Homework Accomplished

Thank you to all of you for your prayers and good wishes. I am not necessarily feeling any better and after an incredibly long night with my kids who don't understand the importance of sleep, I am still quite tired. But, I have gotten a lot of my homework done this morning and I'm feeling less stressful. Maybe I will get a nap later today after all.

I will have to share with you my experience of observating a classroom for my fieldwork assignment, but that will have to for another time. It was fun and insightful. It was at an OPEN school. I wasn't sure what that meant before I went. More later.

Not Feeling so Good

-bad head cold
-no sleep
-can't think
-lots of homework
-please pray

Update and Homework

Well, it's Saturday morning and last night was successful. We had about 9 here for the Bible Study and I was able to complete my chores on time. Although, I did not make it to the library, so a friend of mine took my books for me on her way home last night. The cinnamon rolls were a hit and they are now gone, we finished them up for breakfast and my children mostly behaved themselves. I missed part of it because I went and laid down with my baby until she fell asleep. and the house is still looking pretty good. now if I can just keep it that way.

Ok, on to something different, I have a quiz for those of you who are interested. This is from my human geography class.
If you counted every person in the whole world at the rate of one person per second, how long would it take?

And here's another assignment, this one from my education class. For our next class we have to bring an article or artifact that represents our culture/ethnicity or family and talk al little bit about it. It could be a traditional food, something handed down through the generations, etc. What would you bring and why?

12 Hours

Tonight, we resume the Bible Study in my house. We have been on break for the summer and tonight's the night we start up again. I have 12 hours to get ready. I have a million things to do.
-make B7's lunch√
-make hubby's dinner√
-fold laundry that's in the laundry baskets
-pick up dirty laundry off the floor since the laundry baskets are full
-put away folded laundry
-clean kitchen√
-clean bathroom√
-vacuum living room
-vacuum dining room (yes, we have carpet in our dining room!)
-clear off the clutter all over the desk√
-pick up entry way
-sweep and mop entry way floor
-pick up clutter in living room√
-make cinnamon rolls√
-clean mirrors
-start laundry all over again
-this of course does not include breakfasts and lunches to be made today, diapers to be changed and other misc. activities that may come up

Now I'm down to 11 1/2 hours, time to get a move on.

It's now 2:45 and I've completed the checked items, actually, with alot of help from my hubby! I should do okay, now i have to run to pick up my son from school and then we need to stop at the library and make a quick Target run and the boys want Pizza Hut for dinner.
and, I used my new best friend, the steam cleaner, to clean some of the gunk off the couch cushions!
I'll be exhausted tonight, but my house will be clean.

Study Habits of the mom and wife

I have A LOT of homework to do for school next weekend. A LOT! So, today, after dropping B4 off at Be Four, I headed to the coffee shop across the street for the 2 1/2 hours until I had to pick him up, thinking I could get some studying done. I ordered my coffee and my cream cheese coffee cake and sat down at a big table to spread out all my stuff. There were not alot of people in there, a couple of community service officers who really only got distracting when they started talking about how they hate the smell of puke when they have to clean it up. I did not think this was appropriate coffee shop talk, but it didn't last that long, so...
But then, in walked, LOUD TALKER! Now, I realize I wasn't at the library and I was taking my chances but I did not imagine having to listen to this guy talk from the other side of the restaurant. The thing, too, was that he was there with a girl and they were studying the Bible together. Which is great, but he was SO LOUD, that I couldn't do anything but listen. I don't know if this guy talks loud all the time, or if by reading the Bible out loud, real loud, he was in someway witnessing. Because, to me, and I enjoy hearing the Bible read out loud, it didn't feel like witnessing, it felt annoying. Now, how horrible does that sound to be annoyed by the Bible? Except that it was all of his comments that I had to listen to as well and those I definetly was not interested in listening to.
But, the rest of that story is that I did get some studying done, so, LOUD TALKER or not, I will be back there to study again. They do, after all, have Vienna Mousse coffee!!

