So now that i'm over my selfish rantings about not having a weekend to myself...my poor mother in law is still without power in her town, and my cousins in another NH town are also still without power. Tomorrow will be a week! YIKES. Unfortunately, not much i can do to help. I can't very well bring kids up there so i can move tree limbs. THey've had to throw out food and go elsewhere to shower and sleep. Glad to know they are surviving, but wish they'd take me up on my offer to come down south. Not to mention that they are getting more snow on top of it all tonight.
I am seriously considering converting to judaism just to abolish this stinking sorry excuse for a xmas tree. I'm doing all of the preparations for my children, but even that seems like pulling teeth some times. We went to get the tree sunday and lorelei fell asleep in the car and ainslea would get out of the car to come inspect trees. I tried to find the smallest tree, but apparently that didn't help in my bargain hunting and i ended up with a tree bigger than i needed and more expensive than i wanted. I anticipated putting the tree in the bay window of the garage room for all to see, and to be out of the reach of little lorelei. But that required cutting more off the bottom. Which would be very easy if i had the cohones to start my chainsaw. However, feeling a slight attachment to all my limbs, i opted for a small handsaw. I couldn't find our axe and my biceps are not in their best shape...so that was a near impossible feat. I was halfway through, and decided to try to come up with a new plan. No one nearby was around to help, and with lorelei sleeping, i couldn't go anywhere. I had a right mind to go back down to the tree place and demand he cut more off my tree...but had visions of being "that woman" and decided against it. So after the floodgates opened and i realised i could do nothing else until finishing the cut, i rummaged around for a wedge and a hammer and knocked the shit out of it until the 6inch piece came off....if only that was the end of my story....nope! you guessed it....not enough off to fit in the bloody window. So now i have a tree that is too big for my window...and too freggin short for the floor.....so i gave up cleaned myself up and went to margo's christmas party. SOmeone else cooking was fine by me!!
We took the long way home to look at all the lights and after five minutes of Lorelei saying "coo-ul" to every house she fell asleep. But not for long, as the rest of the night would be a sleepless battle, that turned out to be the result of an ear infection.
So now its weds...I figured I probably should actually figure out what to do with the stoopid tree. I decided the only way it was going to recieve the holiday spirited attention that every tree deserves is to bring it back down the stairs and put it on the dining room table. Won't be having a feast of ginormous proportions at my house this year, as its my mother's turn. SO why not make use of a table to keep lorelei at bay? YUP, you guessed it...still too stinking big fo the table...out came the pruning shears and lobbed off the one branch at the top that was scraping against the ceiling. Lights are up...but after ainslea dropped a fragile ornament and it smashed on the floor, i paused the decorating for today.
I agreed to babysit another military mom's kids so she could go to the sandwich moms club holiday party tonight, and the kids had fun. They are asleep on my sofabed until she gets back. I really wasn't in the mood for any more ho ho holiday merriment, so i'm not feeling hard done by. Travis is safely in Iraq, and my kids are safe at home. I don't need to deal with formalities or spend money on drinks that i could have for free at home. Eight more days of holiday spirit and its over!!!!!
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Day 50
Funny how things work out.....I'm not sure what i did to piss off mother nature, but the weekend that i was looking forward to, got completely thwarted due to a pisser of an east coast ice storm. BOth Pam and Barry are isolated in their respective towns with downed power lines, trees blocking roads and no power and populations to provide emergency shelters for. Soooooooo, my weekend of freedom is no more. I'm not mad at them, there is certainly nothing they could have done about the situation. Even if they weren't in charge of the town, they wouldn't have been able to leave. I did offer refuge here on sunny glorious cape cod, but as of yet, no visitors.
I was able to finish my first build-a-bear cake for Christa's graduation from nursing school.
And even though Ainslea said my nurse bear should have been white, Christa wants to be an OR nurse so I thought blue scrubs and surgical hat were appropriate. So instead of my night out, i took the girls up to Boston with me to have a brief chinese food dinner with her family and friends, and then we drove home again. It wasn't the night i had envisioned, but the girls were troopers and, at the end of the day it was nice to end up in my own bed. Its sad to say, but i am turning into more of a homebody.
And to add to that, my friend from NJ who was supposed to be returning (without child) to finish the weekend where they left early, ended up having to stay home for a family emergency...so that part of the weekend has also changed. However, the new me, has been able to take the good out of the bad here and be happy that there was no added stress in cleaning up after my bear cake debacle, making up an extra bed and doing half the things on my list before we left for Boston because there was no one coming to stay afterall.
SO in the end, despite not being able to go shopping by myself this weekend, and enjoying a good meal out and drinks, i think its going to turn into a more relaxed weekend. If i can keep the kids occupied then everything else will fall iinto place. I've learned my lesson from this week...take some time out to do "nothing" and the stress level subsides twofold. If the routine gets slightly altered, so be it. I do not have the wand to fix it, so I just have to roll with it. And i do believe that if i'm less stressed, the yelling at ainslea might decrease exponentially too. Here's to hoping!
We;re off to a cookie swap party today that i didn't think we wold go to when the girls were going ot be away, and i don't have to feel guilty about not taking them to all the "magical breakfast with santas" happening all over town because i didn't think they were going to be here! Tomorrow a yankee swap party at Margo's palace and thats about it!!!
PS...as you can see I did finally upload a picture with success, so i'm going to go back and try to add other relevant ones to the earlier posts over the course of this weekend.
Monday, December 8, 2008
WOW already day 45!!!
Ok, so I know i promised to journal everyday during this 400 days...but clearly life is going to sometimes going to get in the way of that goal. I was hoping to blog through the holidays, butthe opposite of having freetime happened and i found myself wrapped up in my parents visit, spending a night with my sister (who gave my dad jaegermiester!!!) and then getting abck into the swing of work and school after almost a week off!
So where are we now...most of you i talk to on a fairly regular basis, so i think i've caught you up on life since thanksgiving (which by the way is a sucky day to have a birthday!!)
We attempted to welcome santa up on the base with a pancake breakfast that ainslea hardly ate, and as the time drew closer for santa's arrival via coast guard chopper my patience was thin and there was no possible way of waiting in a line that stretched halfway across the airplane hangar.
So we took a quiet picture of the kids on an elf's lap instead and left after the helicopter landed delivering a very relieved looking Santa. It wasn't ideal, but with no significant other to hold a place in line while we watched the landing, there really wasn't any other way to hold back my "joy" standing in a long line of happy military families who are all together for christmas! BAH HUMBUG
Unfortunately life didn't get much easier the rest of this weekend. Ainslea flat out refused to do her chores of putting away luandry, sweeping and emptying the trash. I had planned a second holiday outing this weekend with her friend brandie but took that away when she hadn't produced results in time to go. I didn't however reneg on the sleepover with brandie, mainly because i don't like disappointing the other kids, but also so i could have the reciprocal sleepover from the other mom next month!
Sunday was our first snow so AInslea and Brandie went for a romp in the snow for a while and had a good time. Lorelei has a cold so i wasn't going to let her outside in 20 degree weather for an inch of snow! Not much to report, but really glad it happened on a sunday so we could sta
y inside make a fire and do nothing! AInslea was finally done with her chores around 2pm sunday so we did have a decent afternoon of playing on the red wooden slide that i had as a child.
So where are we now...most of you i talk to on a fairly regular basis, so i think i've caught you up on life since thanksgiving (which by the way is a sucky day to have a birthday!!)
Plymouth Plantation was an interesting adventure, but not an annual "pilgrimage." Travis has safely arrived to Kuwait where he's essentially in a holding pattern until they make "room" for his unit to get to work...seems odd, but hey, its the us military!!
We talk on the computer as often as we can, but now Lorelei equates ALL goings on involving my laptop as talking to daddy, which makes it difficult to get anything internet related completed unless she is strapped in a chair or asleep (hence the lack of posts)
And now I find us hurling through the holiday preparations at what needs to be lightspeed in order to survive everyone else's merriment.
We attempted to welcome santa up on the base with a pancake breakfast that ainslea hardly ate, and as the time drew closer for santa's arrival via coast guard chopper my patience was thin and there was no possible way of waiting in a line that stretched halfway across the airplane hangar.
So we took a quiet picture of the kids on an elf's lap instead and left after the helicopter landed delivering a very relieved looking Santa. It wasn't ideal, but with no significant other to hold a place in line while we watched the landing, there really wasn't any other way to hold back my "joy" standing in a long line of happy military families who are all together for christmas! BAH HUMBUGUnfortunately life didn't get much easier the rest of this weekend. Ainslea flat out refused to do her chores of putting away luandry, sweeping and emptying the trash. I had planned a second holiday outing this weekend with her friend brandie but took that away when she hadn't produced results in time to go. I didn't however reneg on the sleepover with brandie, mainly because i don't like disappointing the other kids, but also so i could have the reciprocal sleepover from the other mom next month!
