Christmas

No matter what is going on, kids make it hard to not smile on Christmas.  Some of the funniest/most heartwarming things.

When Josh came out to get his toys from Santa, he went into the other room.  I wasn't sure what he was doing, but he was looking for the present for his dad.  He wanted to make sure he gave it to him first.

When J opened his bow and arrow:  "Santa gave me a weapon!  I can't believe I actually have a weapon!"

I heard "Best Christmas Ever" several times!

On Christmas Eve I put Simon out about 12:30.  He was barking and I went out to hear what it was all about.  As I looked around, I was about a half dozen 'rein'deer.  What was cool was that there were then footprints in the snow so the kids could see the marks.  Then, they even saw the sled marks.  Too bad they aren't smart enough to figure out that the sled marks were from there own sledding adventures the day before.

This demonstrates it all:

Christmas Prep?

I want this to be positive and I guess that is why I don't post as much as I could.  I don't want to be a Debbie Downer.  November/December is always a busy month and I always feel like I am more behind than ever.  At least Dan took the kids for a few hours yesterday and all the Santa presents are wrapped.  I still have to wrap other presents and clean.  Right now I'm feeling sort of miserable--I'm hoping that will pass but I need to get moving quickly while I can still move in case I have a dreaded flu.  It doesn't help that my back/hip are in so much pain and I have problems moving.  Oh, and water is not draining in the kitchen.  So, no washing dishes or clothes until we get a plumber out here and figure out what is going on.  We are going to try to wait until the day after Christmas since it's not really an emergency.  We can still take showers and use the restroom.  But, things could always be worse  In fact, they are quite good this year.

Sad

It is so sad to hear about the shooting in CT.  I keep picturing M's school and superimposing the events at her school.  How could anyone do that to little kids?  How could this happen?  Security has amped up at M's school but is it really that secure?  I don't know if anything could have stopped this.  I hate that my kids know that there are bad people out there like this.  M's first response was at least all those kids are in heaven. I find comfort in that but the rest is just sick.

Yellow Belt

Today was J's first belt testing for Tae Kwon Do.  He was excited and nervous and I was just nervous he'd be OK and not fall asleep or walk off or something else weird.  In the hour before, we were doing the typical last minute running around.  J picked up his board and was demonstrating what he would do when it came his time to break it and.... broke it.   I had been guarding it so carefully but had it sitting out so we would have it ready when it was time to go.

I was in a panic. What do we do now?  I tried gluing it together and that didn't work.  Then I did the next best sensible thing--posted it on facebook.  Luckily two friends posted right away and basically said they would probably have other boards that I could pick up.  So, this calmed me down.  We went and I asked right away and I got a new board-crisis averted.

The testing took forever, of course.  He did fine.  There were somethings he just glided through but I don't think he did worse than anyone else--attention spans of 5 year olds are so limited.

My favorite quote of the day:  I told J I was proud of him.  He said:  It's not my fault, it's God's-you should thank him.  Amen!

Let's record a tv show

J surprised me every day.  This morning he was watching tv and looking at a catalog that had Halloween costumes in it.  I wasn't totally paying attention but then I realized that he had recorded a bunch of shows.  I wasn't sure how he had done this because you have to type out the names of the shows.  Then, I realized what he had done.  He copied the names from the catalog and then typed it in. The things he figures out are crazy.

Halloween School and Trick or Treating

Whew!

What a crazy, crazy week!  And, that is before I even think about the kids' activities.  I finished my Block course on Monday--what a relief to have that over.  It took a lot more of my time than I could ever imagine.

Tuesday:  I actually did a little CPA studying, but not much.  I did some work and tried to do a little prep for the IRS exam.

Wednesday:  Craaazy day!  I had a parenting class at church in the morning.  I went straight from there to school to get ready for the Halloween parties.  Then, I bought M home and the kids were so excited to start trick or treating they started hitting the houses right away.  Then, we met up with a big group and went out.  We kept going until 7:30 (I started at 4:00-and the kids were biking/trick-or-treating from about 3:30)  I put the kids to bed and went straight down myself.

Oh, in the middle of all this, I came home to two messages from Block and they wanted me to come in the next day for an interview.  I was so not prepared for that to happen that quickly--I know, I know, I shouldn't have been surprised, but I wasn't expecting it for Thursday.  I picked a time shortly after my test and was trying to think how I could get through Thursday.

So, Thursday, I had to get out the door by 6:30 for my IRS test.  No problem.  I got there, took the test and passed.  I can't believe they don't tell you how well you did but I guess the important thing is that I passed and don't have to worry about it.  I had been a little worried about how I was going to do and what would I say at the interview if I didn't pass.  I guess I was going to go with the 'I haven't taken the test yet' version.

