I just went to pick Matthew up from Religious Ed. We park near our Eucharistic chapel and had a clear view of the street. There was a young kid who I noticed was pushing his car. I thought about helping him, but was afraid of leaving the kids and or hurting my back with its history of sciatica. No excuses, I just watched and saw that he got his car off the busy road (he was very close when I noticed him). I would like to say I would have helped if he wasn't so close to a side road, but I didn't help and can't take credit for what happened next.
I noticed 2 pedestrians crossing the street to help him. (actually they were waiting for the light to turn) Before they could lend a hand, 2 people abandoned their cars in the street to help push and a third guy pulled over to help. FIVE people (and none of them me) helped this kid get his car off the street! It was so wonderful to watch.
In defense of my slacker self, I did help a kid push his (small) car in the library parking lot a few weeks ago, when I didn't have to abandon my kids to do it :) Anyway the point of the story wasn't that I DIDN'T help, it was that 5 people did!!!!
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Joel lost his first tooth
Ok - "lost" isn't the right word, since it was almost out and he asked me to pull it - and I did! I don't think I have ever successfully pulled out a tooth before, but it was really loose and bothering him. He might also have had the "tooth-fairy itch!"
What we've been up to!
We have had a nice end to winter, although the weather has been a bit of a puzzle. Twice in the last week we have awoken to 1 1/2 to 2 inches of snow on the ground, only to have nice enough weather to walk and get the kids at 3:00 - and no snow. I should probably do several posts - but I am throwing everything together.
Anna's two loves - crafts and being outside (even if it raining she asks to go out). I took this picture one afternoon when it was snowing, but pretty lovely. It was the first of two days when it snowed 1 1/2 inches and melted before 11:00, but was still snowing! Crazy weather.
Matthew's big project of March was his atom - Sodium. We went to Michael's craft store to try to find materials to make this lovely atom, but they were low in stock of styrofoam balls and we decided that wasn't very original since there were two other 6th graders there buying styrofoam balls at the same time. We were brainstorming on the way home and we remembered Joel's Pokeball Pinata and we had our idea. Matthew thought of using Easter Eggs as the Neutrons and Protons. Aunt Mary came to the rescue with beads and wire for the electrons!
We went to see Grandma and Grandpa Schilling at the start of Spring Break but forgot the camera. We went to the Twin Cities (Triplett Cities if you count Bloomington, where we stayed - near the Mall of America). Ken was working at his Minnetonka office and we played!
LEGO LAND:
We were able to meet our friend's B. and C. If you haven't hear the story, B and C let Ken live with them for 4 months after our respective room-mates married each other, but before our own wedding date. They were and are the best.
There is the Nickelodeon Amusement Park in the Mall of America and the kids (minus Anna) enjoyed this ride 2 years ago when we went as well as this year.
I didn't bring a stroller and Anna was ready to go back to swim at the hotel shortly after lunch. I was very glad I didn't spring for the "all the rides you want" arm bands, because she was ready to go before we spent 1/4th that amount in the "ride-points" I had bought. She did love the carousel and this Blue's Clues ride.
Carolyn chose to get her face painted rather than go on a 2nd ride. Anna of course wanted to join in the fun. Glad we took the photo, since we went swimming a few hours later!
Joel had a look of extreme joy during this ride (although not this photo). His face made it worth the entire trip. Matthew road a large coaster, but I didn't get a photo, as I was just busy trying not to misplace anyone.
Carolyn LOVES the American Girl concept. She doesn't own an actual doll, but she has 2 Our Generation Dolls, that look a lot like them. She has contemplated spending her Christmas money from her Grandparents on the real thing, but knows that she wouldn't have any money to spend until her birthday and hasn't taken the leap. We did go into the American Girl store though! She bought her Jenny doll glasses for $8! eish - Especially pricey since she stepped on them within the first week of their purchase. They are still functional, but a little more fragile now. They do look cute on Jenny, but don't have a photo to prove it :)
Anna's two loves - crafts and being outside (even if it raining she asks to go out). I took this picture one afternoon when it was snowing, but pretty lovely. It was the first of two days when it snowed 1 1/2 inches and melted before 11:00, but was still snowing! Crazy weather.
Matthew's big project of March was his atom - Sodium. We went to Michael's craft store to try to find materials to make this lovely atom, but they were low in stock of styrofoam balls and we decided that wasn't very original since there were two other 6th graders there buying styrofoam balls at the same time. We were brainstorming on the way home and we remembered Joel's Pokeball Pinata and we had our idea. Matthew thought of using Easter Eggs as the Neutrons and Protons. Aunt Mary came to the rescue with beads and wire for the electrons!