Sunday was our first snow so AInslea and Brandie went for a romp in the snow for a while and had a good time. Lorelei has a cold so i wasn't going to let her outside in 20 degree weather for an inch of snow! Not much to report, but really glad it happened on a sunday so we could sta
y inside make a fire and do nothing! AInslea was finally done with her chores around 2pm sunday so we did have a decent afternoon of playing on the red wooden slide that i had as a child. Today was another story....after a night of waking up to every cough from lorelei, i was RUDELY awoken by the burglar alarm at 545am! I instinctively walked out to shut it off in the complete darkness....not a good sign that thats my instinct, but whatever. Unfortunately, i was too freaked out after i realised i didn't know what area of the house set it off or if it was a true alarm. The girls didn't wake up (another bad sign for real emergencies) but in this instance it was ok. SO i turned on the lights indoors and out and looked in the snow for signs of outdoor footprints. I was hoping travis was going to be online so we could chat about it, but no luck there either. SO i called ADT to find out where the trouble was from, and it was from a window in my bedroom. These windows have caused us many issues in the recent months so i was only somewhat concerned that it was an actual alarm and not a fault signal as in the past. The woman on the phone offered no sympathy at 545am for my "alarm event" and just nailed one more nail into the "i hate ADT" coffin. If only i had more time, i'd find another solution to this predicament!
That was bad thing #1
Bad thing #2 was my ordeal at the post office trying to get travis's first overseas package off. Now we don't really know when he's set to be in his workplace, but we have a general idea, and if the mail proceeds him then all the nicer for his arrival. SO the lady behind the counter immediately tells me that my package won't arrive "in time", to which i respond, thats fine. Mind you i arrived at the post office at 9:04am to a line of at least ten people and had another 10 mintues drive to get to work by 930am. SO she then walks away to grab a piece of paper which somehow indicated that my package had to be sent by Dec 4 (4 days ago) to be in time...to which i again responded, its fine. What is she expecting me to say??? Oh ok, nevermind, i don't want to send my husband his espn magazine and some dunkin donuts coffee??? DUH lady, just take the stupid package and my money so i can go to work!! As travis would say, "stop telling me my business devil woman!" One thing after the next, she got my stamp order wrong, kept giving me subtotals after i asked for each other thing i was there for (as if i was not going to be able to pay for everything so she should warn me before ringing it up) At this point its already 925 and I just want to get out of there. I hand her my $50 bill (that'll learn her) to pay and she thanks me and my family member for their service to our country. Now of course, if that had been the end of that i would have politely smiled said thank you and been on my way.....but noooooooo....she couldn't stop the trainwreck from happening now....she then proceeds to wish me a very happy holiday season! Now i get that some of you at this point are saying to yourself (where's the trainwreck) and in a day to day business transaction that would be a pleasant adieu. However, you've already told me my supposed christmas package won't be in time, you then made the connection that my loved one is in a foriegn country far far far away and if i'm sending him something, he won't be here for xmas...so why in all thats holy would you think that MY holiday is going to be a happy one?????? FOr crying out loud lady, i didnt need to drive the remaining 10 minutes to work, late and crying!!! Last time i stop there before the new year!!!
Bad thing # 3 was really a compilation of annoying salespeople at work, not understanding the sales process for Google Adwords, having a corporate guy try to throw me under the bus during a multi-level conference call for another product i manage which is riddled in flaws, and then spilling white-out on my red sweater!!!
BAD DAY.....got a teensy bit better when i spent the afternoon watching christmas specials on my bed with the girls and didnt' put the dishes away, clean the kitchen or make any type of food product. Microwaved casseroles is the way to roll somenights!! So it wasn't completely a wash, but definitely looking forward to next weekend where pam and barry are babysitting the girls in NH so i have some one on one time with me myself and I!
That was bad thing #1
Bad thing #2 was my ordeal at the post office trying to get travis's first overseas package off. Now we don't really know when he's set to be in his workplace, but we have a general idea, and if the mail proceeds him then all the nicer for his arrival. SO the lady behind the counter immediately tells me that my package won't arrive "in time", to which i respond, thats fine. Mind you i arrived at the post office at 9:04am to a line of at least ten people and had another 10 mintues drive to get to work by 930am. SO she then walks away to grab a piece of paper which somehow indicated that my package had to be sent by Dec 4 (4 days ago) to be in time...to which i again responded, its fine. What is she expecting me to say??? Oh ok, nevermind, i don't want to send my husband his espn magazine and some dunkin donuts coffee??? DUH lady, just take the stupid package and my money so i can go to work!! As travis would say, "stop telling me my business devil woman!" One thing after the next, she got my stamp order wrong, kept giving me subtotals after i asked for each other thing i was there for (as if i was not going to be able to pay for everything so she should warn me before ringing it up) At this point its already 925 and I just want to get out of there. I hand her my $50 bill (that'll learn her) to pay and she thanks me and my family member for their service to our country. Now of course, if that had been the end of that i would have politely smiled said thank you and been on my way.....but noooooooo....she couldn't stop the trainwreck from happening now....she then proceeds to wish me a very happy holiday season! Now i get that some of you at this point are saying to yourself (where's the trainwreck) and in a day to day business transaction that would be a pleasant adieu. However, you've already told me my supposed christmas package won't be in time, you then made the connection that my loved one is in a foriegn country far far far away and if i'm sending him something, he won't be here for xmas...so why in all thats holy would you think that MY holiday is going to be a happy one?????? FOr crying out loud lady, i didnt need to drive the remaining 10 minutes to work, late and crying!!! Last time i stop there before the new year!!!
Bad thing # 3 was really a compilation of annoying salespeople at work, not understanding the sales process for Google Adwords, having a corporate guy try to throw me under the bus during a multi-level conference call for another product i manage which is riddled in flaws, and then spilling white-out on my red sweater!!!
BAD DAY.....got a teensy bit better when i spent the afternoon watching christmas specials on my bed with the girls and didnt' put the dishes away, clean the kitchen or make any type of food product. Microwaved casseroles is the way to roll somenights!! So it wasn't completely a wash, but definitely looking forward to next weekend where pam and barry are babysitting the girls in NH so i have some one on one time with me myself and I!
Monday, November 24, 2008
Day 31-
Why do you have to clean before the cleaning people come???? I understand the part about picking up the toys and putting away the laundry, but it always seems to expose all the dirt when everything is put away....of course the final result is obviously much better than leaving the dust bunnies where they were!! But now of course I don't want to use anything or let the kids out of jail (i mean their room) for fear of making a mess. Seems like i've gotten myself into a condundrum...oh well...it looks good and i deserve it for my birthday!
We had a good afternoon, one of the cleaning ladies has a son ainslea's age taht we used to go to playgroups with. So she brings him to play while they do the house. It was fun for ainslea to have someone who could play video games with her and that way we were out of the way. Unfortunately Derek was having trouble putting his sentences together and using "umm alot" and ainslea interupted him to point it out. I tried to just tell her not to interupt him, and then they were looking at something with musical notes, and she couldn't figure out why he didn't know what a eighth note or a sixteenth note was...it was tough to be tactful...so later we talked about how it wasn't nice to point out to others that they are doing something different...unfortunately that made Ainslea incredibly sad and she was crying FOREVER!! I told her i was so proud of how smart she was and she was learning lots of new things. I just wanted her to learn the lesson about not making fun of people, but she's really sensitive to realising she did something to hurt someone else.
Now i'm tired, and going to try to go to bed early...here's to hoping
We had a good afternoon, one of the cleaning ladies has a son ainslea's age taht we used to go to playgroups with. So she brings him to play while they do the house. It was fun for ainslea to have someone who could play video games with her and that way we were out of the way. Unfortunately Derek was having trouble putting his sentences together and using "umm alot" and ainslea interupted him to point it out. I tried to just tell her not to interupt him, and then they were looking at something with musical notes, and she couldn't figure out why he didn't know what a eighth note or a sixteenth note was...it was tough to be tactful...so later we talked about how it wasn't nice to point out to others that they are doing something different...unfortunately that made Ainslea incredibly sad and she was crying FOREVER!! I told her i was so proud of how smart she was and she was learning lots of new things. I just wanted her to learn the lesson about not making fun of people, but she's really sensitive to realising she did something to hurt someone else.
Now i'm tired, and going to try to go to bed early...here's to hoping
Sunday, November 23, 2008
I think we;re up to Day 30 by now
Its been a whole week without blogging, and thats not because i didn't do anything, but Travis got a 4 day pass to get off of the base, so we were able to talk a bit more than we have been. He had a good time connecting to the internet and going shopping. I think they even did some touristy things too. It was sort of sad to not know ahead of time to make a rational decision about whether to go out to Seattlle to visit him. BUt with everything else to factor in, it didn't make good sense anyway. I'm glad he had fun with his friends, but somewhat disappointed about not being able to see him, when others are able to be with their loved ones.