My Life

Has anyone seen the commercial about my life? I don't know if commercials are the same all over the country or not or in Canada, but there is one about my life. I know we have a huge amount of political ads because we are a swing state. It floors me that some states don't see any of these ads and we are bombarded with them. Anyway, that's not the point.
This commercial starts with a woman on the phone, holding a baby. She says, "I gotta go" and puts the phone down. She then starts walking through her house - into the kitchen where 2 boys are having a food fight and snatches a bun out of midair, then into the living room where a girl is jumping on the couch and she motions for her to sit down, through the hallway where another boy is drawing on the wall and she takes the marker out of his hand on her way by and finally into the laundry room where another kid is standing in front of the dryer. She takes him by the collar of the shirt, moves him out of the way, opens the dryer door and pulls out a basket of eggs that are cracked and leaking everywhere. and then it's over. that's the commercial. I think it's for a battery, which doesn't make any sense, because I don't have a battery I can just switch out or recharge. (not a REAL battery). and I don't have that many kids, but the kids I do have could make that much of a mess and that's what I feel like I do, go from room to room putting out "fires". The interesting thing to me is that she doesn't ever stop to clean any of these messes up, she's gotta keep moving to see what trouble the other kids are causing. Yep, that's my life, no time for cleaning, just time for putting out fires. I can't wait until they are older. Maybe everything won't seem as overwhelming anymore. The good news is that my carpets got cleaned last night and they look real nice. I wonder how long they can stay that way.

Weekend College

So, I had school again this weekend. I spent 2 hours on Saturday in the computer lab learning how to use Blackboard and working on my E-portfolio. Not real complicated, but all new to me. and a little complicated because we use pc's at school and a mac at home. thankfully my hubby knows all things computers.
Then we went to the library and spent 1 1/2 hours learning how to use ERIC. I'm sure all you educational professionals know what this is, but I was unfamiliar with it, until Saturday. Now, I have research to do on my research paper.
Then I spent 3 1/2 hours on Sunday learning about birth rates, death rates, infant mortality rates, fertility rates from all around the world. Also, we discussed what factors play a role in where people live. Temperature, moisture, elevation. All so interesting, huh? Here's a little quiz for you. 22 of the major 25 cities (in the US) are on a river, big lake, or the ocean for the purpose of needing that water source. Which 3 cities are not? (one is sort of tricky)

poof!

My Blogroll just disappeared. Does anyone know where it went?

My new Best Friend

I hate doing housework. and I'm really lousy at it. But I have a new Best Friend. It's one of those steam cleaner things. I don't even know what it's called, but you've probably seen an infomercial for it. You fill it with water and then when it's hot you spray steam on everything and it all comes clean. I didn't really think something like this would work but I decided to try it. My mom bought one a while back and yesterday morning as I was making B7's lunch I decided to break it out. I cannot seem to get his lunch box clean no matter what I do. It has seams and sandwich crumbs get stuck in there. Well, the steam blasted all that junk out of there and it looked brand new. So then I decided to try it on the dishwaher. Cleaned that up real nice. and then I could not be stopped. I cleaned the fridge, the stove, the range hood, the microwave, the garbage and recycling bins, some junky spots on the floor, the stainless steel sink, a pot, the cupboards, a few walls, switch plates and now every where I look all I can see are things I could steam clean. It's quite fun actually. Oh and I cleaned the counter tops and the table. Not sure that was necessary, but, it was fun. I'm going to try it on the cushions of the couch. Do you think that would work?
Today I'm taking it into the bathroom!! The only problem is how quickly it runs out of water. I have to stop, unplug it, wait for it to cool off, fill it up again, plug it back in, wait for it to heat up again. But it's so fun, it's worth it!!

What it must be like

This is something that I cannot wrap my mind around. Yesterday, i was sitting in a playland Burger King with a friend so our kids could play together. After a bit, another family walked in and my friend said "Oh, hi Susan" Then she introduced us and said they went to grade school together, went to the same church, grew up in the same youth group and went on a missions trip to Mexico together when they were teenagers. This friend of mine lives in the house she grew up in, they bought it from her parents when they retired and moved "up north". In fact, I have another friend in the same situation. They live in the house she grew up, her kids go to the grade school she went to and they are all still in touch with most of the kids they've known since Kindergarten.
This boggles my mind. I have stayed in touch over the years with one childhood friend. We live no where near each other and due to some financial difficulties for her, it's very tough to stay in touch. But we know that no matter what, we would always be there for each other if needed.
That's it. I have absolutely no idea about anyone else I went to school with or to church with. What would that be like? My friend and her friend laughed over some memory of a birthday party where they all tried to put on make up. I have those memories, but there is no one to laugh with me over them.
I wish I did know where some of those friends are, Leah, Kerry, Brandy, Sherry. What are they doing today? do they have families? Do they ever think of me?
We moved so many times when I was a kid, I cannot imagine what it must be like to raise your kids in the house you grew up in, in the neighborhood you played in and at the same school with the same teachers that you had.
Sometimes, I'm glad the friends I have now don't know every single thing about me since childhood. But, at the same time, I wonder what it must be like.

