Nothing like going to boot camp and 4 or 5 high schooler hotties walk in.
They don't even break a sweat
Talk the whole time
Nothing sags
I feel old
They weren't breathing hard so maybe just maybe they weren't really working out that hard? One can hope
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Cold feet
Sooo it has begun the principal internship and last year of my masters. I already have some interviews to sit in on and principal meetings to attend Aug 12/13 in the AM (of course when all my friends are coming in to town!).
This fall I intern, take two classes and then the spring 1 class, intern, develop my electronic portfolio and prepare for oral exams in July. Unless there is a job opening and I MAY attempt them in March. I am starting to get a little anxiety about the whole process. I put 100% into my work and this year I have new kids and with all this excess stuff I am worried about home and my sanity suffering. I don't have to put in alot of extra hours or any weekend or night time and think the end of that might be coming.
The anxiety also lies in the big picture of What ifs. What if no principal jobs come open in the next few years? What if they DO and I don't even get an interview or worse yet interview and don't get hired? The competitive, people pleaser in me will not like that at all. Now that I am almost done with the program I KNOW this is what I really want to do and not just for the doubling of my salary,(which would be an excellent bonus for us)-but because I love working with and movivating teachers and working with parents and maybe making a difference in some small way.
Agggggg I think I have the "end of summer coming" anxiety-usually I just worry about A going back to school and hoping he and the teacher hit if off , and he tries and doesn't get frustrated and makes or keep some friends and now I have these extra things and and and....
WORRY is such an icky word...
This fall I intern, take two classes and then the spring 1 class, intern, develop my electronic portfolio and prepare for oral exams in July. Unless there is a job opening and I MAY attempt them in March. I am starting to get a little anxiety about the whole process. I put 100% into my work and this year I have new kids and with all this excess stuff I am worried about home and my sanity suffering. I don't have to put in alot of extra hours or any weekend or night time and think the end of that might be coming.
The anxiety also lies in the big picture of What ifs. What if no principal jobs come open in the next few years? What if they DO and I don't even get an interview or worse yet interview and don't get hired? The competitive, people pleaser in me will not like that at all. Now that I am almost done with the program I KNOW this is what I really want to do and not just for the doubling of my salary,(which would be an excellent bonus for us)-but because I love working with and movivating teachers and working with parents and maybe making a difference in some small way.
Agggggg I think I have the "end of summer coming" anxiety-usually I just worry about A going back to school and hoping he and the teacher hit if off , and he tries and doesn't get frustrated and makes or keep some friends and now I have these extra things and and and....
WORRY is such an icky word...
Monday, July 28, 2008
homework frenzy part II
So my last class session is this weekend and the paper is due Wed. My goal when I woke up this morning was to hit it hard and be done TODAY and not drag it out until Wed. I made it about 3 hours straight when I had to take a laundry and shower break. The boys have been great about it.
Sooooo I planned to hit it hard again before we have to leave for Q's class when the doorbell rings. I was going to tell the boys no friends-I don't concentrate well when loud boys are everywhere. The kid at the door was a boy a couple of years older then A who bought our old house and lived behind us. He hasn't played with A since we moved. His parents are getting divorced and from what we hear it is not pretty.
This kid has always been so polite and really good with A and Q but he is a little older for his years and is left on his own alot especially in the summer. School is hard for him and he asks Alec if he can really read the chapter books on the shelves. I ask him if he is home by himself this summer etc....He says "pretty much". I offer him lunch (he declines) but has some kool aid and tells me a story about him and his dad at the lake-he misses him and you can tell-it breaks my heart. He looks tired and lonely and I just want to feed him, take him with us on our fun summer adventures and say you can come down here anytime and hug him and have him feel what a good soul he has, because you can see he does and that the bad times will be bad but hang on for the good times they are out there.
So back to the beginning... when the doorbell rang and I opened the door ready to say "Sorry A can't play" I just couldn't do it...
Homework will wait
Sooooo I planned to hit it hard again before we have to leave for Q's class when the doorbell rings. I was going to tell the boys no friends-I don't concentrate well when loud boys are everywhere. The kid at the door was a boy a couple of years older then A who bought our old house and lived behind us. He hasn't played with A since we moved. His parents are getting divorced and from what we hear it is not pretty.