I had my last two real estate classes on tuesday and thursday. Tuesday and Wedsnesday were half days at school, so not much time to do anything at work. I had a good talk with ainslea and got to spend some quality time with her solo after her half days and hopefully got through to her on wanting to have a little more respect for me, and therefore i would try to give her some more trust to do big girl things.
I had a horrendous time on weds at sears portrait studio, but couldn't bring myself to write about the 2 1/2 hour ordeal when i finally saw their silly smiles all dressed up for the holidays.
Friday we had dinner with Chris, Drew and Kathy which was fun for all of us. I felt bad because i've been so tired of macaroni & cheese that i was happy to have another adult in the house that i made greek burgers and vegetable nests from trader joes because we had an adult guest!!
Saturday we went to help pack packages for the Cape Cares for the troops. What an event!!! It was a little overwhelming emotionally, but what a great feeling knowing how many people are willing to help this wonderful organization. Ainslea got to pack Daddy's package specially for him.
We had dinner with my friend Amanda at her new house on Saturday with her two boys Aidan and Brady and today all we did was rake leaves and watch the patriots trounce the Dolphins 48-28!!!!
I had my last two real estate classes on tuesday and thursday. Tuesday and Wedsnesday were half days at school, so not much time to do anything at work. I had a good talk with ainslea and got to spend some quality time with her solo after her half days and hopefully got through to her on wanting to have a little more respect for me, and therefore i would try to give her some more trust to do big girl things.
I had a horrendous time on weds at sears portrait studio, but couldn't bring myself to write about the 2 1/2 hour ordeal when i finally saw their silly smiles all dressed up for the holidays.
Friday we had dinner with Chris, Drew and Kathy which was fun for all of us. I felt bad because i've been so tired of macaroni & cheese that i was happy to have another adult in the house that i made greek burgers and vegetable nests from trader joes because we had an adult guest!!
Saturday we went to help pack packages for the Cape Cares for the troops. What an event!!! It was a little overwhelming emotionally, but what a great feeling knowing how many people are willing to help this wonderful organization. Ainslea got to pack Daddy's package specially for him.
We had dinner with my friend Amanda at her new house on Saturday with her two boys Aidan and Brady and today all we did was rake leaves and watch the patriots trounce the Dolphins 48-28!!!!
Monday, November 17, 2008
Day 24
I ran out of time on my blog from last night, my evening had a nice ending with a visit from an old but dear friend, Dale. We go back to freshman year at Wheaton when both of our families were living in London and we've stayed connected ever since, watched our kids grow up and we take time out to catch up every once in a while. Usually its over margaritas....thank god there's still someone close by to drink with...but this time she came down for a sunday evening pizza and beer which was so thoughtful and a nice change of pace. And although it wasn't an evening without incident...the one time that lorelei doesn't go straight down to sleep...but it was so nice to catch up and take a load off for a while. Its simple things like this that make me truly realise that I'm not alone in this journey. Yes, my kids are here to keep me occupied and will certainly make the days go by faster. But my friends are my lifeline, and I'm lucky to have made so many new ones here on the Cape, but honestly, its those ones that i don't get to see as often who have known me in the glory years and in the pisser moments too that I am truly thankful for. So now that we're all tearing up from this mushy moment...take a minute to replenish your drink and cheers to you!!! And for all of those non-drinkers or pregnant people....i miss you too!
I could go on about my evening where my oldest child punched me with all her might in the stomach, and turned our relaxing afternoon into an evening of constant fighting...but why ruin the sentiments!!!
I could go on about my evening where my oldest child punched me with all her might in the stomach, and turned our relaxing afternoon into an evening of constant fighting...but why ruin the sentiments!!!
Not sure what day i'm on anymore....
THis weekend was long, but full of things to do. We went out to dinner with a friend and his daughter to a japanese steakhouse where they cook on the hibachi right in front of you. It was fun, but Lorelei was scared when he lit some cooking oil for a firey effect. When watching it at other tables, he did tone it down a bit for us...but all in all the girls enjoyed it.
Saturday Ainslea went to a friends house for a sleepover and I had some QT with Lorelei at an open house for my condo listing. Not much to do, but she didn't mind climbing around the empty condo. Despite the rain, we had a few visitors, one of whom was Ainslea's first grade teacher...small world!! It was a bit strange getting home saturday afternoon and having it be so quiet. I actually missed the noise and the chaos...which is so funny to me, because i'm always wishing to have more of it, but instead find myself somewhat sad when i get it. But i was able to get a cake made that was due sunday while lorelei had her nap, so then i didn't have to do much saturday night. I always tell myself i'll do big projects, but i never do. Its way more fun to curl up in bed and watch tv. To top it off, it was 65 degrees with windy rain outside, but kept the window open because didn't need the heat on!
Sunday, Lorelei didn't wake up until 830 bless her soul!!! so that was nice to sleep in. We delivered the cake and went to pick ainslea up. I've never been so surprised to see her ready to leave her friends house!!! She said she really missed me, and next time could we have Brandie sleepover at our house. So strange.....but very nice at the same time to be missed. We did a little christmas shopping in hyannis on the way back from Dennis and then had a relatively easy afternoon. Did some swap babysitting for a friend, so the kids played and i cleaned my desk!!
Saturday Ainslea went to a friends house for a sleepover and I had some QT with Lorelei at an open house for my condo listing. Not much to do, but she didn't mind climbing around the empty condo. Despite the rain, we had a few visitors, one of whom was Ainslea's first grade teacher...small world!! It was a bit strange getting home saturday afternoon and having it be so quiet. I actually missed the noise and the chaos...which is so funny to me, because i'm always wishing to have more of it, but instead find myself somewhat sad when i get it. But i was able to get a cake made that was due sunday while lorelei had her nap, so then i didn't have to do much saturday night. I always tell myself i'll do big projects, but i never do. Its way more fun to curl up in bed and watch tv. To top it off, it was 65 degrees with windy rain outside, but kept the window open because didn't need the heat on!
Sunday, Lorelei didn't wake up until 830 bless her soul!!! so that was nice to sleep in. We delivered the cake and went to pick ainslea up. I've never been so surprised to see her ready to leave her friends house!!! She said she really missed me, and next time could we have Brandie sleepover at our house. So strange.....but very nice at the same time to be missed. We did a little christmas shopping in hyannis on the way back from Dennis and then had a relatively easy afternoon. Did some swap babysitting for a friend, so the kids played and i cleaned my desk!!
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Day 19 & 20
Wednesday went quickly back at work with lots to catch up with. I had to make two sheet cakes for an awards banquet at work and we went to Jim Barrasso's house for dinner. Ainslea had fun playing with Michael. It was nice to get out and not have to cook, plus the conversation was an added benefit.
Thursday was busy at work, we had the banquet and I got paid for the cakes :). We had a good afternoon and I got the kids ready for bed early before he babysitter came. I had to go to my first of 3 continuing education classes which wasn't too bad. The days have just sort of flown by fast with not much to do at home and not much mess created as a result.
The girls are doing well. Yesterday Ainslea did ask if Daddy was going ot be home for christmas, and i had to say no. We had a brief discussion about how he was going to be gone for a year, which did surprise her a little bit. Which only solidifies to me that she didn't really comprehend how long this trip was going to be. She did seem to accept the answer with minimal disappointment, but it won't be the last conversation about this i'm sure.
Lorelei is just a ball of energy every day. She's is more and more conversive and i only wish i knew what she was saying. She's got most of her body parts on her head down. She can point to eyes, ears, nose, mouth, hair, head and belly button when asked to. Ainslea is still good at playing with her for the most part. Its going to be a long haul, but i think as a team we can do it.
Speaking of teams....the patriots had 1 second on the clock, and Matt Cassel just threw a touchdown pass to randy moss and its 31-30 Jets....1 second left for the extra point to tie!!!! SO much for an early night......gotta love new england sports!!
Thursday was busy at work, we had the banquet and I got paid for the cakes :). We had a good afternoon and I got the kids ready for bed early before he babysitter came. I had to go to my first of 3 continuing education classes which wasn't too bad. The days have just sort of flown by fast with not much to do at home and not much mess created as a result.
The girls are doing well. Yesterday Ainslea did ask if Daddy was going ot be home for christmas, and i had to say no. We had a brief discussion about how he was going to be gone for a year, which did surprise her a little bit. Which only solidifies to me that she didn't really comprehend how long this trip was going to be. She did seem to accept the answer with minimal disappointment, but it won't be the last conversation about this i'm sure.
Lorelei is just a ball of energy every day. She's is more and more conversive and i only wish i knew what she was saying. She's got most of her body parts on her head down. She can point to eyes, ears, nose, mouth, hair, head and belly button when asked to. Ainslea is still good at playing with her for the most part. Its going to be a long haul, but i think as a team we can do it.
