Rembering 9/11

Who could possible forget? I remember even small details of that day. The Today show opened with a story about Michael Jordan making a return to basketball. I thought to myself that it must be a slow news day. The sky was a beautiful blue with white puffy clouds as I drove to work. My students were great as we worked on phonics and large-group reading. As we were transitioning to small group, our asst. principal brought in a note that told a little of what was going on-I started shaking as my heart dropped. I didn't know anyone even close to the attacks, but this act shook me to the core. We immediately tried to access internet news, but of course, so did everyone else who needed news. Finally during my planning time around 1:00 DST I was able to make it to the library and saw footage of the towers falling. Who can every forget that sight? I thought that I should go get gas after school, because I actually needed gas, but the lines were so long. The town was eerily quiet as I ran a few errands that could not be avoided. Our tv stayed on CNN for most of the night and I cried and cried for those lost, for their families, for our whole country. Would we ever be the same? A good friend went into labor early on the 12th as she watched news footage. She wasn't due for a few weeks. I am happy her precious son was born the 12th and not the 11th. That thought crossed my mind several times over the next few weeks. I don't think many of us will forget the emotions that we felt on that tragic Tuesday. I don't think we should ever forget what was lost that day. May God bless America!

Failure as a blogger

Once again, I have failed as a blogger. After school started I just haven't had the time to do much but work, eat, sleep and care for children. Our school district has lost 5 little angels since school began. Two were students at my school. My heart aches for the mothers in our town that have buried children in the last month. Five doesn't seem like a huge number, but when you are talking about children and death, that number is staggering. All five deaths were unrelated, but they have shocked and devastated our community. On top of this, I lost a former student last week. I remember her as a precious 6 year old. She lived to be a beautiful 21 year old young lady, struck down by a fast growing cancer at the beginning of her adult life. I am so sad. My hope for the remainder of our school year is that all our children live to comb gray hair. I realize that God had greater plans for these children and I don't question that. My heart is just a little heavier these days. I will do my best to be a better blogger and a better person. Love and peace to you and yours!

School Year Eve

School starts for teachers tomorrow. Usually on this night each year, I panic because of all the things I didn't accomplish during my time off. I go into summer with a mental to-do list and check off the items as I get to them. This summer, I really didn't create that list. I am not panicking. I accomplished much. I vacationed for the first time ever with my children. I helped my husband clean out our garage (thank you Mr. Snake!). I spent time with friends and family. I actually read many wonderful books. I tried new recipes. Tonight I will not think about all that I didn't do. I will take joy in the things I did accomplish and enjoy the last night of summer vacation with my precious children.

Hard lessons to learn/teach

Today was one of those days I had to teach my children a hard lesson. Our house looks like a toy factory explosion. Well-meaning friends and family (whom I love) like to express their love for my children by purchasing every toy known to man. While I appreciate this, I don't enjoy the fallout. Ryan and Jenna have not learned the importance of picking up their things. The only way they will do this is if I yell, scream and threaten bodily harm (I'm only half kidding, here). I asked them to pick up today, while I ran errands. When I got home, the house looked worse than before I left-Thanks, honey! I have packed up the majority of toys in the playroom. Some will find new homes, some will be stored and brought back at a later time, and the rest that were really beyond repair have gone to the garbage can. My children are currently in their rooms picking up and putting away. I think (hope) I have made an impression. Fingers crossed.

7 years ago......

it was around this time that I found out that I was expecting a baby. I was several weeks late and actually had books from the library on perimenopause. It never crossed my mind that I could be pregnant. For 9 years I had dealt with disappointment month after month. I had gone through the stages of grief so many times that I was numb. The one stage I couldn't make it through was acceptance. I couldn't accept that I would never be someone's mother. My husband refused to adopt. We had exhausted our resources with treatments, surgery, etc. I was 35 years old and my time was running out. In the Spring of 2002 I began to pray not for a baby, but peace. And in May I finally made peace with the fact that I had to let go of my dream of parenthood. I thanked God for getting me to that stage. Six weeks later, after a bout with "food poisoning", something made me take a pregnancy test. There were 2 lines. Two lines? What did it mean? For so many years I had only seen 1 line. My husband was sure it was a faulty test. The next morning I had to go work in my classroom. I stopped by Wal-Mart before and bought 2 tests. These had +/-. Digital tests weren't out yet. I went in the restroom in my classroom and almost immediately got a +. I called the doctor's office and asked if they could do a blood test. The doctors were not in that afternoon, but the nurses said to come on in and they would do a test. They did a urine test and it was positive. They refused to do a blood test, even though I was convinced that something besides pregnancy was going on. They were sweet, and kept telling me that I was indeed pregnant! About a week later my doctor did a sonogram and I was able to see my little bean. The day I found out that I was having a child was one of the best days of my life. There are not many surprises in life, but this was definitely a surprise. The outpouring of happiness and love that I experienced as people found out about my pregnancy was truly amazing. The people in my world certainly rejoiced for me. I am so thankful for my little boy. He is truly a gift from God. Getting pregnant again was not difficult at all. Dealing with a terrible loss afterwards was hard. Having my little girl was another miracle, but I will save her story and my angel's story for another day. Hug your children and give thanks to God everyday!

