I need coffee. It's 8:18am and I have yet to have my first cup of coffee.
I also need some much needed advice. Two issues:
1. Ashley's feet stink. I mean really smell. Ashley is a pretty sweaty kid, and I am guessing her feet sweat. Of course it doesn't help that she is wearing those lined crocs or her boots everyday now. So any tips on getting her feet not to smell would be helpful.
2. Audrey. Audrey, Audrey, Audrey. She is trouble. At least 3 or 4 times a week, she wakes up in the middle of the night and the only way to get her back to sleep is to bring her in my bed. Any tricks on how to convince her that her bed is much better than mine would be appreciated.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
New Blogs for you to check out...
I normally don't pass on the numerous blogs I read, but I have two that have come up recently that are definitely worth checking out.
This one is one of my neighbors and truly inspirational in that she just completed a half marathon....Congrats Carmen!!
The other one is one of my best friends who I have known for years. We spent Thanksgiving with her and her family this past year. We can go months without seeing each other, and feel like we haven't missed a beat when we get back together (and I can still kick her and her husband's butt in hearts...). I am sure her blog will spark many debates because over the years I have listened to enough debates between her and Ray. Me? I don't like confrontation (typical Libra here). But you guys? Go ahead and debate.
This one is one of my neighbors and truly inspirational in that she just completed a half marathon....Congrats Carmen!!
The other one is one of my best friends who I have known for years. We spent Thanksgiving with her and her family this past year. We can go months without seeing each other, and feel like we haven't missed a beat when we get back together (and I can still kick her and her husband's butt in hearts...). I am sure her blog will spark many debates because over the years I have listened to enough debates between her and Ray. Me? I don't like confrontation (typical Libra here). But you guys? Go ahead and debate.
Crabby
I hate being crabby and tired and short-fused once a month. Really, really tired of it. Last night, I was actually asleep before Audrey was (she is often up past 9:00pm in her room "reading" books). I just hope my kids don't remember the crabby mommy, and only remember the un-crabby mommy. (I don't remember my own Mom being crabby, so I am hopeful my kids won't remember either).
Some months are worse than others, some months I don't even notice. Maybe it is getting worse with age, who knows. All I know it sucks.
What else sucks? A Grandmother who is dying and doesn't know anyone anymore because of Alzheimer's. She's young for a Grandmother of a thirty something (late 70s), but unfortunately she has smoked a carton of cigarettes a day for most of her life. I remember her lighting a cigarette with her last cigarette. But I also remember countless days spent at her house, playing in her yard, helping her with chores. She lived next door to us when my brother and I were little, so we spent a great deal of time there in the summer and before and after school. I remember bologna, cheese, mustard and ketchup sandwiches, I remember playing charades with her on her front porch. I remember telling her I wasn't a "tomboy", I was a "tomgirl".
She has been in and out of the hospital and a nursing home the past few weeks. Ray and I actually visited with her when we were in Virginia over Christmas in the nursing home. She didn't know who we were, but she thought I looked like someone she knew.
My Mom has been helping out as much as she can, but now Grandma isn't recognizing anyone, not even my Grandfather. My Stepdad has spent countless hours in the hospital with her as well. I don't know the progression of Alzheimer's, and honestly, I don't want to know. I hope she still has some good days left in her.
Some months are worse than others, some months I don't even notice. Maybe it is getting worse with age, who knows. All I know it sucks.
What else sucks? A Grandmother who is dying and doesn't know anyone anymore because of Alzheimer's. She's young for a Grandmother of a thirty something (late 70s), but unfortunately she has smoked a carton of cigarettes a day for most of her life. I remember her lighting a cigarette with her last cigarette. But I also remember countless days spent at her house, playing in her yard, helping her with chores. She lived next door to us when my brother and I were little, so we spent a great deal of time there in the summer and before and after school. I remember bologna, cheese, mustard and ketchup sandwiches, I remember playing charades with her on her front porch. I remember telling her I wasn't a "tomboy", I was a "tomgirl".
She has been in and out of the hospital and a nursing home the past few weeks. Ray and I actually visited with her when we were in Virginia over Christmas in the nursing home. She didn't know who we were, but she thought I looked like someone she knew.