Speaking of teams....the patriots had 1 second on the clock, and Matt Cassel just threw a touchdown pass to randy moss and its 31-30 Jets....1 second left for the extra point to tie!!!! SO much for an early night......gotta love new england sports!!
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Day 18
HAPPY VETERANS DAY or as Ainslea keeps saying...Happy Veterinarians Day :)
We are all off from work/school so its another day at home trying to get things done without having them undone by little people. Ainslea has her long time friend Brandie over to play so that will keep her occupied for the day. We went to the doctors office to get Ainsleas flu shot, check out lorelei's diaper rash and I ended up having my flu shot at the pediatricians office too!!!
So now Lorelei is walking around with her sweater and one shoe on, (and completely naked on the bottom doctors orders to dry out) which is quite amusing to watch. If it wasn't considered child porn, i'd post a picture of her riding around on her car!! She is such a treasure. She is doing so much more communication and understanding its amazing to me. We've got a few more words nailed down....cheese, pizza, juice and ok....of course with minor phoenetic differences..but i get it. We''ve also been working on the parts of the body. Head, ears, eyes, nose, mouth, belly button, bum, hands she can point to all of them when i ask her which is which.
I've also decided to post this early because I was told that someone from NPR radio was going to call me at 10am, but now its 11am so I'm assuming they have moved on. That was one of my calls last night, interviewing me as part of their military families dealiing with the current economic crisis. When i turned on the radio, they were talking about women vets, so i'm not sure if the los angeles stations are covering different topics or what, but nevermind, I sound like a congested frog now!!
Also decided to take a break from cleaning, seeing as i just pulled down the entire shelf of cleaning products in the bathroom....CRAP.....its not going to be an easy repair, so i am going to have to wait until little miss helper is taking a nap.
We are all off from work/school so its another day at home trying to get things done without having them undone by little people. Ainslea has her long time friend Brandie over to play so that will keep her occupied for the day. We went to the doctors office to get Ainsleas flu shot, check out lorelei's diaper rash and I ended up having my flu shot at the pediatricians office too!!!
So now Lorelei is walking around with her sweater and one shoe on, (and completely naked on the bottom doctors orders to dry out) which is quite amusing to watch. If it wasn't considered child porn, i'd post a picture of her riding around on her car!! She is such a treasure. She is doing so much more communication and understanding its amazing to me. We've got a few more words nailed down....cheese, pizza, juice and ok....of course with minor phoenetic differences..but i get it. We''ve also been working on the parts of the body. Head, ears, eyes, nose, mouth, belly button, bum, hands she can point to all of them when i ask her which is which.
I've also decided to post this early because I was told that someone from NPR radio was going to call me at 10am, but now its 11am so I'm assuming they have moved on. That was one of my calls last night, interviewing me as part of their military families dealiing with the current economic crisis. When i turned on the radio, they were talking about women vets, so i'm not sure if the los angeles stations are covering different topics or what, but nevermind, I sound like a congested frog now!!
Also decided to take a break from cleaning, seeing as i just pulled down the entire shelf of cleaning products in the bathroom....CRAP.....its not going to be an easy repair, so i am going to have to wait until little miss helper is taking a nap.
Monday Day 17
Today was not as good of a day. I still sound like a frog so I stayed home from work to try and regroup and get more projects done as the kids went to school. However that plan was significantly shortened when we overslept and the daycare lady was sick so she wanted lorelei picked up early. Even still, i did some more cleaning and made one half of the cake due for work on thursday. Unfortunately part of my day included wanting to mow the lawn instead of having to rake. All the new grass has been growing in nicely and i wanted to mow one last time to pick up the leaves and get ready for winter. And of course, all good things must come to an end, and after half an hour of trying to get the "gosh darn" thing started i gave up and had a complete meltdown!!! I couldnt handle the sense of failure. And its got nothing to do with me having to mow the lawn because i basically did it all summer long, and each time had trouble starting it, so it was to be expected, but it never did start....and now i don't have an alternate muscle to help me. I had planned on Chris being here to help me mow, but that didn't happen either...so now I'm left with two choices, asking for help (not my favorite activity) or paying bobby next door to do it for me. Not something i want to fork over just because i failed....
THe rest of the afternoon just got more trying...i can't speak loudly and i got two phone calls back to back and while i was on the phone it got progressively more and more louder in the background (naturally) so by the time bedtime rolled around...i was completely spent!! Hence the post being late. The one bright spot is that i'm now officially NOT pregnant.... not that i had expected to be, but its just one nice thing that i can count on over the next 12 months. :)
THe rest of the afternoon just got more trying...i can't speak loudly and i got two phone calls back to back and while i was on the phone it got progressively more and more louder in the background (naturally) so by the time bedtime rolled around...i was completely spent!! Hence the post being late. The one bright spot is that i'm now officially NOT pregnant.... not that i had expected to be, but its just one nice thing that i can count on over the next 12 months. :)
Sunday Day 16
Today I woke up sounding like a frog!! It made it easier not to have to yell at my kids. We had a fairly easy day. My big project was finally cleaning out the garage so that my car could fit inside not that it is getting colder overnight. It involved moving lots of summer things down to the basement and bringing up a storage shelf for all the bulk foods i got at the military warehouse sale on base this weekend. Travis's car has been inside since he left and i took the plates off of it. Its nice to have a sense of accompolishment on a day off for once. We went to a birthday party and had a relaxing afternoon overall.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Day 14 & 15
So that was the biggest JINX evahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh I was supposed to get a good nights sleep with my neck pillow and no sooner did i log off, little miss lorelei decided to wake up coughing and screaming out mommy...so my night to get rid of my cold was completely shot!!! I never realised that such a little person would take up all the entire queen bed!!!
So Friday was a wash, drugged up on flu medication trying to get through work and get home in time for Chris and Tyler to arrive from NJ as they over shot their eta and were arriving an hour earlier than i had said i would have been home. So i raced home for a conference call and to meet them here, but didn't get Lorelei, then the bus was 1/2 hour late!!! Arghhh
But the highlight was that I did finally get my condo listing put into MLS and set up for the tours and open houses etc so that should come together sometime soon. In this market, who knows how long that will be...but good to have a listing.
So the rest of friday didn't really get better. The kids played well, but i just didn't have the energy to really do anything fancy or stay up late. So after a traumatic exerience for Tyler to have to eat chesseburger macaroni hamburger helper because it wasn't the right kind of macaroni & cheese, and a preview of Madagascar before Madagascar opening in the theaters this weekend, I went to bed in the small bed in Lorelei's room.
I woke up feeling a little better and tried to accomodate the needs of my guests, and when pancakes were requested i knew better than to serve tyler the whole wheat pancake mix that i had. I was also warned not to thin out the remaining maple syrup with honey because he wouldn't eat it. So i gave him the leftover white pancakes and made a chocolate syrup with hot fudge and what else...HONEY....and it was eaten up and he even then ate a whole wheat pancake so he could eat more syrup!!!
Here's where i make my revelation about my parenting skills. I know that alot of miss manners training is lacking in my parenting develoment...but i think i've done an ok job at teaching ainslea that when she's at someones elses house she eats and behaves according to the house rules. There's only a few things she will definitely NOT eat, but I'm glad that my kids aren't picky eaters. I know there are plenty of adults who don't eat certain things, and my girls definitley favor macaroni and cheese, chicken nuggets and pizza, but when i want to vamp up my kitchen skills they usually eat it. I guess it is a trait that i learned from my parents that you do what your host wants of you, and not the other way around. I can't always expand my food budget to make 4 different meals, and although I learned several years ago not to serve Chris fresh tomatoes, and i try to do my best about accomodating dietary needs, but give me a break, macaroni and cheese is macaroni and cheese!!!!
FOr the most part, the kids got along pretty well, but ainslea ended up playing more games with chris than with tyler. Then they played football and went on a bike ride around the neighborhood, but apparently that didn't go without incident either. So we tried to calm the animosity by going out to pizzas by evan, and going to see Madagascar2. Which seemed to work. That was Lorelei's first movie in a theater and she made it most of the way through. Then when travis's pocket called me i took her out when i took his call so she wouldn't scream when i left her in the dark. But when we went back in she was getting restless, but it was pretty good, and the movie was good too. But unfortunately the afternoon turned worse. We were getting ready to go bowling and there was a fight over who would sit next to lorelei in the truck, and although we were inside planning to put her carseat in the middle so both of them could sit next to her, they were taking matters into their own hands and the verbal threats quickly turned into physical fights and Tyler kicked ainslea in the knee. When seperated, AInslea recounted that when the discussion turned to her sitting next to lorelei, tyler said he would slap her and she said that the only time people could slap her was when her dad was playing rough with her, and so he kicked her! Well that was the end of the weekend fun. It was unfortunate, especially with the things we had planned for the rest of the time, but c'est la vie, the kids punishment sometimes has to win out over parents plans!!! Aint that the truth!
