2% and 10%) in the upper ranges of my maximum heart rate. According to my monitor - I burned as many calories in 30 minutes as I was burning in 40. I did this on Friday and again yesterday. Today was Body Pump and that is always a challenge, but so rewarding. I have 2 new muscles (biceps and deltoids) to show for my efforts - which is good because I have not lost one single pound in 4 weeks. Which brings me to...
I am mad at my newest ipod app. It uses linear regression to analyze your weight (which you enter everyday) and it'll tell you what your "true weight" is and if you are on a losing trend or gaining trend. It also estimates how many calories extra you consumed or how many you were in deficit. It is just doing a these stats that I could do, but wouldn't. I needed something to entertain me while I am not seeing the scale move. Well, my weight was 2.5 pounds higher yesterday than it was on Friday (I didn't drink much fluid over the weekend and I ate out...so, while I didn't eat HORRIBLY - I did "gain" 2.5 pounds). Yesterday was the last day of data my "weight trend" needed to start analyzing my situation. It shows that I am on a STEEP weight incline trend and that I ate 2950 calories more (per day) than I need to maintain...and that, if I keep it at this rate - I'll gain 25 pounds this month. Of course, I know it just doesn't have enough data to be accurate, but still...talk about rude!
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