We went to see Grandma and Grandpa Schilling at the start of Spring Break but forgot the camera. We went to the Twin Cities (Triplett Cities if you count Bloomington, where we stayed - near the Mall of America). Ken was working at his Minnetonka office and we played!
LEGO LAND:
We were able to meet our friend's B. and C. If you haven't hear the story, B and C let Ken live with them for 4 months after our respective room-mates married each other, but before our own wedding date. They were and are the best.
There is the Nickelodeon Amusement Park in the Mall of America and the kids (minus Anna) enjoyed this ride 2 years ago when we went as well as this year.
I didn't bring a stroller and Anna was ready to go back to swim at the hotel shortly after lunch. I was very glad I didn't spring for the "all the rides you want" arm bands, because she was ready to go before we spent 1/4th that amount in the "ride-points" I had bought. She did love the carousel and this Blue's Clues ride.
Carolyn chose to get her face painted rather than go on a 2nd ride. Anna of course wanted to join in the fun. Glad we took the photo, since we went swimming a few hours later!
Joel had a look of extreme joy during this ride (although not this photo). His face made it worth the entire trip. Matthew road a large coaster, but I didn't get a photo, as I was just busy trying not to misplace anyone.
Carolyn LOVES the American Girl concept. She doesn't own an actual doll, but she has 2 Our Generation Dolls, that look a lot like them. She has contemplated spending her Christmas money from her Grandparents on the real thing, but knows that she wouldn't have any money to spend until her birthday and hasn't taken the leap. We did go into the American Girl store though! She bought her Jenny doll glasses for $8! eish - Especially pricey since she stepped on them within the first week of their purchase. They are still functional, but a little more fragile now. They do look cute on Jenny, but don't have a photo to prove it :)
Monday, February 21, 2011
Pep Talk
Today is the First Day of the rest of my life!
I am having a conquer the world kind of moment. I awoke with my husband's alarm clock at 5:45, so I have a bit of free time this a.m. The kids don't have school today or we would be already in the middle of the morning rush.
I have come up with strategies to balance the things that I am "struggling" with today and so Here I Go! (struggles = budgeting...food, time, money)
If you haven't figured out...this is a pep-talk blog with a couple pictures thrown in for good measure.
Here are 3 of the kiddos playing in the snow. It is a few weeks out of date and I am happy to report we are snow free. Our temps got to 68 degrees last week, but have returned to the 30s today. The week before last we had some negative digits - it's hard to figure out!
Anna loves to be outside. She doesn't care if it is raining and -4 degrees, she still asks if she can play outside. There can be ice covering every surface and she will ask, "Can I ride my bike?". I do remember all my other kids with similar attitudes at her age. Joel actually is outside the most of any of my kids, because he can be outside alone and he loves to shoot hoops and ride his bike and play in the snow. I might have mentioned this before...but it was Joel (w/ a bit of assistance from Ken) who helped Anna build the snowmen in the last post. When he isn't fighting with Anna, he is very sweet with her.
Carolyn likes to be outside and has done her share of sledding this winter. That said, she also loves to curl up with a good book. (I should get a picture of THAT if I want to remember her childhood.) My mom said I read all the time, but I think she reads more than I did...but maybe it is just a change in perception. Now that I am the person who is always saying, "stop reading and get your jobs done", maybe it just feels like she is reading more. A sweet Carolyn note - early January she and I were at the Dollar Tree and she was already thinking about what she was going to buy everyone for Valentine's Day. She used her own money and bought everyone a treat. She isn't the best at keeping a secret :) but I love her generous spirit. It is rubbing off, as Joel just bought Carolyn a birthday present at the book fair. (Her birthday is about a 1/2 a year away.)
If you haven't noticed, Matthew is NOT in the snowy picture at the start of this post. He did go sledding once when Ken took the kids to their favorite hill. Other than that he hasn't really joined in. He has been a help shoveling, but doesn't seem to crave the white stuff anymore. When he was little he wanted to be outside 24/7! Now, not so much. Last year, he was out less than the other kids, but this year he has had almost no interest in the frigid temps. Another change in Matthew is that he has become a wonderful baby-sitter. He actually PLAYS with Anna. The other day, Ken had to leave with Joel and Carolyn about 5 minutes before I got home. I arrived to find Matthew playing Sweet-Streets (small doll-houses) with Anna. Later that day, even though he wasn't officially baby-sitting, he was playing hide and seek with her. I love to see that tender, care giving, side in him.
