And away they go...

The kids have off school for Thanksgiving break. Unfortunately, Phil & I still have another two days of work. So we were faced with something we hadn't considered before - the kids being on their own at home. As Abbie is 12, we knew that legally, this would be fine. We just weren't sure if sensibly it would be wise!

I know I have several wonderful friends that would keep my kids in a heartbeat, but that is a lot to ask when their kids are home too. So we were just planning to do it & pray the house didn't burn down in the process. Well, my sweet sister-in-law offered to care for our kids for the next 3 days. Pray for them, would you? ;)

Before they could change their minds (just kidding!) we packed up, prayed for Abbie to be healed from the flu, loaded the van, and drove up to Wichita to meet my brother. We sent him off with the kids and had a quiet drive home. The reinforcements (aka Grandpa & Grandma) will arrive in Kansas City tomorrow night to help out until we get there on Wednesday night. By then Aunt Natalie & Uncle Andrew might need a vacation of their own! ;)

It's the first time all four have gone off without us, so I had to "document" as they headed out the door with all of their stuff...

They really look too happy to be leaving us. I was hoping for some tears and not all of this unabashed excitement.

Life...as I now know it...

When I took this job in August, I imagined how my life would change...

Five days a week I care for a 5 year old boy with Downs syndrome. But there is nothing "down" about it. He's loving, silly, smiley, cuddly, and a lot of fun. He's a stinker too, for sure, but the good far outweighs the bad. Even on the hard days. And there are a lot of them.

I pick him up every morning at his home, which provides a neat opportunity to get to know his family, and for them to get to know me in turn. Some mornings he's ready to go, and other mornings, like this morning, he is kicking & screaming all the way to the car. We drive 20 minutes to school. Some times we listen to the radio, some times he sleeps and I enjoy the quiet, and every day I have the chance to pray over him and our day before it begins.

We hit the ground running once we get to school. Breakfast, attendance, recess, Speech, and Occupational therapy. 2 hours in and we're working one-on-one: counting, matching, cutting, drawing, grasping, rolling, tracing, sorting...and fighting. Usually he's fighting against what I want him to do. He has every excuse in the book. His tummy hurts, his leg hurts, he's hungry, he's tired, he can't. But my job is to stretch him and teach him and challenge him that he can.

By lunch I can see the end in sight. Another recess and then rest time, my favorite time of the day! I've gotten smart & we do exercises before we lay down to read a book. So instead of listening to him cuss me out for those 10 minutes, we're both getting a work-out & he takes a better nap! ;) Then there are centers and worksheets in the classroom, one last recess, and time to pack up & head home. Another quiet ride home and my day is done...

Not exactly. Once I drop my little guy off at his home, I have a few more minutes of respite before I start my second job. Or should I say, my primary job? And so begins the whirlwind of homework, supper, baths, stories, and bedtime. Deep breath. The kids are in bed. Now what? There's laundry, bills, dishes, piles, email...does it ever end?

None of this should surprise me.

I imagined how busy life would be. I've admired other moms who juggle work & home. But in my fantasy world I had endless energy to maintain it all. I hadn't anticipated what I would be giving up. An organized house for one. And you all know how the lack of it drives me bananas. ;) Free time. Time with friends over a cup of coffee, or over a sale rack at Old Navy, or over a plethora of card stock & scrap paper, or over a piece of pie. I love pie.

Life as I now know it is a little crazy. Well, maybe a lot. But I'm learning some things along the way. I'm learning that I can accept an unorganized home, even if I have to take some deep breaths. I'm learning laundry piles make people feel at home, because chances are they have them too! Supper doesn't have to be fancy. I've never heard the kids complain about Mac 'n' cheese or Ramen or Spaghetti or Pizza. And we're learning to all pitch in as a family to get things done.

So it's not what I anticipated.

But that's okay.

Fall projects

I'm not feeling so great today, so trying to get housework accomplished seemed like an impossibility. I was getting no where fast, and was feeling worse in the process. So I decided to scrap my dreams of a clean house & have a little fun instead. I "stole" the idea from school. The kids made pumpkins on Friday, but I realized we could print off any coloring page & make all kinds of different designs.

