An Amazing week of Awesomeness

Wow! What a week it's been, even if I only worked 4 days :) It was a busy whirlwind time that culminated in the big girl's dance team try outs...she made the team by the way and is so excited.

It seemed the jet lag from three years of grad school is finally behind me. My energy has returned and I feel like I'm on the path to some semblance of normalcy in my life. Don't get me wrong, there are many many (so many) projects that are yet to be caught up, but at least I'm on my way. Friday I did normal things like clean out, wash and fill up the car, went shopping for some more flowers with the mother in law and out to dinner. Saturday, I played ALL DAY!!! Spent time with my great niece, nieces, great nephews and in laws. I took my girls for some much needed clothes shopping, played at the mall with the baby girl and then headed to Chuck E. Cheese for my great nephew's birthday party. That night the hubby and I ran errands, bought mulch, completed one of the flower beds and spent some time chilling out. Today I was up BRIGHT and early and met a friend for breakfast at 6:45 after a much needed girly chat session, I was off to church to greet and enjoy the service. The girls headed to Magic Waters with their new season passes (even though it was only 70 degrees) and I got busy...laundry, scrubbed my kitchen, replaced light bulbs, cleaned the outside of the fridge, bleached, disinfected, killed germs and generally overhauled the kitchen :) It is so sparkling! I planted flowers around two more trees tonight and only have two to go before that project is done. I got my calendar all organized for the summer, added all of the kids sporting events, and now...I'm puttin on the walkman, grabbing a flashlight and the dog, and heading out to enjoy this beautiful night air. I have another busy week ahead...teaching two nights, therapist one night, a friends party another night, working at church on Friday night, softball kick off, a wedding, and dinner at my nieces on Saturday...and then...the baby girl on Sunday :) Hope to find some time to clean some kitchen cabinets this week too.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot...I signed up for spark people today to finally get the diet underway. I am really hoping to be totally committed. The precious one and I signed up together so hopefully we can encourage each other.

Have a fabulous week!

I am SO not ready...

Today I let my son idle the van around the block and into the driveway. Good Lord!!! I am SO not ready for this adventure. My neck is still a bit sore from the wide variety of whiplashes I recieved while he was hitting the break. Did I mention we were doing less than 10 mph the entire time? I was really laughing so hard, because the dog ran along side the van the entire time, until I had him induce yet another round of whiplash and stop to let her in. Wow, what an adventure that was!

Nerves...

The big girl is trying out for the dance team at school. Are you ready for the reason? If she makes the dance team, she won't have to take PE and then she can take another academic class. Did you get that? I love my kids. The latest development with the big girl besides the dance team is that she doesn't believe she wants to go to Cal State anymore...she loves the programs at Rigly college in Florida but is convinced all that humidity will give her a bad hair day for 4 years. Clearly she doesn't realize the humidity levels in N. Illinois have got to be close or higher than those in Florida right? And she says Florida is dull. (no offense intended to you Floridians) -- dull? Florida? I wonder what state she finds exciting...oh yea...California. sigh

Clearly, thinking was not on the agenda

I signed up to teach some classes a few months ago...in Freeport. Did anyone bother to tell me it's an hour drive away one way?...needless to say...I wasn't very pleased with two hours of travel time added to my two hour class. Yuck.y. I really love teaching. I do not love driving. through the construction. in the rain. I evidently was not thinking clearly when I made these arrangements. The kicker was 28 out of 30 class participants also drove an hour to be there. *sigh* I must remind myself to think before committing. Think. Think. Think. Hopefully it will sink in.

Graduation Frolic

Little brothers can often be the target of such jokes as....be my new head :)

Hold still darn it!

Ta da!! Thumbs up dude... Then of course there's the big girl with her boy....

So sweet!

Parenting, Are you good at it?

Lately, it seems I sit and ponder parenting... a lot. Evidently an exorbitant amount...I seem to sit and look at kids and I look at their parents and I analyze their parenting style and I try to decipher motives and outcomes and well, let's just say it's a little bit obsessive. Perhaps it's the social worker in me. The 3 weeks away from the clinical office may be getting to me.

Tonight I had the joy and honor of attending my daughter's choir banquet. She notified me last night at half past ten of said banquet and then politely added that she would be going with her boyfriend's family. No where was my attendance mentioned. These are the reasons I ponder parenting...have I gone wrong somewhere? I know that at her age it is TOTALLY appropriate and expected for a subtle separation to begin taking place. I know this!! Books have taught me this...research has shown this is completely healthy. However....(pause) I do not like it...not one little bit! After much cajoling and coercing I convinced dear daughter that perhaps my presence wouldn't be too awkward or annoying at said banquet and perhaps I could indeed attend after all. I sat at the table with the love of her life, his brother, and his parents. I had a great time. As I sat and observed in my social worker type way...I realized that my big girl...is just that...she is the big girl...responsible, opinionated, at times aloof, confident, oh and beautiful...then there is the love of her life...smiley, bubbly, happy, lighthearted...definitely the youngest. Now...my brain and research tells me this is a good match...he can show her how to live a little and she can help him be responsible. Nice, complimentary, equitable...all in all a nice match. Of course I pondered his parents parenting...much more restrictive than mine it appears, much more detail oriented...yet effective...thereby creating a fabulous son. He so reminds me of my youngest daughter...Hmmmm....what's the point of this post you ask? I'm not really sure actually...it's just the random thoughts that run through my mind on a day to day basis. Isn't that, after all what blogging is all about? ~grin~

After I pondered my big girl's budding relationship...I pondered my own...The honey and I...often times are not complimentary...we're both the youngest...both irresponsible, bubbly, having too much fun, and often just flying by the seat of our pants. At times it's a chaotic ride...but I love it...it's my way of life :) I do believe that this is why the big girl is often annoyed with me...perhaps. Who knows what those 'oldest children' are thinking! Observing them tonight made me think back to the old days...long ago...when the hubby and I were contemplating having babies...comparing parenting styles...to spank or not to spank...2 kids or 10....boy or girl (like we had a choice!) Ever have those talks? Little did I know then what a joy and a challenge parenting would be...and then you get to the point...where your oldest most responsible child is late coming home...yet again...after you had the 'don't make me ground you and be all parental on you' talk...and you wonder...will it all be ok? Will they be a success? Will they be happy? For their sake and mine...I hope so!

What? You love my lawn?

Hey neighbor! What's that you say? You love my lawn? Especially the one side of the driveway that didn't get mowed this week? Well yes, I know it's odd...that most of the lawn is mowed except that one spot. I see. We started this lawn mowing schedule at my house, and this week was my week. I mowed the front...most of it. I didn't mow the back...let's just say it rained a lot, AND I completely forgot to mow the side of the driveway. Yeah...I know!! Feeble excuse right? But that is my excuse and I'm stickin to it. Thank Goodness tomorrow is Monday...that makes it someone else's turn to mow. I sure hope they mow the entire lawn! The good news for you neighbor, is that it's not my turn to mow again for 3 weeks and my kids do a much better job than I do. See? It IS your lucky day. And by the way...thanks for your concern :)

Signed,

The neighbor that is not winning lawn of the month