My Mom has been helping out as much as she can, but now Grandma isn't recognizing anyone, not even my Grandfather. My Stepdad has spent countless hours in the hospital with her as well. I don't know the progression of Alzheimer's, and honestly, I don't want to know. I hope she still has some good days left in her.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Friday Pictures (yes, I am actually posting pictures. On Friday).
Here are some pictures from Audrey's birthday weekend, and then I promise not to mention her birthday again.
Her birthday celebration started out at school. I brought in cupcakes for the kids. This picture was taken when the class was singing "Happy Birthday" to her. She did not look thrilled...
And finally, her party at Monkey Joe's, a place with tons of inflatable slides and stuff. She still wanted a princess cake, so here it was:
She wasn't too thrilled to sit in this chair either, but the lady running it somehow convinced her she had to do it, even if it was just for the singing part.
Her birthday celebration started out at school. I brought in cupcakes for the kids. This picture was taken when the class was singing "Happy Birthday" to her. She did not look thrilled...
The next morning, she had gymnastics and ballet and we let her open a few gifts early since they were a new ballet outfit and a new gymnastics outfit. She also recieved from my Stepsister who lives in Hawaii a real grass skirt complete with the coconut bra...Ashley received one as well.
She actually picked this outfit for gymnastics out. She looks so freaking tiny in it.
And finally, her party at Monkey Joe's, a place with tons of inflatable slides and stuff. She still wanted a princess cake, so here it was:She wasn't too thrilled to sit in this chair either, but the lady running it somehow convinced her she had to do it, even if it was just for the singing part.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Audrey's Third Birthday
I realize this post is a few days late, but I need to get this down so that years from now she won't come to me complaining how on her third birthday I forgot to write my annual letter to her. Because she would TOTALLY do that.
I still can't believe you are three. I still remember your "birth" day pretty vividly. I am very grateful to this day how easy your birth was (most unlike your sister).
But since then? You have proven to us that you deserve some space of your own, that you will not settle to just be the little sister.
In the past year, you have conquered a few things. Potty training came easy and you are learning more and more everyday at school. The one thing that does confront us from time to time is your lack of recognizing some colors, and we have a sneaking suspicion you are color blind.
You use your words well, especially the "you are bad, sister" words and the "no, Mommy, GO AWAY" words. Spunk? You got it. At first glance, you seem so sweet an innocent. But I have caught you a few times, going up to your sister and pinching her or hitting her and then looking straight at me and telling me she hit you first.
Your first love is not me or your Dad, it's chocolate. Seriously, you would eat chocolate every single minute of everyday if we let you. You often pretend to be coming to us to tell us a secret, and you are really just going to ask for chocolate. You don't eat any fruit and shy away from most vegetables, but I can't complain. You still try things we put on your plate and if you don't eat, well, we sometimes give in and give you chocolate. But just sometimes.
Bedtimes have been hard this past year. We thought (very stupidly I must admit) that getting you a really! cool! new! bed would cure your bedtime woes. Instead, you refuse to actually go to sleep in your bed every night. You fall asleep on the floor of your room most nights (and the other nights at the top of the staircase against the gate). And every night I move you to your bed. And every morning you wake up, call out for me, and I come get you and you snuggle on my chest while I go lay back down in bed with you. This is our time together; sometimes you fall back asleep, sometimes you roll off of me and tell me you love me. If your sister wakes up, you ask me to carry you with me to get your sister. You are lucky you are so little still, you fit perfect.
I hope you stay this little forever.
I still can't believe you are three. I still remember your "birth" day pretty vividly. I am very grateful to this day how easy your birth was (most unlike your sister).
But since then? You have proven to us that you deserve some space of your own, that you will not settle to just be the little sister.
In the past year, you have conquered a few things. Potty training came easy and you are learning more and more everyday at school. The one thing that does confront us from time to time is your lack of recognizing some colors, and we have a sneaking suspicion you are color blind.
You use your words well, especially the "you are bad, sister" words and the "no, Mommy, GO AWAY" words. Spunk? You got it. At first glance, you seem so sweet an innocent. But I have caught you a few times, going up to your sister and pinching her or hitting her and then looking straight at me and telling me she hit you first.