SO not to punish ainslea, I took her and Chris (neighbor) to the bowling alley on base so that ainslea could still get her fun night out and it was pretty decent, cheap and easy to get to. So we will certainly do that again!!
So Friday was a wash, drugged up on flu medication trying to get through work and get home in time for Chris and Tyler to arrive from NJ as they over shot their eta and were arriving an hour earlier than i had said i would have been home. So i raced home for a conference call and to meet them here, but didn't get Lorelei, then the bus was 1/2 hour late!!! Arghhh
But the highlight was that I did finally get my condo listing put into MLS and set up for the tours and open houses etc so that should come together sometime soon. In this market, who knows how long that will be...but good to have a listing.
So the rest of friday didn't really get better. The kids played well, but i just didn't have the energy to really do anything fancy or stay up late. So after a traumatic exerience for Tyler to have to eat chesseburger macaroni hamburger helper because it wasn't the right kind of macaroni & cheese, and a preview of Madagascar before Madagascar opening in the theaters this weekend, I went to bed in the small bed in Lorelei's room.
I woke up feeling a little better and tried to accomodate the needs of my guests, and when pancakes were requested i knew better than to serve tyler the whole wheat pancake mix that i had. I was also warned not to thin out the remaining maple syrup with honey because he wouldn't eat it. So i gave him the leftover white pancakes and made a chocolate syrup with hot fudge and what else...HONEY....and it was eaten up and he even then ate a whole wheat pancake so he could eat more syrup!!!
Here's where i make my revelation about my parenting skills. I know that alot of miss manners training is lacking in my parenting develoment...but i think i've done an ok job at teaching ainslea that when she's at someones elses house she eats and behaves according to the house rules. There's only a few things she will definitely NOT eat, but I'm glad that my kids aren't picky eaters. I know there are plenty of adults who don't eat certain things, and my girls definitley favor macaroni and cheese, chicken nuggets and pizza, but when i want to vamp up my kitchen skills they usually eat it. I guess it is a trait that i learned from my parents that you do what your host wants of you, and not the other way around. I can't always expand my food budget to make 4 different meals, and although I learned several years ago not to serve Chris fresh tomatoes, and i try to do my best about accomodating dietary needs, but give me a break, macaroni and cheese is macaroni and cheese!!!!
FOr the most part, the kids got along pretty well, but ainslea ended up playing more games with chris than with tyler. Then they played football and went on a bike ride around the neighborhood, but apparently that didn't go without incident either. So we tried to calm the animosity by going out to pizzas by evan, and going to see Madagascar2. Which seemed to work. That was Lorelei's first movie in a theater and she made it most of the way through. Then when travis's pocket called me i took her out when i took his call so she wouldn't scream when i left her in the dark. But when we went back in she was getting restless, but it was pretty good, and the movie was good too. But unfortunately the afternoon turned worse. We were getting ready to go bowling and there was a fight over who would sit next to lorelei in the truck, and although we were inside planning to put her carseat in the middle so both of them could sit next to her, they were taking matters into their own hands and the verbal threats quickly turned into physical fights and Tyler kicked ainslea in the knee. When seperated, AInslea recounted that when the discussion turned to her sitting next to lorelei, tyler said he would slap her and she said that the only time people could slap her was when her dad was playing rough with her, and so he kicked her! Well that was the end of the weekend fun. It was unfortunate, especially with the things we had planned for the rest of the time, but c'est la vie, the kids punishment sometimes has to win out over parents plans!!! Aint that the truth!
SO not to punish ainslea, I took her and Chris (neighbor) to the bowling alley on base so that ainslea could still get her fun night out and it was pretty decent, cheap and easy to get to. So we will certainly do that again!!
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Day 12& 13
I'm sorry for missing last night. We had a late night. I organized a kids trip in the sandwich moms club to the Production center of the Cape Cod Times. It was meant for big kids, but naturally i had to bring Lorelei who was happy as a clam to be in the backpack throughout the tour. It was fun and the kids really liked seeing the printing press in action.
Of course tonight was another late night for Ainslea. I had planned a kid swap with my friend Amy who has done babysitting for us in the past. I took her daughter and Ainslea to see High School Musical 3. We had the whole movie theater to ourselves. SO as the kids got restless, they could run around and dance in the aisles without bothering anyone.
I had a long day at work between sales calls and meetings with the corporate Google guy who then took us out to lunch, and I'm starting to feel poorly. SO I've got my herbal heated neck pillow around my neck, my electric blanket on (both sides of the beds) and I'm drinking lemon tea with honey....you know i feel like crap when i drink tea!!!
SO this would be the hardest day yet, with no one to take care of me. Fortunately my kids are asleep, but im guessing tomorrow wont make it disapear.
NIGHT NIGHT
Of course tonight was another late night for Ainslea. I had planned a kid swap with my friend Amy who has done babysitting for us in the past. I took her daughter and Ainslea to see High School Musical 3. We had the whole movie theater to ourselves. SO as the kids got restless, they could run around and dance in the aisles without bothering anyone.
I had a long day at work between sales calls and meetings with the corporate Google guy who then took us out to lunch, and I'm starting to feel poorly. SO I've got my herbal heated neck pillow around my neck, my electric blanket on (both sides of the beds) and I'm drinking lemon tea with honey....you know i feel like crap when i drink tea!!!
SO this would be the hardest day yet, with no one to take care of me. Fortunately my kids are asleep, but im guessing tomorrow wont make it disapear.
NIGHT NIGHT
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
DAY 11-ELECTION DAY!!!!
All i can say is thank goodness this is all over!!! I believe that change will happen, and although I know that Obama's win won't bring my husband home any sooner...I truly am psyched that there will be NO MORE BUSH!!! No matter who you voted for, the day of new beginning is upon us and I'm glad to have been a part of it.
NOT EVEN CLOSE........306-146 and its not even all in!!!!
YIPPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
NOT EVEN CLOSE........306-146 and its not even all in!!!!
YIPPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Monday, November 3, 2008
Day 10
So today i was actually thinking of getting today's post done early this morning because I was marveled at just how much Lorelei is communicating more and more every day. SHe picks up new signs and is trying really hard to get her thoughts protrayed. She's got the sign for more and please down pat, and is working on thank you, milk and juice. I was trying to find the sign for other objects that she could need in her daily life. I learned the sign for beer, but after the shattering of the beer bottle by my 6 year old, i thought that one probably wasn't necessary.
We had a nice dinner over with Kathy and Mike and their kids Chris and Drew who are both good playmates with Ainslea and Lorelei respectively. It was great just to have a carefree meal with friends (whether its 3 boxes of macaroni or just reheating leftovers) it doesn't matter. When Ainslea (and even lorelei) have pals to play with it takes the stress out of a regular evening. I made today the last dance class for Ainslea, not so much because of the money, but because the stress of trying to do after school activities is not easy for me to do with Lorelei to cart around. I don't want Ainslea to miss out, but i also don't want to go crazy in one month!!!
So thats not even the end of my day!!! At 8:36pm just as i was getting out of the shower and getting into pjs ready for an early night of caatching up on tv and relaxing, the house phone rang!! Big whoop right? WRONG!!! It completely startled Lorelei and woke her up hysterical crying. SO i answered it as it had a caller id and a number, and there was no one there! I cursed them out something fierce and then tried calling back the number, and then i even tried calling back from a different number and it was just dead air...not even ringing. So since she was still crying and poor ainslea was probably woken up, i went up and had to spend the nect hour lying down with her to calm her down and get her to fall asleep enough for me to transfer her back to her crib. SO FREGGING AGGREVATING!!! and i know that some of you are thinking, i should just turn off my ringer, but because of my brilliant idea to have a security system, it has to be tied into the phone line so its actually the noise from the security panel that wakes her up, not the phone itself!! SO thats a whole other topic for discussion. How do i secure my house and make me fall asleep at night without all the hassles i've had to put up with ADT and not have to pay another company to come in and install all the same equipment so that i can have someone else monitor it???
***So take this as notice, from now until i can solve this security system conundrem, my home phone is going off the hook at bedtime 730pm...SInce this is a public space, I won't publish it, but since you all know me, you can reach me on my cell phone until i go to sleep. When i go to sleep, I'll turn it off. If you don't have my cell phone# handy, email me.
DOnt forget to vote tomorrow!!!!
We had a nice dinner over with Kathy and Mike and their kids Chris and Drew who are both good playmates with Ainslea and Lorelei respectively. It was great just to have a carefree meal with friends (whether its 3 boxes of macaroni or just reheating leftovers) it doesn't matter. When Ainslea (and even lorelei) have pals to play with it takes the stress out of a regular evening. I made today the last dance class for Ainslea, not so much because of the money, but because the stress of trying to do after school activities is not easy for me to do with Lorelei to cart around. I don't want Ainslea to miss out, but i also don't want to go crazy in one month!!!