Ok - it is hours after I started this post and now our house is in full swing. Wish me luck as I go try to balance the day!
I am having a conquer the world kind of moment. I awoke with my husband's alarm clock at 5:45, so I have a bit of free time this a.m. The kids don't have school today or we would be already in the middle of the morning rush.
I have come up with strategies to balance the things that I am "struggling" with today and so Here I Go! (struggles = budgeting...food, time, money)
If you haven't figured out...this is a pep-talk blog with a couple pictures thrown in for good measure.
Here are 3 of the kiddos playing in the snow. It is a few weeks out of date and I am happy to report we are snow free. Our temps got to 68 degrees last week, but have returned to the 30s today. The week before last we had some negative digits - it's hard to figure out!
Anna loves to be outside. She doesn't care if it is raining and -4 degrees, she still asks if she can play outside. There can be ice covering every surface and she will ask, "Can I ride my bike?". I do remember all my other kids with similar attitudes at her age. Joel actually is outside the most of any of my kids, because he can be outside alone and he loves to shoot hoops and ride his bike and play in the snow. I might have mentioned this before...but it was Joel (w/ a bit of assistance from Ken) who helped Anna build the snowmen in the last post. When he isn't fighting with Anna, he is very sweet with her.
Carolyn likes to be outside and has done her share of sledding this winter. That said, she also loves to curl up with a good book. (I should get a picture of THAT if I want to remember her childhood.) My mom said I read all the time, but I think she reads more than I did...but maybe it is just a change in perception. Now that I am the person who is always saying, "stop reading and get your jobs done", maybe it just feels like she is reading more. A sweet Carolyn note - early January she and I were at the Dollar Tree and she was already thinking about what she was going to buy everyone for Valentine's Day. She used her own money and bought everyone a treat. She isn't the best at keeping a secret :) but I love her generous spirit. It is rubbing off, as Joel just bought Carolyn a birthday present at the book fair. (Her birthday is about a 1/2 a year away.)
If you haven't noticed, Matthew is NOT in the snowy picture at the start of this post. He did go sledding once when Ken took the kids to their favorite hill. Other than that he hasn't really joined in. He has been a help shoveling, but doesn't seem to crave the white stuff anymore. When he was little he wanted to be outside 24/7! Now, not so much. Last year, he was out less than the other kids, but this year he has had almost no interest in the frigid temps. Another change in Matthew is that he has become a wonderful baby-sitter. He actually PLAYS with Anna. The other day, Ken had to leave with Joel and Carolyn about 5 minutes before I got home. I arrived to find Matthew playing Sweet-Streets (small doll-houses) with Anna. Later that day, even though he wasn't officially baby-sitting, he was playing hide and seek with her. I love to see that tender, care giving, side in him.
Ok - it is hours after I started this post and now our house is in full swing. Wish me luck as I go try to balance the day!
Monday, February 14, 2011
Sister Finds a New Home
This doll was my mother's as a child. It has been in her hope chest for years and now it has a new home. Sister is very pleased.
Sending Valentine's Day Love
We made some new friends last week, but they just aren't as warm and loving as you, Valentine.
Friday, February 11, 2011
My latest!
Well, Ken has been gone a bunch on business this month, so I had to make some other friends!
After that bit of levity, I will tell you that I have actually made a decision in the direction of sanity rather than financial responsibility. I have decided to NOT start working on my AuD in the late spring. (AuD = Audiology Doctorate, which is now the entry level degree in my field.) I have determined that I probably will have to get this degree eventually, but if I start this spring, I would have 2 summers with school. I will get the degree through a distance learning program with the University of Florida. It takes 18 months and for a few days I thought it would be great to have it finished right after Anna went to kindergarten. Then I got STRESSED OUT. I wasn't sleeping, having nightmares, etc. I decided that I haven't done enough work looking for more research jobs, nor have I gone to Boys Town to do my summer internship, so that I might feel clinically competent without returning to school right away. Nor have I tested the market to see if I can get PRN work with just my masters degree. No reason to get stressed out yet! I decided that if I have some time where I am making no money and instead spending money on school - THAT's OK. Better than being so busy for 10 months that I can't keep my head above water.
Please say a prayer that I can do the right things, and learn the right things to keep myself at least minimally employed in 2012 (when my current grant ends). Also that I make the right decisions regarding school and my career.
It is especially stressful, because I had just come up with a great budget last month and was working hard at paying off our mortgage before our kids start college and now - WHAMMO! The concept of a steady stream of work that I have had since 1993 is fading! I guess that is why budgets must sometimes be reworked.
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