So I knew the interview was at 12:30 but I had in my mind that I had to leave home at 12:30.  I didn't realize I made a mistake until I was about 5 minutes away and then I freaked out!  The first thing anyone can tell you about interviewing is to not be late and I was going to be 20 minutes late for a half hour interview.  How could I have done this?!?  I went ahead in and was very apologetic and they went ahead and interviewed me.  THey were going to have two people interview me but they just did one so the other guy (Ron) could be interviewed at the same time.  It went well, Deb basically told me I had the job before I came in but this was a formality.  I guess if anyone is ever going to get away with what happened, it would be in this case.  I had been having an interview for 8 weeks and had never been late so that meant a lot.

So, I have an oral offer.  I feel very relieved but at the same time wondering what am I getting myself into.  Do I have time to have a job?  If I would just pass all the CPAs, it would be easy peasy.  But, I just spent about 20 hours on the class a week, so getting paid for 20 hours a week of work shouldn't be more than that.  I was pretty psyched to hear they would be happy to work with my schedule and it seems that I can get away with mostly working while J is at school and maybe find help one day a week (maybe in addition to the Oma day)   Wow, I'm finally beginning the transition to a new career--or is this the ending part of the transition and the transition has been the last few years?

Can you count by...???

Last night at dinner, J starting counting by 5s.  He then counted by 10s to 100.  Maybe this isn't extraordinary but I was sooo proud.  M was barely able to do this last year.  I could tell she was getting a little jealous so she said she could count be 3s and she did.  Of course, J said he did it quicker than she did.  I didn't know which emotion to feel, proud for him or sad for her because I think she was feeling a little jealous.

The other thing J did last night was tell me that he could go to South America by car.  I asked him where else he could go and he said North America.  Well, then where can't you go by car?  He told me you can't go to Asia, Europe, Australia, Antartica, or Africa.  True, very true.

Halloween

Busy weekend! At least Saturday was-on Sunday we just took it easy.  That was probably the best because I think M had what J had the week before.  She cam home from dancing and literally laid down as soon as she got in the door-on the floor.  Last week J got done with TKD and asked if he could sleep on the way home and he sure did, and then stayed that way for the rest of the evening.  I think I should call it the sleepy disease.

On Saturday we hit 3 parties.  The first was the big neighborhood party and that was probably the most fun.  All of us saw friends that we like to see and the kids had a blast with new and old friends.  Of course, I asked M who she enjoyed playing with and she mentioned a boy Josh.  That girl is going to be trouble.

Then we made a quick stop at our neighbors house.  D and I probably would have enjoyed staying there longer but the kids were anxious to hit the third house.  I think it was already 8 oclock when we got there.  The last house was pretty loud with a few kids that were going crazy (ours were a big part of that contingent)  I finally brought J home about 9:30.  I couldn't get him in bed quick enough.  He had makeup on and I got most of it off.  But, to be honest he still looked like a rockstar on Sunday because he had left over black smudged around his eyes.  I went back to get M shortly after and we were all asleep by 10:30 or so.

Today, I finished my Block course.  (98%!-yeah baby)  Now, just have to finish the IRS test this week. Oh, and also host the class Halloween party on Wednesday. Fun, fun!

Overwhelmed

Today I am feeling very overwhelmed.  The house is a mess but what is new.  My plan was to spend the day getting it back to a semi-normal state.  But we got a call to go to the movie so we did.  If it was just me, I probably would have stayed home.  But, Josh had just sat through 2 hours of homework (well, it should have been about 15 minutes but he has learned the delay tactics, ugh!)

Then, I did a feat that I wasn't sure I could.  It was parents' week at dance.  At the same time I offered to watch two kids.  When I realized it was parents' week, I was a little concerned.  But, I packed up the old iphone, my iphone and an ipad.  Electronics to the rescue!  The three kids (J included) were angels.  M danced like an angel also.

But, my concern for now is November.  How in the world did I think we could do Nutcracker and Choir recitals in one weekend.  Plus, I think the dress rehearsal for both is the same night.  I thought I had it all figured out.  HA!  Then, of course, my mom asks if they can have one more ticket for the Nutcracker, which I bought weeks ago.  I'm glad I haven't bought the choir tix yet.  Not sure how I'm going to pull all this off.

In addition, I have two tests before then (tax and CPA) and hopefully a job interview (and even more hopefully an offer).  Nope, I'm not stressed-just swimming, swimming, swimming :)

Changes

I can't believe my baby is going to be in kindergarten next year.  While I thought everything was straight forward, I'm over analyzing the decisions that will need to be made in the next few months. I guess these have more to do with me than him.  Will I be working and if so, when?  Based on that, how are we going to deal with him only being in kindergarten 2 hours a day?  So many choices....