Your first love is not me or your Dad, it's chocolate. Seriously, you would eat chocolate every single minute of everyday if we let you. You often pretend to be coming to us to tell us a secret, and you are really just going to ask for chocolate. You don't eat any fruit and shy away from most vegetables, but I can't complain. You still try things we put on your plate and if you don't eat, well, we sometimes give in and give you chocolate. But just sometimes.
Bedtimes have been hard this past year. We thought (very stupidly I must admit) that getting you a really! cool! new! bed would cure your bedtime woes. Instead, you refuse to actually go to sleep in your bed every night. You fall asleep on the floor of your room most nights (and the other nights at the top of the staircase against the gate). And every night I move you to your bed. And every morning you wake up, call out for me, and I come get you and you snuggle on my chest while I go lay back down in bed with you. This is our time together; sometimes you fall back asleep, sometimes you roll off of me and tell me you love me. If your sister wakes up, you ask me to carry you with me to get your sister. You are lucky you are so little still, you fit perfect.
I hope you stay this little forever.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
What I am doing today....
Um, yea, so everyone knows I hate the cold. Hate, hate, hate it.
So waking up to snow was not a happy moment. The forecast when we went to bed was possibly 1-3 inches, maybe 2-4? Schools were already closed at 10:15pm last night.
This video was from about 8:00am this morning. Since this video, the snow has almost doubled. There is probably 7-8 inches on the ground. My office closed, and I am thinking not much is open out there.
The other kicker? I just found out that Ashley has to make up her day today on SATURDAY. They don't have any "extra" days built into year round. And of course this Saturday she has a Girl Scout event. I am all for her missing the 1/2 day of school to go to the Girl Scout event. I know, bad parent.
And I am sure she won't go to school tomorrow....
So waking up to snow was not a happy moment. The forecast when we went to bed was possibly 1-3 inches, maybe 2-4? Schools were already closed at 10:15pm last night.
This video was from about 8:00am this morning. Since this video, the snow has almost doubled. There is probably 7-8 inches on the ground. My office closed, and I am thinking not much is open out there.
The other kicker? I just found out that Ashley has to make up her day today on SATURDAY. They don't have any "extra" days built into year round. And of course this Saturday she has a Girl Scout event. I am all for her missing the 1/2 day of school to go to the Girl Scout event. I know, bad parent.
And I am sure she won't go to school tomorrow....
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Happy Birthday Audrey
Ignore the tired eyes, the chocolate traces around her mouth, and the fact we make her sing "Happy Birthday" to herself. And ignore my annoying voice...
She really did have a great birthday...
She really did have a great birthday...
Friday, January 16, 2009
100 days
Today is Ashley's 100th day of school (remember, she is on year round, so may have reached this later than a traditional calendar school year? I don't know...). She had to bring in 100 things and they are having a celebration this afternoon in class.
I still have days where I can't believe I have a kindergartner. I was behind her school bus this morning driving out of our neighborhood (I drove to the bus stop this morning BECAUSE IT IS LIKE 20 DEGREES OUTSIDE) (I need to remind everyone how much I despise the cold) and it was just one of those moments where I realized how big she was, riding a bus, getting herself to class.
And then Audrey is turning three this weekend, and just thinking ahead to her started kindergarten gets me all choked up. Ray and I tell Audrey all the time we want her to stay little. We give up with Ashley since she's already so tall it's difficult to pick her up. But Audrey? She's still so little and snuggly, if she could only stay that way.
And no, I am still not ready for her party tomorrow (gotta do the goodie bags) and I still have to get her a leotard and tap shoes for her dance class she is starting tomorrow. Nothing like waiting until the last minute.
I still have days where I can't believe I have a kindergartner. I was behind her school bus this morning driving out of our neighborhood (I drove to the bus stop this morning BECAUSE IT IS LIKE 20 DEGREES OUTSIDE) (I need to remind everyone how much I despise the cold) and it was just one of those moments where I realized how big she was, riding a bus, getting herself to class.
And then Audrey is turning three this weekend, and just thinking ahead to her started kindergarten gets me all choked up. Ray and I tell Audrey all the time we want her to stay little. We give up with Ashley since she's already so tall it's difficult to pick her up. But Audrey? She's still so little and snuggly, if she could only stay that way.
And no, I am still not ready for her party tomorrow (gotta do the goodie bags) and I still have to get her a leotard and tap shoes for her dance class she is starting tomorrow. Nothing like waiting until the last minute.
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