So thats not even the end of my day!!! At 8:36pm just as i was getting out of the shower and getting into pjs ready for an early night of caatching up on tv and relaxing, the house phone rang!! Big whoop right? WRONG!!! It completely startled Lorelei and woke her up hysterical crying. SO i answered it as it had a caller id and a number, and there was no one there! I cursed them out something fierce and then tried calling back the number, and then i even tried calling back from a different number and it was just dead air...not even ringing. So since she was still crying and poor ainslea was probably woken up, i went up and had to spend the nect hour lying down with her to calm her down and get her to fall asleep enough for me to transfer her back to her crib. SO FREGGING AGGREVATING!!! and i know that some of you are thinking, i should just turn off my ringer, but because of my brilliant idea to have a security system, it has to be tied into the phone line so its actually the noise from the security panel that wakes her up, not the phone itself!! SO thats a whole other topic for discussion. How do i secure my house and make me fall asleep at night without all the hassles i've had to put up with ADT and not have to pay another company to come in and install all the same equipment so that i can have someone else monitor it???
***So take this as notice, from now until i can solve this security system conundrem, my home phone is going off the hook at bedtime 730pm...SInce this is a public space, I won't publish it, but since you all know me, you can reach me on my cell phone until i go to sleep. When i go to sleep, I'll turn it off. If you don't have my cell phone# handy, email me.
DOnt forget to vote tomorrow!!!!
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Day 8-9
So that weekend went by WAY too quickly!! Perhaps its because the last 4 have all been 3 day weekends..DAMN
Saturday was busy with the last soccer game, and a neighbors birthday party then we had a friend/old colleague/real estate client over for dinner with his daughter on Sat. His daughter is 14, but apparently she doesn't have the same attitude I did at 14 because she was completely happy with watching disney channel with ainslea and playing for 3 hours with both girls. BUt then the girls went to bed and we put in an awful chick flick and drank until late. Which would have been fine, but with daylight savings time, Lorelei didn't really seem to care about what the clock said when she woke up at 630am!!! grrrrr
Sunday was also busy. We used our gift certificate that we won for the scarecrow contest to Marshland Too for breakfast. It was very nice and i'm bummed that we hadn't discovered it before as its right in sandwich and very good food. Then we scurried home to do our "chores" before we had the girls over from ainslea's old playgroup. We had a good time but Lorelei didn't get a long enough nap, and the girls got into mischief both inside and out and despite having everyone help pick up, the house still looks like a bomb went off. It was a good day but just went by too quickly. A few tussles, lots of laundry, and a few weepy moments when there was too much going on at once.
I'm about to list a condo for sale, which will be nice. And I just saw the news coverage of the McCain campaign at the Peterborough, NH townhouse tonight. Kinda neat to see all those people in our little hometown (ok Pam's) townhouse...although no surprise not to see any signs of Pam in the news coverage!!
So to wrap up, not feeling like anything major was accompolished and that no headway was made in keeping a clean house or getting any projects done but if i take this long year one day at a time it will all get done eventually. I will say that although its slightly strange for me to have people who i know, but not closely, offer to help me with "whatever I need", it is nice to know that people are out there for us if we ever do need it. So thanks to all those who have lent their support.
Saturday was busy with the last soccer game, and a neighbors birthday party then we had a friend/old colleague/real estate client over for dinner with his daughter on Sat. His daughter is 14, but apparently she doesn't have the same attitude I did at 14 because she was completely happy with watching disney channel with ainslea and playing for 3 hours with both girls. BUt then the girls went to bed and we put in an awful chick flick and drank until late. Which would have been fine, but with daylight savings time, Lorelei didn't really seem to care about what the clock said when she woke up at 630am!!! grrrrr
Sunday was also busy. We used our gift certificate that we won for the scarecrow contest to Marshland Too for breakfast. It was very nice and i'm bummed that we hadn't discovered it before as its right in sandwich and very good food. Then we scurried home to do our "chores" before we had the girls over from ainslea's old playgroup. We had a good time but Lorelei didn't get a long enough nap, and the girls got into mischief both inside and out and despite having everyone help pick up, the house still looks like a bomb went off. It was a good day but just went by too quickly. A few tussles, lots of laundry, and a few weepy moments when there was too much going on at once.
I'm about to list a condo for sale, which will be nice. And I just saw the news coverage of the McCain campaign at the Peterborough, NH townhouse tonight. Kinda neat to see all those people in our little hometown (ok Pam's) townhouse...although no surprise not to see any signs of Pam in the news coverage!!
So to wrap up, not feeling like anything major was accompolished and that no headway was made in keeping a clean house or getting any projects done but if i take this long year one day at a time it will all get done eventually. I will say that although its slightly strange for me to have people who i know, but not closely, offer to help me with "whatever I need", it is nice to know that people are out there for us if we ever do need it. So thanks to all those who have lent their support.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Day 7- HAPPY HALLOWEEN
So its Halloween, and I promise this weekend I will learn how to add photos to our blog (first i must download them) I was Halloween Elmo (fortunately no photographic evidence of this lame excuse for a costume) Lorelei was Winnie the Pooh, and AInslea was Sharpei (not the dog) but a main character in High School Musical!!!
FOr some reason this year, the school did not allow kids to come to school in costume, and there was no parade, and from the sounds of it there was very little in the way of halloween party treats at school too. I'm not considerably upset by that, but it seems like a waste of money to only wear your costume around the neighborhood, and not have a chance to wear it to school to show to all your friends who may not live near you!! Oh well, I guess budget cuts affect everyone!
Liz came down to join in the merriment of tiny little creatures dressed up and went trick-or-treating with Laura and her kids, Kathy and her kids, and us. The kids made out like bandits, all of them complaining their buckets were overflowing, the lady in the valley made cookies again and we made a pitstop at Leif & Laura's house for mango martinis (orange for halloween?)
THen Liz and I ventured into the neighbor's annual Blood House. I"ve never been in, Travis used to go while i'd stay out with the kids. SO this year hands tightly clenched, we traversed our way through the gore and darkness. Quite impressive to be honest. THis man spends two or three days erecting his structure and has at least 100 creatures, bloody heads, glowing goblins and enlists his teenagers to help jump out at you in various locations, one with a chainsaw!! At the end their yard is turned into a graveyard, and his wife is there with the full sized candy bars!! WOOHOO
FOr some reason this year, the school did not allow kids to come to school in costume, and there was no parade, and from the sounds of it there was very little in the way of halloween party treats at school too. I'm not considerably upset by that, but it seems like a waste of money to only wear your costume around the neighborhood, and not have a chance to wear it to school to show to all your friends who may not live near you!! Oh well, I guess budget cuts affect everyone!
Liz came down to join in the merriment of tiny little creatures dressed up and went trick-or-treating with Laura and her kids, Kathy and her kids, and us. The kids made out like bandits, all of them complaining their buckets were overflowing, the lady in the valley made cookies again and we made a pitstop at Leif & Laura's house for mango martinis (orange for halloween?)
THen Liz and I ventured into the neighbor's annual Blood House. I"ve never been in, Travis used to go while i'd stay out with the kids. SO this year hands tightly clenched, we traversed our way through the gore and darkness. Quite impressive to be honest. THis man spends two or three days erecting his structure and has at least 100 creatures, bloody heads, glowing goblins and enlists his teenagers to help jump out at you in various locations, one with a chainsaw!! At the end their yard is turned into a graveyard, and his wife is there with the full sized candy bars!! WOOHOO
Day 6
Sorry for the delay, it seems THursday and friday nights are going to be tough to blog and watch tv whilst drinking beer!!!
Thursday's big event was the discovery that Ainslea had been using her school lunch card to buy school lunches when she felt like it, and not just on the days we had planned for. SO when she came home on Tuesday with the news that she needed more lunch money, I started getting suspicious, as I had sent in a $10 check just the week before. At the beginning of the school year we had discussed that i would allow her 1 lunch a week at $2/lunch. This investigation was also prompted by the flyer sent home reminding parents that they could check their student's spending online. Ainslea's explanation was that she had been buying chocolate milk instead of the juice boxes i'd been sending in. TUrns out she was also bying two lunches a week. I asked her about it and pulled out the school menu calendar to remind her which meals she had purchased. I was also concerned about the food that had been sent in with her on the days that she also had a hot lunch. Turns out she was eating both, so either her metabolism is skyrocketing or she's just growing!!
The discussion got teary-eyed and we talked about trust and responsibility. Ainslea said she'd learned about responsibility at school. And then we talked about if i couldn't trust her with the money in her account then I would stop school lunches all together. SHe didn't like that either!! I sent her away to think about her actions and to come up with ways to solve this. Her complaint was that she had to wait so very long for Friday's pizza day that she wanted to have 2 lunches a week. Now at the end of the day $4/week isn't going to break my bank, but there was also a lesson in principal here. So the end result was that she was going to have to do chores around the house to earn the other lunch. Of course, her idea of chores was washing the cars and mopping the floors, but we settled on emptying the trash cans 2 times a week and sweeping the floor everyday. We'll see how it goes....