Unbelievable

Over the last couple of days, my baby daughter has, at times, sort of pulled at her diaper and made funny noises. So, thinking she needed a diaper change, I would check and she didn't. But about 10 minutes later, she would.
So yesterday morning, when she did this, I decided to let her sit on the potty. She loves sitting on the potty.
and my 17 month and 21 day old baby POOPED on the potty!!!
Could this be true? I was in complete and total shock. Both my boys were very near 4 before they even realized we actually had a room in the house called the bathroom.
I'm not getting my hopes up, but, boy oh boy, will I be thrilled if she figures this out in the next few months. All you moms of girls, is this really happening or is this a one time "got lucky"?


On a completely different note, but almost just as unbelievable, I started school this weekend. I can't believe I was back on a campus after 12 years!! wow, the cool thing is that it's the same for almost everyone else. I think I will really enjoy it, although I have alot of homework to do. I have to write an essay on what it takes to be an effeective teacher and how I have those characteristics. Maybe I'll share it with you once I have it written. Yesterday I sat through 3.5 hours of how to read maps, lattitude and longitude and climate patterns of the earth. All interesting, but not really exciting. It will be a good class though. I just have to stay awake when he turns off the lights to show us all his slides!

Happy Birthday

This is a shout out to my new online friend Weebie! I would like to say "Happy Birthday"! Hope your day is filled with all the food you love, doing all the things you love with all the people you love.
May God richly bless you on this day and this year!
(and may all your gifts be returnable)
(in case you don't like them)
Have a great day, Weebie, I will raise my can of diet Coke to you and wish you all the best!!

Stay at Home Nothing

I read on someone's blog that she considers being a stay at home mom what she does, not who she is. (Let me know if it was you. Sorry I couldn't remember.)
This has caused me to do alot of thinking about this. I recently met a new Kindergarten mom at our school and she asked me if I worked and I said "No, I stay at home." Then I revised it and said, "Well, I try not to stay at home very much." Which leads me to ask: "Why am I considered a stay at home mom when I am rarely at home?" I am out running around all the time. Taking the boys to school, going to Target, going to buy groceries, going to the Library, meeting friends at the park, volunteering at the school, going out for a cup of coffee with a friend, trying to get some walking in, running errands with my husband, going to the bank. . . and on and on.
Seriously, I am not home that much. I like leaving the house.
Of course, than I can't really get much housework done. Which is probably the point.
But if that is not who I am, then who am I?
I'm a mom, a wife, a daughter, a sister, a friend, a teacher, a student. But is that really who I am? There has to be more to me than that, right? Other ways of defing who I am.
When I was a kid, my goal in life was to graduate from Bible School. Another goal/dream of mine was to take my husband to my favorite spot on the ocean in my favorite town of Everett Washington.
I graduated from Bible School in 1992 and I was able to take my husband to "my spot" in 2000.
It's kind of weird when you accomplish your dreams. I was left for awhile just living life, raising my kids, of course, with goals and dreams for them, but not really one of my own.
This summer I was able to go to Slovakia on a missions trip with my church. I completely fell in love with the people there, the country and the city of Bratislava. Now, I would love to one day be able to take my husband there to share that with him.
I also recently decided to go back to school. (I start tomorrow) I have decided to finally get my license to teach school.
It feels so good to have something I carry around in my heart as something that belongs to me, something I am doing and want to do that has only to do with me, that doesn't have anything to do with being a mom or a wife. This is all about me. and I don't think in a selfish way. Just in a way that makes me feel happier. and happier makes me a better mom and wife!!

Running Yellow Lights

Sunday was Communion. Our pastor spoke on David and how he was running alot of yellow lights when he allowed himself to stay home from war. If you run enough yellow lights you will start running red lights, which is what David did when he had Bathsheba brought to him. You know the story. Anyway, he went on to talk about our lives and what yellow lights are we running. Well, instantly, God brought something to my mind and asked if I would be willing to give this thing up. I knew in my heart I would because I want to please God. But I gotta tell you, I bawled through the rest of the service because of the struggle going on inside of me. I could not believe how much I did not want to do this. And it's not just that this thing is such a bad thing, but what was wrong about it was my sense of entitlement. The pastor had talked about how David felt entitled to so much and how that brings you to believe what you are doing is just fine. I had alot of reasons why this was ok, but with one swift moving of the Holy Spirit, God showed me what was wrong about it. It was how I felt entitled. I knew I had to deal with this or I wouldn't be able to go to the Communion Table. I cried and cried and told God yes, and took Communion, but it was very hard and I didn't immediately feel wonderful, or peaceful. I just have to trust Him and obey His word. feelings or not.