This kid has always been so polite and really good with A and Q but he is a little older for his years and is left on his own alot especially in the summer. School is hard for him and he asks Alec if he can really read the chapter books on the shelves. I ask him if he is home by himself this summer etc....He says "pretty much". I offer him lunch (he declines) but has some kool aid and tells me a story about him and his dad at the lake-he misses him and you can tell-it breaks my heart. He looks tired and lonely and I just want to feed him, take him with us on our fun summer adventures and say you can come down here anytime and hug him and have him feel what a good soul he has, because you can see he does and that the bad times will be bad but hang on for the good times they are out there.
So back to the beginning... when the doorbell rang and I opened the door ready to say "Sorry A can't play" I just couldn't do it...
Homework will wait
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Jam packed weekend
We started our weekend with Friday night races-it was perfect-not hot, no rain and a little breeze.
Saturday was camping, camping with all 4 of us is a love/hate relationship. I love camping, hubby hates it but does it for the boys-who fought quite a bit of the time-it wasn't one of our better camping trips-I always vow I will sell the stupid pop-up after the summer is over. It was super hot and rained much of the night BUT we were able to have a fire, make chili dogs and eat to many smores and get a little fishing in this morning.
The best part was rainbow hunting after the rain. Horse Thief Lake never lets us down. Since A-man was little we have talked about rainbows being a hello from God (I know, it is silly and Karen is cringing at me right now) and so seeing one is always special. So we are up on top of these granite rocks in the gusty wind and rain and I am taking pics and A-man mentions it being a hello from God and says we should stop right now and say our prayers right here and not wait until bed. So he did while Q danced around in the rain totally not paying attention. It was a priceless moment and made the trip totally worth it.
Now I am busy making potato salad for a neighborhood bbq and then the next two days are working on my paper for my other class. Whewwwwww
By the way-we did discuss how rainbows are REALLY made.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Ahhhh another lake day
We have found our new favorite lake-well ok not really new and there only about 3 here to pick from. I packed up the boys to go to Angostura. I have not been there in hmmmm 20 years-ouch that hurts to say that!
It was perfect-no breeze, no muck, no garbage and lots of water. The boys loved it.
Of couse Angostura and I have a history and I tend to get lost out there (Hmm anybody reading here have the same problem-Carey?). So I miss the north shore turn off and pass the south shore turn off thinking I am heading NORTH-I am not. I call hubby and ask him to map quest it he says keep going the lake is big. So I keep going until I come to a town called Olerichs-which I remember is really close to NEBRASKA! I call hubby back, he tells me ummmm yeah you are south about 30 miles south. So we break out some cookies, turn around and find the turn off.
We will definitely squeeze in at least one if not two more trips there this summer.
Monday, July 21, 2008
These things I loved today
Just a quick top 10 of the wonderful things to be happy about today:
10. My new sangria recipe-yummm and a great relaxer for bed time (could almost put this on the top 10 list twice)
9. Mowing my grass and watering my plants (that are all still alive)
8. Found the exact outdoor lights for the patio area I have been looking for
7. Son number 1 finding a walking stick bug and sitting outside letting it crawl all over him
6. Desk orgranization
5. A really good, long and sweaty workout
4. A fun, rowdy cookout night last night with friends and neighbors
3 Watching son # 1 and hubby practice catch
2. The sweet sweaty smell of boy hair after they are totally asleep and I give them their last kiss for the night
1. Son number two crawling into bed with me after hubby goes to work and curling up against my back and his soft quiet sleepy breathing.
Hope you all take time and sit back and enjoy the every day things.
10. My new sangria recipe-yummm and a great relaxer for bed time (could almost put this on the top 10 list twice)
9. Mowing my grass and watering my plants (that are all still alive)
8. Found the exact outdoor lights for the patio area I have been looking for
7. Son number 1 finding a walking stick bug and sitting outside letting it crawl all over him
6. Desk orgranization
5. A really good, long and sweaty workout
4. A fun, rowdy cookout night last night with friends and neighbors
3 Watching son # 1 and hubby practice catch
2. The sweet sweaty smell of boy hair after they are totally asleep and I give them their last kiss for the night
1. Son number two crawling into bed with me after hubby goes to work and curling up against my back and his soft quiet sleepy breathing.
Hope you all take time and sit back and enjoy the every day things.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Metaphor?