Should he go to public school and find a friend/babysitter for the extra part of the day?
Should we find a daycare that would pick him up from school?  Should he stay in the school he is in now which offers a full day option?   I guess add to that is the decision to do language?  Then, he wouldn't even go to our local school but it would be a great program. I guess I have to know what I'm doing and go from there. Maybe I could find somewhere that wants someone to work for1.5 hours a day. Ha!

Funny Boy

A lot of time I post J's funny stories on facebook.  But, today I couldn't keep up with his comments.

We were at a playdate and he got in trouble for hitting.  When I asked why he did that, he said he couldn't remember that he shouldn't be doing that.

Tonight we were playing Qwirkle and after we were done he started lining the tiles up to knock them down (like Dominoes)  I asked him where he learned that and he said his brain taught him that because he has a very smart brain.  Yes, he does.

He wanted a nametag at church that said Monkey Face Patten.  I gave him one and he wore it all day.  I asked him several times if he wanted to take it off and he would always say no.  He wanted to keep it on so people would know that was his name.

Tonight he grabbed my phone so he could video himself eating jello.  I know that doesn't sound very exciting.  But, it was hilarious.  He was swishing the jello around in his mouth and cracking himself up.  Me too!

Power of commercials

The other day J and I were sitting in the car and the 1-800-carsfor kids commercial came on.  He asked me to turn it up--it's his favorite song.  Then he asked for his own car.  I told him kids don't have cars.  He corrected me --the people from Cars For Kids would give him a car because he was a kid.

Now that they watch big kid shows, it is amazing the amount of things they ask for because they saw the commercial and it is the best  TOY ever!

Story from J

J loves computer games.   Today he was telling me that he loves playing on the ipad.  I told him to be careful and not spill water on it.  He told me that when he was a baby in my tummy he had an ipad that he played in my stomach.  He also had a tv and he was allowed to watch it all the time.  (no wonder I was so big!)  He said they were fine until he came out and then they got wet so they no longer work.

Crazy Week

You know it's a crazy week when the easiest thing you are going to do is teach a Civil Engineering Class.  Put that with a Tax Test, a CPA test, and the general things that happen during a week and I feel like I am spinning around.

Knock Knock

I never get to posting here--Let's try again.

What's new?

M is 8 and in 3rd grade.  She is still the diva that she always has been.  She's loving dancing more this year and is getting more and more graceful every day.  She is now taking dance three times a week (including Nutcracker practice).  SHe is actually enjoying reading--I hope that continues.

J is 5 and in pre-k.  He is getting taller and taller everyday.  He is so smart and wants to learn so much.  He started riding his bike without training wheels before he was 5.  He was doing awesome in soccer this summer.  Then, we moved leagues and he did awful.  We actually pulled him out.  He can pick dandelions at home. ;)  But, he is loving tae kwon do.  That might not be my choice for him but it seems to be a good fit for him.

Father's Day-Cubs

Good Day

The last few days have been rough with M.  She has been having a rough time, at least with us at home.  She has said her homework has been done when it wasn't and has just been sneaky.  Then she made another girl cry when she was at her birthday party yesterday.

But, today was different.  It's almost like she knew she had to shape up.  She woke up early and was totally ready before I woke up.  When she came home from school, she did her homework without the smallest protest.  Hopefully, this is a turn for the better.

Mani/Pedi

M is obsessed with nails. When I say obsessed, I mean OBSESSED.  She always wants to do them and is always watching videos of how to do them.  She doesn't do a lot of the crazy things her videos do, but she does try them.  She has somehow accumulated an arsenal of nail products also.  But, she is always wanting more.

Over Christmas break, I let her have a salon day.  She was in her glory.

Santa

I'm not sure if I was going to freak her out, but I did a message that she was on the naughty list.  The first few days of Christmas break were a little, umm, unbearable.  So, I tried to do something to change her behavior.  Santa said that she was supposed to work on being nice to her brother and oh-uh, she did not make the nice list.  But, I did make sure that the message said she had time  to get off the list.  She would be mean and then realize what she was doing and then change, because she knew Santa was watching.  She was talking to her friend and asked if she thought she was behaving to get off the list.  She then asked if she would still be her friend if she was on the naughty list.

The funniest part was Josh was nervous because he hadn't seen his video yet.  I was dropping Mikayla's friend off so I said we would watch it when I got back.  Dan was in the garage and heard Josh screaming in the house.  He had figured out how to play it and had hit play and found out that he was on the nice list. He was pretty excited and gloated about it the next few days.

The good news is that Santa didn't forget them-- I would say they both made the nice list :)

Nails, nails, nails

Mikayla has a new obsession.  It's nails all the time.  She paints them, repaints them, puts fake ones on and on, and on, and on!  She watches youtube videos to get new ideas.  She wanted to do her own video to share with others.  I had put it on facebook and when anyone made a comment, she would get all excited that people were watching HER!
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