Of course after getting back our happy face meant practicing our jumproping. AInslea is participating in a jump-ropathon for American Heart Association. So she has been practicing. Unfortunately the last jump of the day was in the kitchen and she very skillfully flipped the rope behind her to entirely wrap it around my open beer bottle and as she never stops immediately when i tell her to, this was no different and the beer and bottle came crashing down all over the kitchen.....I'm beginning to see a theme here!!!!
Thursday's big event was the discovery that Ainslea had been using her school lunch card to buy school lunches when she felt like it, and not just on the days we had planned for. SO when she came home on Tuesday with the news that she needed more lunch money, I started getting suspicious, as I had sent in a $10 check just the week before. At the beginning of the school year we had discussed that i would allow her 1 lunch a week at $2/lunch. This investigation was also prompted by the flyer sent home reminding parents that they could check their student's spending online. Ainslea's explanation was that she had been buying chocolate milk instead of the juice boxes i'd been sending in. TUrns out she was also bying two lunches a week. I asked her about it and pulled out the school menu calendar to remind her which meals she had purchased. I was also concerned about the food that had been sent in with her on the days that she also had a hot lunch. Turns out she was eating both, so either her metabolism is skyrocketing or she's just growing!!
The discussion got teary-eyed and we talked about trust and responsibility. Ainslea said she'd learned about responsibility at school. And then we talked about if i couldn't trust her with the money in her account then I would stop school lunches all together. SHe didn't like that either!! I sent her away to think about her actions and to come up with ways to solve this. Her complaint was that she had to wait so very long for Friday's pizza day that she wanted to have 2 lunches a week. Now at the end of the day $4/week isn't going to break my bank, but there was also a lesson in principal here. So the end result was that she was going to have to do chores around the house to earn the other lunch. Of course, her idea of chores was washing the cars and mopping the floors, but we settled on emptying the trash cans 2 times a week and sweeping the floor everyday. We'll see how it goes....
Of course after getting back our happy face meant practicing our jumproping. AInslea is participating in a jump-ropathon for American Heart Association. So she has been practicing. Unfortunately the last jump of the day was in the kitchen and she very skillfully flipped the rope behind her to entirely wrap it around my open beer bottle and as she never stops immediately when i tell her to, this was no different and the beer and bottle came crashing down all over the kitchen.....I'm beginning to see a theme here!!!!
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Day 5
Today was a pretty good day. Perhaps it was because I only went to work for 2 hours because Ainslea had a half day, despite the nonsensical reason for driving all the way to hyannis to check my work email and then turn around and race back to catch the bus Or maybe it was because Ainslea and I were able to enjoy quality time together at the FREE scarecrow story hike at Oakcrest Cove. It was cute, she could read the story page at each marker as we walked through a wooded trail by one of the local ponds. Each stop had a body part to a scarecrow that was later put together and colored and used to torment her sister when we got home. Her new best friend is the daughter of the Rec Dept Director so Olivia was there to go through the trail with us and made it fun for Ainslea too. FOrtunately Im not so naive in thinking that my daughter needs to be alone with me 1-1 in order to have fun. It was just nice for her to be the center of attention, and that is important to me to make sure we have that every once in a while with Lorelei still at daycare. I suppose we will make it a habit on half days!!
But then everything in our normal routine was pushed up earlier so all 3 of us were bathed and in our pajamas by 730 which was nice. Although I still cant bring myself to turn the heat on downstairs for me, so I'm freezing while they are all warm and toasty upstairs. But thats what sweatshirts and socks were created for. I have an electric blanket that does the trick now that I don't have a personal bed warmer lying next to me (hogging the blankets). THe quarantined cat has been medicated, and has given up on head butting the basement door for the evening i hope. I've contacted all our creditors about the Servicemen Credit Relief Act (Funny that they've changed that from SOldiers and Sailors Act from only 5 years ago)
Also in the news is that one of my close friends has just discovered that she is pregnant which is good news for her, but bad news for me as I'm now out a drinking buddy!! Where is the support I ask you???? Poor girl wasn't planning to be pregnant again so soon, and there is talks about her husbands job moving them before the baby will be born (although, maybe I can sell her on becoming a geographic bachelorette before then)hmmmmmm. I'm happy for them as they are already good parents. It will be another person I can lend my helping hand to take my mind off of other things.
But then everything in our normal routine was pushed up earlier so all 3 of us were bathed and in our pajamas by 730 which was nice. Although I still cant bring myself to turn the heat on downstairs for me, so I'm freezing while they are all warm and toasty upstairs. But thats what sweatshirts and socks were created for. I have an electric blanket that does the trick now that I don't have a personal bed warmer lying next to me (hogging the blankets). THe quarantined cat has been medicated, and has given up on head butting the basement door for the evening i hope. I've contacted all our creditors about the Servicemen Credit Relief Act (Funny that they've changed that from SOldiers and Sailors Act from only 5 years ago)
Also in the news is that one of my close friends has just discovered that she is pregnant which is good news for her, but bad news for me as I'm now out a drinking buddy!! Where is the support I ask you???? Poor girl wasn't planning to be pregnant again so soon, and there is talks about her husbands job moving them before the baby will be born (although, maybe I can sell her on becoming a geographic bachelorette before then)hmmmmmm. I'm happy for them as they are already good parents. It will be another person I can lend my helping hand to take my mind off of other things.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Day 4
I'm just sitting back at 10:30pm looking at all the destruction and needing a break, despite how late i've been going to bed every night. Today was just another usual day of trying to get too much done after school. I've tried to just go to the dump and the library on tuesdays, but I was waiting for someone to stop by the house at 4pm and then i had to go and pick something up from another mom's house and I couldn't find the house. Meanwhile Lorelei is screaming and its getting late. So we ordered pizza and salad from pizzas by evan and watched Survivor recorded in the tv room.
I'll admit I've had a few meltdowns with Ainslea not listening and time going faster than i need to get things done. And clearly spending 45 minutes looking for a library movie that was due today was not the best use of our time, but at $1/day in late fees its sort of necessary.
The normal pre-bedtime hassle was just a segway for trying to give Mittens his antibiotics...fun fun fun!!! But nothing was as fun as my Harry Potter cake!! Another mom needs another birthday cake so its late night of decorating in mystical orange and wizardry. It turned out ok, i'll post a picture later.
Travis called to say he had arrived in Washington state ok, it was a long day of travelling and living in 65 year old barracks for the next couple of weeks. ANd listening to the wind howl outside the windows makes me want to curl up in bed. So enough of my rambling fo rtoday. I just hope i get better at planning out my time and having more quality time with the kids. I know i shouldn't keep myself so busy, but thats the only way to make the days pass faster. But I'm sure thats not what the kids think...
I'll admit I've had a few meltdowns with Ainslea not listening and time going faster than i need to get things done. And clearly spending 45 minutes looking for a library movie that was due today was not the best use of our time, but at $1/day in late fees its sort of necessary.
The normal pre-bedtime hassle was just a segway for trying to give Mittens his antibiotics...fun fun fun!!! But nothing was as fun as my Harry Potter cake!! Another mom needs another birthday cake so its late night of decorating in mystical orange and wizardry. It turned out ok, i'll post a picture later.
Travis called to say he had arrived in Washington state ok, it was a long day of travelling and living in 65 year old barracks for the next couple of weeks. ANd listening to the wind howl outside the windows makes me want to curl up in bed. So enough of my rambling fo rtoday. I just hope i get better at planning out my time and having more quality time with the kids. I know i shouldn't keep myself so busy, but thats the only way to make the days pass faster. But I'm sure thats not what the kids think...
Monday, October 27, 2008
Day 3
Well this was certainly the overbooked day from hell!! It started out with the regular routine of getting up and getting to the bus stop and going to work usual scene, but after school was a mish mash of chaos. Ainslea had dance class, and it was bring a friend week, so we had planned a playdate to go to dance class and come over afterwards, but her friend's brother got pink eye, so the playdate at home was out (phew, didn't sweep the floor anyway, new guests you know how that is) so while they were at dance class, I had to take Mittens to the vet. Let me just pause right here and mention how much I will not ever have cats again. i've got the one who wants to roam the free world and the other one who is quite content with sitting on my bed and sleeping the day away.
So mittens came in yesterday with what looked liek a bloody ear, and it was twitching him, so I called the vet and scheduled a visit.......$100 later i have to give him pills 2x a day and he was actually attacked and scratched from ear to ear across the throat, but i could nt see it because of all his fur. So now he's shaved by his ears and down his neck so the vet could clean out the wounds and pump him full of pain killers....and the best part...wait for it.....the damn cat has to be on a rabies QUARANTINE for 45 freaking days!!! Fortunately our routine is to keep him in the lower level suite (aka basement) when he's not outside, but now i can't even let him outside when he gets annoying AWESOME!!! The good news in that is that because his rabies was up to date, its ONLY until December 10 and not for 6 months!!! Grrrrreeeeattt!!!!