For my new "blogger" friends I apologize in advance for this nostalgic post but it is 12:30 and I can't sleep. As I was laying in bed thinking of today (it was a long day) my mind wandered to the stories and people I meet and reconnected with through this blogging thing. Then it hit me what it sooo reminds me of...
Notewriting in high school (trust me those who are new to ME when I say I am not pining for high school-ask Carey, Chris or Karen) but the whole blogger-note writing connection is pretty weird.
I think back to the notes we wrote ALL the time-or at least I did. Especially during Spanish class. I don't think there was a day that went by that I didn't write a note or get a note in my locker. You know when you opened your locker and a little folded up in a cool way piece of paper dropped onto the floor and you couldn't wait to read it. (Kind of like seeing if I have any comments on my postings or if someone posted on their blog)
Some notes were short, happy, gossipy-just a hey I'm bored what are you up to.
Some notes were long, sappy and sad or borderline temper tantrums (well OK mostly mine were tantrums or as I see them now playing the maytr-sorry Carey-who listened to 3 years of venting)
Some were drawings and jokes and deepest fears and worries (looking back all small stuff of course)
I know Chris had mentioned she had found a bunch of notes and how awesome it was to read them so much time later. It reminded me of a "book" Carey had given me-she had SAVED a bunch of my notes-not all the cheery happy ones either as a gift, a reminder to stay strong and have faith that that there was so much more out there. Have I ever said thank you good friend?
So here is my metaphor-blogging the new technology of notes. I have reconnected with friends. through our writing we post of ourselves. I have met new friends with new "notes". The notes still come in funny folded ways-ever check out the backgrounds and fonts of your blogger friends? No two are the same. We share happy and humorous things, sad and scary things or just Hey how you doing things, drop it in a locker and connect with someone each day or every few days in a small way.
It is not the same as the phone or the touch of the person sitting next to you but hey when you are busy tuning out the algebra teacher or a couple of squabbling kids or have something you are busting to share or get another view on call it a note or a blog but it works.
Thanks for sharing my midnight ramblings if you made it this far:)
Notewriting in high school (trust me those who are new to ME when I say I am not pining for high school-ask Carey, Chris or Karen) but the whole blogger-note writing connection is pretty weird.
I think back to the notes we wrote ALL the time-or at least I did. Especially during Spanish class. I don't think there was a day that went by that I didn't write a note or get a note in my locker. You know when you opened your locker and a little folded up in a cool way piece of paper dropped onto the floor and you couldn't wait to read it. (Kind of like seeing if I have any comments on my postings or if someone posted on their blog)
Some notes were short, happy, gossipy-just a hey I'm bored what are you up to.
Some notes were long, sappy and sad or borderline temper tantrums (well OK mostly mine were tantrums or as I see them now playing the maytr-sorry Carey-who listened to 3 years of venting)
Some were drawings and jokes and deepest fears and worries (looking back all small stuff of course)
I know Chris had mentioned she had found a bunch of notes and how awesome it was to read them so much time later. It reminded me of a "book" Carey had given me-she had SAVED a bunch of my notes-not all the cheery happy ones either as a gift, a reminder to stay strong and have faith that that there was so much more out there. Have I ever said thank you good friend?
So here is my metaphor-blogging the new technology of notes. I have reconnected with friends. through our writing we post of ourselves. I have met new friends with new "notes". The notes still come in funny folded ways-ever check out the backgrounds and fonts of your blogger friends? No two are the same. We share happy and humorous things, sad and scary things or just Hey how you doing things, drop it in a locker and connect with someone each day or every few days in a small way.
It is not the same as the phone or the touch of the person sitting next to you but hey when you are busy tuning out the algebra teacher or a couple of squabbling kids or have something you are busting to share or get another view on call it a note or a blog but it works.
Thanks for sharing my midnight ramblings if you made it this far:)
work and play-and making progress
Ahhhh nothing like a good homework buzz to make me feel better. I soooooo love when my thoughts actually flow when writing a paper. On the downhill slide now. So taking a break and posting pictures of work and play. This is what my kitchen table looks like when homework takes over.
Nothing beats a slip and slide on a hot day. Well maybe some adult friends to share a beverage while kids enjoy the slip and slide-Want to come?
