The house is half asleep. DD1 and DD2 were shuffled off to bed promptly at 8:00, and the two youngest appear to be hanging in for the long haul. I’m not sure why they’re insisting on staying awake. Especially since my 18 month old just approached me and stated, “Mama. I’m dored.”
I clarified, “You’re bored?”
She nodded, “Yes. I’m dored.”
Ugh. Then go to bed. LOL.
Seriously. I spent an hour on the phone waiting on hold to argue with the US about my two youngest daughter’s citizenship status. Just so that I can get them a passport. Meanwhile I’ve made no headway and am >.< this close to calling my State Representative.
After I got off the phone, I headed out to my folks. Only to nearly run out of gas. I had to go to THREE different gas stations before I could find one that would allow me to use a Debit card at the pump. I’d have gone in to pay, except I had four kids in the car. Two of them (the babies) were asleep, and I was just not doing that to them. Not for stupid gas.
I left half my kids with my folks and went up to Children’s hospital for DFS3’s appointment. We were there nearly all afternoon. Got back to our car to return home and found out my van no longer reverses.
I. am. not. making. this. up.
We got home in time to have dinner and say Good-bye to my Dad. Who, is officially moving to Nebraska. My mom will follow as soon as their house sells. So, at least she’ll still be around.
But still. Today sucked. As my eldest says, “really alot.”
And the sad fact is that today is still not over. It’s 9:00 p.m. and I have an entire house to clean in preparation for DFS3’s caseworker and GAL visit.
Sigh.
I’m tired. I want to go crawl in a hole and rest for a week. Today was exhausting.
I looked at the calendar today and was stunned to see how far into March we’ve already made it. 2009 is leaping forward at warp speeds! I’m almost dizzy thinking about it.
One of the highlights of March, was our grand camp out to get DD1 into kindergarten next fall. We’ve gone back and forth as a family about what we really want to do. Send her to this very specific school, or homeschool. Because entrance into this Kindergarten is so stiff, we decided to go ahead and enroll her. We can always back out at the last minute, but we won’t have the opportunity to send her at the last minute.
If that makes any sense?
Anyways, in order to ensure a spot for her in the 2009-2010 Kindergarten class, Dh camped out for three days. He was joined by over 200 families waiting in line for the very same purpose. Thankfully, we were the fourth family in line (third family waiting for K5), so we can happily declare that DD1 has a spot reserved.
The three days of camping were a hoot for the whole family. Thankfully the weather held up. Despite being insanely windy, temperatures stayed above freezing and we had a blast hanging out together as a family in our very own tent.
Apparently I’ve been on blog-hiatus. It hasn’t really been intentional. Mostly just a case of blog-boredom combined with a fairly hectic life. A recap of the last three months would go something like this:
-I’ve been on and off a weight-loss journey. Currently off… but hoping to get back on.
-I totaled the van in a really minor accident, trying to get a free meal at Denny’s. Go figure.
-Dh injured his hand at work and has since been on a modified work schedule. We like having him around more, but miss the overtime. 
-We have a new baby in the house. He joined us in early February and will be with us for a little while. It’s nice to have a new one here, even if it is only temporary.
-I started a new laundry rotation system. I absolutely ADORE it, and as a result it makes my top “lifestyle changes in early 2009″ list.
-My sister and her husband moved to our neck of the woods. Just in time for my younger sister and my parents to leave for Nebraska. (Seriously, this is crazy!)
-Tomorrow my husband is camping out to enroll DD1 in a local school. We’ve gone back and forth on whether to homeschool or send her to this particular campus. Right now the decision is to give formal education at an out of home facility, a college try. We reserve the right to change our minds later, but are smart enough not to miss the opportunity to at least get her enrolled.
-I have big blog-revamping plans. Less writing, more pictures. I’m not sure when this new blog idea will launch. But stay tuned.
January 2008
February 2008
March 2008
April 2008
May 2008
June 2008
July 2008
August 2008
September 2008
October 2008
November 2008
December 2008
I cannot believe that we’re nearing mid-December! Where is the time going? And good grief, it’s been busy. The week before last I shot a maternity shoot, and then on Saturday I was in Oklahoma to shoot my cousins wedding. It’s been so much fun being able to really get out and get creative again. It’s definitely keeping me busy though. (My poor blog, each month it is neglected just a little bit more.)
Oh, speaking of blogging, I wanted to say that I started a healthy weight challenge with Fit Photographers. You can keep track of me over there under my name, “Manda.” I have some gouley “before” pictures posted, so enter at your own risk.
We launched the FIT Photographer’s challenge on December 1st. Just after Thanksgiving, on my middle child’s birthday, right before MY birthday and my cousins wedding. Before this month is out I will have to survive a church potluck, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, my eldest daughter’s birthday, and a New Years Eve Party. I figure if I can make it to the other side of December and manage to loose my targeted goal of 8lbs, then I’m doing fantastic.
In other news, DD1 had her first dance recital last night. It was too adorable. Her Ballet class danced to “You’re a Mean One Mister Grinch.” She was so great up there on stage. Made me so proud. After her recital she showed her Grandma P her lipstick (did I mention DD1 is obsessed with makeup?) and then declared, “I’m a STAR!” Hee hee.