Oh and before you think my beloved indoor cat is the cats meow, the "darn" thing puked in my bed last night!!! I woke up to the hurling noise and went to push her off my bed but i was too late and pushed my foot right into the puke.....damn animals.....why do people do this to themselves??? As if i don't have enough to deal with watching two kids, now i have to baby two cats who can't even be in the same room together?? I can hear travis now saying "you wanted cats"....and i still stand behind that decision. It was an easy distraction from when we had to put Jake down, and i can quite literally lock one in the basement when it is bad. I can leave them at home and just have to do the once or twice a week cleaning of litter box and adding food and water to the automatic dispensers.....but when i have to do this all over again, there will be NO ANIMALS for me.
Yes I know Travis is set on having a dog, and ainslea thinks she has to wait until she's 10, but I am done with this pet business!!!!
So mittens came in yesterday with what looked liek a bloody ear, and it was twitching him, so I called the vet and scheduled a visit.......$100 later i have to give him pills 2x a day and he was actually attacked and scratched from ear to ear across the throat, but i could nt see it because of all his fur. So now he's shaved by his ears and down his neck so the vet could clean out the wounds and pump him full of pain killers....and the best part...wait for it.....the damn cat has to be on a rabies QUARANTINE for 45 freaking days!!! Fortunately our routine is to keep him in the lower level suite (aka basement) when he's not outside, but now i can't even let him outside when he gets annoying AWESOME!!! The good news in that is that because his rabies was up to date, its ONLY until December 10 and not for 6 months!!! Grrrrreeeeattt!!!!
Oh and before you think my beloved indoor cat is the cats meow, the "darn" thing puked in my bed last night!!! I woke up to the hurling noise and went to push her off my bed but i was too late and pushed my foot right into the puke.....damn animals.....why do people do this to themselves??? As if i don't have enough to deal with watching two kids, now i have to baby two cats who can't even be in the same room together?? I can hear travis now saying "you wanted cats"....and i still stand behind that decision. It was an easy distraction from when we had to put Jake down, and i can quite literally lock one in the basement when it is bad. I can leave them at home and just have to do the once or twice a week cleaning of litter box and adding food and water to the automatic dispensers.....but when i have to do this all over again, there will be NO ANIMALS for me.
Yes I know Travis is set on having a dog, and ainslea thinks she has to wait until she's 10, but I am done with this pet business!!!!
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Day 2
So today was definitely more productive. Sundays usually are. No plans and Ainslea actually stayed in her pajamas all day long. It was the usual day of cleaning at the end of the week that makes me exhausted. But then added to that was the outside cleaning too.
Travis obliged me one final wish of removing the beautiful big blue truck with no seats and dented windshield from our back yard...and i found a salvage company to come and haul it away and still pay me for it!! SO it dawned on me that even though it won't add to my financial gain, they get paid by scrap metal and want parts from the vehicle, so i went through the garage and yard to retrieve all the remnants of a project that wasn't and threw them all in the back of the truck WOOOHOOOO no more bumpers, no more fallen down carport in the back yard, no more wires and scrap metal that mice will find a home in this winter YIPPEE. I took a sledgehammer to the tv stand to break it down so i could get it in the car to go to the dump and cleaned up the side of the garage to make my pathway to the backyard (or at least it get ready for another motivational day)
The girls are doing well and played relatively well together all day. Lorelei is getting very frustrated that she can't communicate with us. Her shrieking is quite loud, but i'm actually very proud of her for picking up a few signs in sign language to add to the basic words she has mastered already.
All done
All gone
Mommy
Daddy
and something related to Sissy
kitty
ack ack (the sound a duck makes)
Ainslea kept herself busy with crafts and tv with her sister, which is something im very proud of her for. She would rather watch PBS with Lorelei than her nickelodeon channel. She was also very helpful and caring towards me today. Which is a complete 180 from when she and Travis would gang up on me. She is somewhat aware of the difficulties that lie ahead, but on the flip side when she made a halloween craft she said, "we can hang it in the mud room so when Daddy gets home he will walk right into it." Its those things that are indicating that she doesn't really get the details of this term. But talking about it and keeping our routine seems to be ok for now.
AS for me, my feet hurt from being up all day long and I'm realising that there's no one to rub my feet anymore. But otherwise its a good day.
Travis obliged me one final wish of removing the beautiful big blue truck with no seats and dented windshield from our back yard...and i found a salvage company to come and haul it away and still pay me for it!! SO it dawned on me that even though it won't add to my financial gain, they get paid by scrap metal and want parts from the vehicle, so i went through the garage and yard to retrieve all the remnants of a project that wasn't and threw them all in the back of the truck WOOOHOOOO no more bumpers, no more fallen down carport in the back yard, no more wires and scrap metal that mice will find a home in this winter YIPPEE. I took a sledgehammer to the tv stand to break it down so i could get it in the car to go to the dump and cleaned up the side of the garage to make my pathway to the backyard (or at least it get ready for another motivational day)
The girls are doing well and played relatively well together all day. Lorelei is getting very frustrated that she can't communicate with us. Her shrieking is quite loud, but i'm actually very proud of her for picking up a few signs in sign language to add to the basic words she has mastered already.
All done
All gone
Mommy
Daddy
and something related to Sissy
kitty
ack ack (the sound a duck makes)
Ainslea kept herself busy with crafts and tv with her sister, which is something im very proud of her for. She would rather watch PBS with Lorelei than her nickelodeon channel. She was also very helpful and caring towards me today. Which is a complete 180 from when she and Travis would gang up on me. She is somewhat aware of the difficulties that lie ahead, but on the flip side when she made a halloween craft she said, "we can hang it in the mud room so when Daddy gets home he will walk right into it." Its those things that are indicating that she doesn't really get the details of this term. But talking about it and keeping our routine seems to be ok for now.
AS for me, my feet hurt from being up all day long and I'm realising that there's no one to rub my feet anymore. But otherwise its a good day.
Day 1
October 25, 2008
8:45am we said our goodbyes an hour earlier than expected, darn hotel for being so close by!!! Nothing left to do but pick up a few supplies in tax free NH and head home in time for Ainslea to have soccer
11:30am get home and no sooner am I unloading the car trying to start fresh with a new clean car and walk in to a HUGE puddle of spilt milk!!! Half of the nearly full gallon of milk was now making its way through my kitchen floor.....so much for cleaning the bloody car...time to mop the kitchen floor. Only this was no ordinary mopping...under the fridge and under the stove it went in every possible crevice possible. So instead of putting away everything from the car, it was time to do my fall cleaning of the kitchen apparently!!Pulled out the fridge from the wall, and the stove out of the nook and cleaned all the walls and backsplash behind the stove!!! AWESOME!
Ainslea scored a goal during the game. Her friend Olivia from school is also on our team and we met her dad after the game. Turns out he is the new director of the Rec Dept and he told us our Scarecrow won Honorable Mention in the Sandwich Scarecrow Contest. Cool. I'll post a picture later. Turns out we won a gift certificate for breakfast at Marshland Too so I will finally get to try them out.
6:00pm we got our Halloween costumes all put together and headed up to the base for a costume contest and haunted house. Not all that exciting, Lorelei fell asleep between our house and the base. By the time we got home, I was spent emotionally and physically! COuldn't even finish one beer!!!
8:45am we said our goodbyes an hour earlier than expected, darn hotel for being so close by!!! Nothing left to do but pick up a few supplies in tax free NH and head home in time for Ainslea to have soccer
11:30am get home and no sooner am I unloading the car trying to start fresh with a new clean car and walk in to a HUGE puddle of spilt milk!!! Half of the nearly full gallon of milk was now making its way through my kitchen floor.....so much for cleaning the bloody car...time to mop the kitchen floor. Only this was no ordinary mopping...under the fridge and under the stove it went in every possible crevice possible. So instead of putting away everything from the car, it was time to do my fall cleaning of the kitchen apparently!!Pulled out the fridge from the wall, and the stove out of the nook and cleaned all the walls and backsplash behind the stove!!! AWESOME!
Ainslea scored a goal during the game. Her friend Olivia from school is also on our team and we met her dad after the game. Turns out he is the new director of the Rec Dept and he told us our Scarecrow won Honorable Mention in the Sandwich Scarecrow Contest. Cool. I'll post a picture later. Turns out we won a gift certificate for breakfast at Marshland Too so I will finally get to try them out.
6:00pm we got our Halloween costumes all put together and headed up to the base for a costume contest and haunted house. Not all that exciting, Lorelei fell asleep between our house and the base. By the time we got home, I was spent emotionally and physically! COuldn't even finish one beer!!!
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