CHILDREN'S PARTIES

This was J's 3rd birthday. A princess theme for a little girl who truly believes she is a princess. Another home made cake-made with love. Activities included making candy necklaces and crowns. I think the moms enjoyed this more than the girls. I also set up a playdough table. Favors included the crowns, a heart shaped cookie cutter with pink playdough, white chocolate lollilops and the necklaces. The invitations were cute. I made them to look like ballgowns and included a pink ribbon at the waist. We are already getting ready for next year's party-Tinkerbell or Little Mermaid.

This was R's 5th birthday. The theme was "Cars" I made the cake as I always do-I think homemade cakes make the day even more special. They may not look professional, but it's something I feel I have to do. I always have an activity table and on this day we let the guests put stickers on a racing helmet. We also had pictures frames to make, but didn't get to it. I made them and placed pictures inside for thank yous. I made 3 cars from boxes and we held races. We served hotdogs and popcorn in little popcorn boxes-they were a real hit. Drinks were served in an oil change pan. It was a fun party.

Up!

We finally went to see Up today. It was by far the best movie I have seen in a very long time. The message was so sweet and profound-totally unexpected in most movies today. A children's film shouldn't make me cry as much as this did, but it was so good. I would highly reccommend that families see this together. Definitely 2 thumbs up and then some!

Raindrops on .........Petunias?

I awoke to the sound of rain and thunder today. This is the first significant rain in about 6 weeks. Our grass is turning brown and everything is dying. This was a much needed reprieve.

Teacher gift

I have altered clipboards for the childrens' teachers for the last couple of years. Here's the first I've done this year. I have 2 more to go. They look cuter in person than the pics. I add them and other school supplies to a basket as a beginning of the year happy. School starts for teachers 2 weeks from tomorrow and for students 3 weeks from tomorrow. Hopefully they will like their goodies. As a teacher for so long, I try to be a good parent.

I love Bentos!

I love the Bento box concept. Cute little containers with even cuter lunches---what's not to love? I ordered a few Bento supplies last summer to prepare lunches for R who was in Kindergarten. He is so picky and was not impressed. This year J will be in 3 year old preschool and will take her lunch to school 3 times a week. She is not picky and is thrilled with cuteness. I have ordered a lot of stuff to pack her lunches. Ichiban Kan's online store is going out of business, so I ordered about $30 in Bento boxes and accessories. I can't wait for them to arrive. The little things in life really make me happy. Happy Bento, everyone!

Menu for January 25-31

Sunday: Tuna cakes, oven fries, salad
Monday: Chili, cornbread, salad
Tuesday: Crock pot Italian Chicken over pasta, veggies, garlic toast
Wednesday: Leftovers
Thursday: Mommy & Me night out; boys will eat frozen
Friday: Chicken strips, potatoes, beans, rolls
Saturday: Pizza, veggies w/dip

Birthdays

I live to plan and throw birthday parties for my children. I'll admit it----I'm a birthday planner addict. Little girl J, who will be 3, February 10th has decided that she doesn't want a party. What's a mom to do? I had begun planning months ago. I guess it will be just cake with the family. My mother thinks this is great. I am already having withdrawal---but, alas, R's birthday is just one month later. Don't dissappoint me, little guy!

I saw this on many other blogs and decided to do it. Those items in bold are things I have done.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland (Disneyworld)
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

I'm not an exciting person, as you can see!

Menu Plan for January 5-11, 2009

Monday: BBQ chicken, baked beans, sour cream potatoes, rolls
Tuesday: Leftover spaghetti/meatballs, garlic bread, salad
Wednesday: Bunko? Family will eat frozen
Thursday: Sloppy Joes, sweet potato fries, veggies w/dip
Friday: Slow cooker roast beef, green beans, smashed potatoes, rolls
Saturday: Pizza, salad
Sunday: Leftovers

Menu Planning Revisited

How did I do? Well, I actually stuck to the menu, but changed the days. We didn't have the steaks, but I will add this to next week's menu (will post tomorrow). I have finished in the kitchen, but have had an aha moment: Cleaning house is like squeezing into too small jeans-as you pull them up the fat just gets shoved to another part of the body. As my kitchen became decluttered, the rest of the house felt the overflow. I did, however, throw out a bunch of stuff! Garbage man will hate me come Tuesday!

Getting it done....

or at least trying! My focus for today is the kitchen. I actually started yesterday. I've got the food cabinets cleaned and organized and now I am working on the dreaded catch-all cabinets-tupperware, baking items, small appliances, etc. It's amazing the amount of cookie cutters we have. I should have posted before pics, but the camera is on the blinks. Break over-I need to return to my work and I will get it done (keep repeating in my mind!).