The only bummer for the night was that I forgot my camera at home and our video camera (which I DID bring) was out of batteries and only turned on long enough at the recital to tell me that the batteries were low before it turned off. 
I can’t believe I don’t have one picture from her first recital! Talk about bad mommy moments.
I’m hoping to ask some of the other parents from her class to see if anyone has a copy to spare. Who knows, maybe someone has it up at youtube as I type. That could happen.
About the only other major thing happening on this end is that DD2 was just re-evaluated for Speech. She graduated ECI and is now moving into private therapy. We met her therapist this morning and everyone loved her. We’ll find out in a few weeks as to what she continues to qualify for. I’m especially curious to see the improvements she’s made in the last year. When we first put her in speech she was 26 months old speaking at a 9 month level. I’m hoping that the work this year has helped her gain some ground. Although, it’s still painfully clear she needs more help. She can say 2 word sentences fairly clearly, but gets bogged down with anything longer. Often only saying the first and last words of the sentence. So, what the listener hears is something similar to, “No uh-uh-uh ball.” rather than, “No, that’s my ball.”
Speaking of therapies. DD1’s therapy for her SPD is really going well. She’s on a prescribed sensory diet that includes things like body brushing and bear crawls. Our most successful days are the days that we are able to adequately meet her sensory needs. So, we continue to work on that and work on helping her recognize how to meet her own needs as well as how to ask for help in meeting those needs for her.
Anyway, I guess that pretty much rounds us out. I’ve got plans to send out a Christmas letter this year, but think I’ll probably be sending it as a New Years letter at the rate I’m getting it done. lol.
Merry Christmas!
So, here is the deal. I just figured out that I can blog via Microsoft Word. Isn’t that crazy? And why I haven’t I realized this eons ago.
Last night DD1’s soccer association had their end of season banquet. Dh had to work, so I wrangled the kiddos and we went out to enjoy the evening with DD1’s soccer team. Her coach gave each of the kids a framed picture of the team, as well as a few images of each kid on their own. In fact she had a whole goody bag filled with neat little “thank you for being such a great team player” type gifts. DD1 was blown away.
She was even more excited once she realized that she was getting a trophy. She’s been obsessed about the idea of getting a trophy since she started dance and noticed all the Dance trophies on display. She already has cleared out a spot on her shelf for the trophy. She won’t stop talking about it and desperately can’t wait until she can show it to her Grandma P.
Last night on the way home from the Banquet I overheard her in the backseat talking to herself:
“I’m going to call Grandma to tell her about the trophy. She’s going to be sooo excited! She’s going to say, ‘Oh my! A trophy. How wonderful. That is sooo special.’ Then I’m gong to say to Grandma, ‘I know. Thank you very much.”
Hee hee.
This year, 2008, the first day of Advent is Sunday, November 30th. Just a little over a week away! I’m intending to re-use the scriptures I set up last year. So, thankfully, I’m almost ready. I just need to sit down and make a list of family activities. I’d like to come up with one activity per day. Whether it’s a Christmas movie, a family craft, a special reading… I’m really excited about it.
My intention is to use this entry to update ideas and links.
~Homemade Advent Calendar - Using toilet paper rolls and tissue paper.
~Advent Themed Coloring Pages
~A Paper Advent Wreath - Perfect for Sunday School and for explaining Advent traditions.
~Make some Christmas Potpourri.
~A “This Day In History” to correspond with each day leading up to Christmas.
~A list of discussion starters. This list is Catholic in tone, but translates easily for Protestants. Plus, it includes a great list of fun activities to do together as a family.
~A list of books and movies that are Christmas/Christian themed.
~Create Cinnamon Ornaments.
~Make a Tin Can Luminary.
~Gingerbread House Decorating
~Create a Prayer Chain. (source)
Activity: Create a prayer chain out of construction paper. Using red and green paper, cut strips 8 inches long for each day of advent. Using a dark marker, write names on each of the strips for people that you would like to pray for during advent. You can also pray for groups of people or missions. Staple the first strip end to end. Looping the next strip through the first ring, staple it’s ends together. Repeat until all strips are linked and your prayer chain is complete. Some families like to make the last strip a prayer of thankfulness to Jesus.
Closing Prayer: Close by thanking God for giving us this wonderful season surrounding the birth of Jesus. Thank Him for your family and all the blessings in your life. Ask him to help you keep your focus on HIM for the next 25 days.
~Reindeer Food (from the same source as Snowman Soup. I couldn’t resist.)
~Snow-globe Craft from babyfood jars and miniature ornaments.
~Homemade Carmel Corn.
~Use a decorative hole punches to create luminaries out of white paper sacks. Additional supplies needed: Sand and votive candles.
~Homemade Garland:
Using Fruitloops Using Paper Chains. Using Popcorn.
~A 3-D Manger Scene.
There are moments of brilliance that shine through my mothering. Moments where I can look back with satisfaction and know with absolute certainty that, “I did that exactly right.”
Giving my 14 month old baby a bath before feeding her lasagna for lunch, is not one of those moments.