Pure Happiness

Just a quick note before getting everyone ready for church to tell you one of the happiest moments I've really stopped to enjoy in awhile. (if you know what I mean). We were out for ice cream last night (Cold Stone, of course) and as we were driving home, B4 was sharing his ice cream with his little sister. He would take a scoop and say, "Here comes the train, open the tunnel" and she would open up, take a bite and lean back in her car seat and giggle. Then B4 would say "Here comes the airplane, open the glider(?)" and she would take a bite and giggle. Over and over, he would come up with new things to say and she was loving it. I love to hear her giggle and because it was her brother who was the cause of it just made it all that sweeter. Plus, he was willing to share all that ice cream with her. (I am reluctant to share mine.)

The Down Side

I have come to really enjoy the blogging world. I have always been a "journaler" and this is a great way to do that. I feel like I have made some friends and I really enjoy reading up on them everyday and having them come by and "visit" me. I have read all different kinds of blogs and will continue to do so. But I have found that there are some blogs that I just have to stay away from. and this is what I see as the down side. Every once in awhile, I will revisit one of these sites and then remember why I shouldn't have. They make me SO angry. and then I'm left with all these emotions and I don't know what to do with them. I can't leave a comment because for one, my point of view is not welcome and for another, I'm so upset I would only say nasty things, which doesn't shine the light of Jesus real well. But when people say such one sided, ridiculous things, it really makes my blood boil.
So, I HAVE to stay away from those blogs. For my own sanity and for the sanity of those around me. I hate the feeling of carrying around that anger with me and not really knowing how to deal with it.
Does anyone else ever experience this? and why can't I just "let it go"?

PTA and Pot Belly Pigs

So, last night was the first night of PTA meeting since school starting and after solving all the problems inside at the meeting, a few of us were standing around outside solving the rest of life's problems. We talked about this and that, but then the topic shifted to pot belly pigs as pets. Not sure how this happened, but there we were. and to my surprise, one of my really good friends told us all that when she first got married, her and her husband had a pot belly pig for a pet. I was speechless. I had never heard this before. She went on to tell this whole story of how when they got the pig they were told it was a miniature and would never get over 30lbs. The pig ended up over 180lbs. He hated everyone who came to their house and would chase them around and try to bite them. He ate the couch, knocked over the TV so he could eat the pinecone wreath that was on top of it, ate over 10lbs of apples that were on the kitchen counter and I'm sure much more. So I asked, because I just had to know, "does the pig go outside to go potty?" anyone want to guess the answer to this? The answer is, "No" The pig uses big pig sized litter boxes or the rest of the house if he was mad at them.
Unbelievable. They finally had to get rid of the pig and took him to a pig rescue lady. Yes, you read that right. In fact, this lady loves pigs so much she once gave one mouth to mouth recessitation to save its life.
Try as I might, I could not come up with a story to top that. Apparently no one else could either, because then we all got in our cars and went home.

LOL

Okay, I've decided I'm going to do it and prove to everyone what an idiot I am. How do you know what all those initials stand for and how come everyone knows but me?
LOL-laughing out loud. I think. That's the only one I know. But there are lots of others that people use. I can't remember them right now. I just know I have no idea what it all means!!
who can help me?
PS, if it contains a nasty word, I would rather not know.

First day of Second Grade and Snow White

Today was the big day for B7. 2nd grade. They are doing construction on our school right now so the doors where the 2nd graders would normally go in are sort of inaccessible. So they told everybody to line up at the front doors, except nobody really knew what was happening. There were kids everywhere!! Finally, the 2nd grade teachers came out the side door and called them over and wrote their classroom numbers on the pavement so they would know where to line up. A bit unorganized this morning. I'm thinking they did not think that far in advance!! But they all got in there safe and sound and my son walked in without looking back at me wildly waving at him.
Then we had to go over to B4's school to meet with his teacher for a goal setting conference. I had met her the other night but my husband had not and I was anxious for him to meet her. She is so soft spoken and happy and gentle and smiley that at first it doesn't seem like it could really be her. But that's what she is like, you really have to listen closely or you will not know what she is saying. Some of the other parents had commented that she looked like Snow White. I really didn't know because as a kid I had never seen any of the fairy tales and we don't have then now for our kids. (My mom wouldn't let us see anything with a witch in it). I just assumed they were all blond with blue eyes. So after we met with her and we left my husband looked over at me and said "Oh yeah, she's Snow White, alright!"
So, I'm not sure if it's a good thing or not that he has Snow White for a teacher. ha ha