OK homework buzz OVER, A just tells me the stuff in our FULL SIZE garage freezer is soft and melting. CRAP, CRAP, CRAP-gotta go
Atomic fire balls in a new light
So we are at Sam's Club and hubby asks us to pick up a big tub of the atomic fireballs (jawbreakers). We are walking out of the store and Q says "Dad is going to be happy we got his hot balls" . I say "Yes, he likes his fire balls."
Q says- "Yeah you can call them hot balls to" pause "Like these hot balls right here" gleefully and loudly as he lifts his leg and points-yeah you know where.
Hopefully the lady walking by us did not hear or see him. Outwardly I reprimanded him but inside I was laughing my ass off and mortified at the same time. I still laugh when I think about it.
Having an older brother who learns wonderful vocabulary on the playground is such a benefit for a naive 6 year old.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Bummer of a Day
Today was just a downright bummer.
Bummer #1 Woke up this morning and realized I hadn't seen the cat since last night. She is not one to hide so she must have gotten out when a door was open somehow. We have walked the sidewalks but no sightings yet.
Bummer number 2-Older son is going to baseball camp this week because he really wants to give it a try. The quality of instruction is lame to say the least. A bunch of Steven's jocks goofing around and doing more hitting and catching then any of the kids. The 6-12 year olds are just batting off of a tee-enough said. So A first gets hit with a ball in the nose and glasses-he cries-anything messing with his glasses worries him. Then he tells me some older kid was talking about him not being able to catch anything and there is only one kid who offers to be his catching partner. Just reaffirms my feelings about organized sports.
Bummer 2.5-Left my workout early to make sure oldest son was ok at the camp because it was heat stroke temperatures and not sure the little highschoolers would be paying attention. They did get that right-turned the sprinklers on for about 5 minutes for the boys to run around in.
Bummer number 3-Had planned on putting a movie in for the boys (a treat-movie day isn't until Friday), since Shane was working late and I could get some homework done BUT remembered I grounded youngest son from TV for the rest of the day. I hate when the consequence actually punishes me!
So what is a bummed out mom to do? On our way home I turn the car around and tell the boys for tonight we are eating dessert first and head towards our favorite ice cream place and order the biggest, sweetest most fattening thing on the menu-no sharing we each get something. AND apologize for being a bummed out mom.
Bummer #1 Woke up this morning and realized I hadn't seen the cat since last night. She is not one to hide so she must have gotten out when a door was open somehow. We have walked the sidewalks but no sightings yet.
Bummer number 2-Older son is going to baseball camp this week because he really wants to give it a try. The quality of instruction is lame to say the least. A bunch of Steven's jocks goofing around and doing more hitting and catching then any of the kids. The 6-12 year olds are just batting off of a tee-enough said. So A first gets hit with a ball in the nose and glasses-he cries-anything messing with his glasses worries him. Then he tells me some older kid was talking about him not being able to catch anything and there is only one kid who offers to be his catching partner. Just reaffirms my feelings about organized sports.
Bummer 2.5-Left my workout early to make sure oldest son was ok at the camp because it was heat stroke temperatures and not sure the little highschoolers would be paying attention. They did get that right-turned the sprinklers on for about 5 minutes for the boys to run around in.
Bummer number 3-Had planned on putting a movie in for the boys (a treat-movie day isn't until Friday), since Shane was working late and I could get some homework done BUT remembered I grounded youngest son from TV for the rest of the day. I hate when the consequence actually punishes me!
So what is a bummed out mom to do? On our way home I turn the car around and tell the boys for tonight we are eating dessert first and head towards our favorite ice cream place and order the biggest, sweetest most fattening thing on the menu-no sharing we each get something. AND apologize for being a bummed out mom.
Procrastination
Procrastination defined:
-to put off intentionally and habitually
-The act of postponing, delaying or putting off, especially out of habitual carelessness or laziness
-Procrastination is a type of behaviour which is characterised by deferment of actions or tasks to a later time. Psychologists often cite procrastination as a mechanism for coping with the anxiety associated with starting or completing any task or decision
The last one is pretty deep.
Whatever it is I have it with the the 2 five page papers, 1 -2 page paper and one powerpoint presentation for my masters. Some are not due until the first of August, but trying to block out time-uninterruped time here at home is a pain. The boys are fine, it is me I can think of a zillion other things to do. Oh well
-to put off intentionally and habitually
-The act of postponing, delaying or putting off, especially out of habitual carelessness or laziness
-Procrastination is a type of behaviour which is characterised by deferment of actions or tasks to a later time. Psychologists often cite procrastination as a mechanism for coping with the anxiety associated with starting or completing any task or decision
The last one is pretty deep.
Whatever it is I have it with the the 2 five page papers, 1 -2 page paper and one powerpoint presentation for my masters. Some are not due until the first of August, but trying to block out time-uninterruped time here at home is a pain. The boys are fine, it is me I can think of a zillion other things to do. Oh well
Thursday, July 10, 2008
my own smart-ass child
Ok, so my 6 year old comes in a close 2nd to Karen's with being a smarty pants when it comes to taking pics. Yes, he did it on purpose. My favorite caption for the picuture:
"Object in picture is larger then it appears" (You know like the have on the car mirror)
Sadly though the caption doesn't fit, picture shows actual size
fun mom day
Quinn's quote as we get in the car says it all:
"Hey Alec don't you think this is the best of your life? I think it is mine"
Fun mom day list: dinosaur park/grasshopper hunting, storybook island and crawdad hunting
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
A not fun mom day
Today was probably the first day of summer that we did nothing super dooper fun. Kind of by choice and kind of by accident. Had pool plans in the back of my head but a little behavior issue cancelled that out and once I got to doing stuff around the house there was just no stopping me.
Here is the list of the not fun things that happened or I accomplished today:
Cleaned under the boys beds-wow it was like a finding a whole toy box under there
Listened to whining about summer school work-kept my words/temper to myself, waited it out and ta-da done in no time
Finished the laundry that has been only done in bits and pieces for the last two weeks
Homework-mine-I didn't whine but get REALLY distracted on the computer sometimes-my mouse has a mind of its own and heads to other places
Attempted to go to the Y but my IPOD went dead-I am wimp-no music I head home-can catch a run/walk later
Forgot some things at the grocery store-need to go back
Forgot to NOT answer the phone and my in-laws-who happened to be in town- caught me home
Listened to lots of sibling arguing everytime the two kiddos where in the same 10 ft area together
Looked at my calendar a million times for gaps to travel to Sioux Falls and not finding a gap that fits in with everything else-grrrrrrr
Not a bad day all in all just some minor annoyances to vent-tomorrow fun day here we come
Here is the list of the not fun things that happened or I accomplished today:
Cleaned under the boys beds-wow it was like a finding a whole toy box under there
Listened to whining about summer school work-kept my words/temper to myself, waited it out and ta-da done in no time
Finished the laundry that has been only done in bits and pieces for the last two weeks
Homework-mine-I didn't whine but get REALLY distracted on the computer sometimes-my mouse has a mind of its own and heads to other places
Attempted to go to the Y but my IPOD went dead-I am wimp-no music I head home-can catch a run/walk later
Forgot some things at the grocery store-need to go back
Forgot to NOT answer the phone and my in-laws-who happened to be in town- caught me home
Listened to lots of sibling arguing everytime the two kiddos where in the same 10 ft area together
Looked at my calendar a million times for gaps to travel to Sioux Falls and not finding a gap that fits in with everything else-grrrrrrr
Not a bad day all in all just some minor annoyances to vent-tomorrow fun day here we come
Monday, July 7, 2008
Finally a lake day
Suree and I are trying to meet once a week for "fun mom" day. We both realize how much we need to drop everything sometimes and just be a fun mom with no time restraints or schedules. So today was the lake day.
These are the things I blew off today to have a fun mom day with Suree at the lake:
Laundry (sitting in the basket for a week)
Homework for two masters classes
Spring cleaning under the boys' beds (yeah I know it is summer-really blowing this one off)
Emptying dead roses from numerous jars I filled up for 4th of July party-I kind of like the withered look
The pics are Suree's kiddos-not a photogenic day for mine and I wasn't such a fun mom I was going to follow them into the muck and reeds to look for icky squishy stuff with hubby's prize camera.
On a side note about the pics from behind. When I look through my oodles of digital pics I have tons of my boys walking away from me. Today as I was posting this one of A-it made me sad and proud at the same time. I had a very deep thought as to why I love this pose so much. From the minute my boys were born that is my job, to raise them to stand on their own and walk away out into the world-to show everyone who they are. I see glimpes as they turn away of the person they are to become and what I hope for them to be and do and love.
I just hope-really hope they will look back at me from time to time.
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