It's really easy. Just print off any coloring page & tape to a piece of construction paper. Lay the paper on a rug or carpet. With a push pin, gently poke holes through both papers, being sure to leave space between each hole. (If the holes are too close together, the paper will rip.) Make sure you get all the lines. Remove your "guide" & tape your picture to a window or glass door.

Here are a few others we made. They're all taped up in our living room window & it's fun to see the sun shining through the holes.

Turn back the clock...

There are days that I would love to turn back the clock & revisit "the good ol' days". My husband dreams of living in the 1800s. I'd be happy to relive 2007...or at least the day this sweet lil' thing first wore her prairie dress.

She's still sweet, but as you can see from the hemline,

she's not so little anymore!

Friday she got to live in 1910. Her class attended a one room schoolhouse at a local museum, ciphered on a slate, ate from a dinner bucket, and minded their P's and Q's.

I loved watching her studying up - "Mom, I have to know this word list, so I know what the teacher is talking about!" Last weekend she had fun making a lunch pail with her daddy & baking molasses cookies with her momma. I think all the preparation and anticipation made the experience more memorable.


She's was excited to experience school in 1910. It made me wish I could turn back the clock & be in 4th grade again...

A taste of country life...

What a fun day @ Daze in the Maze! I didn't think I'd be able to go on this field trip with my boys, but was excited when I got a call this morning with the news that I wouldn't have to go into work. We loaded up in the van, popped in a movie (the boys were excited they got to choose...usually their sisters do!), and headed south-east to Covington.

For us "city folk" it's a fun taste of country life - tractors, livestock, dirt, and lots of fresh air! We got lost in the tall "corn" maze, had fun at the "cow-asaurus" dig, enjoyed a hay ride, and had a blast jumping on the hay bales.

They were all excited about feeding the animals...until they saw me do it. Then they weren't too sure. They got a little freaked by the sheep & goats attacking the fence, but finally Noah got up his courage & did it! It might have helped that I sort of bribed him with a pop if he could go through with it. ;) But I'm glad he was brave enough to try. Daniel wouldn't go near the horse, but opted for the ponies instead.

"Not my job..."

There is a running joke between my husband & I.

It used to irritate us that we didn't see eye-to-eye on priorities when it came to cleaning. Plenty of arguments have ensued over this issue.

It doesn't bother him if it looks like a tornado went through our house & clutter is flung hither & yon. So long as the outside looks neat & trim, and the garage is somewhat organized. I, on the other hand, feel the pull to clean, and wash, and dust everything that exists inside the house. It has never concerned me when there are bikes, or rakes, or sports equipment littering the front yard, or that the backyard is sprinkled with okra stalks my boys chopped down (like it is now), or that the driveway is full of sawdust. I just don't see that as my "designated area". And I'm okay with that...even though my husband isn't. ;)

These days we've resigned ourselves to our differences & are trying to be thankful for the balance they provide - so that we can maintain orderliness both inside & outside our home. Well...as much as possible with four kids to help mess it up! ;)

So when Daniel's paper came home yesterday, we both had a good laugh @ his portrayal of us working...

Unexpected...

It wasn't the birthday I expected.

I have to admit, I wasn't too excited about having to go to work on my birthday. But...life. ;) It was a good day. Last night I had fun making brownie treats for the students at school & to send in my kids' lunches. One little girl asked if I was turning 15. It made up for the little boy that asked if I was pregnant. When I told him I wasn't, he wanted to know why I still looked pregnant. I told him to eat his brownie & hush up!

My husband surprised me with flowers (Gerbers -my favorite) & chocolate. Later I found out it was my girls who insisted I needed flowers & chocolate on my birthday. Thank goodness for daughters...who know what a mother who's been told she LOOKS PREGNANT needs!!

We ate supper at Cafe Garcia - a delicious Mexican restaurant in downtown Enid. On our way home what began as a discussion on gratuity, soon lead to government mandated this-and-that. Much to my husband's frustration, I wasn't listening. I informed him that I listen every other day of the year, but I don't have to on my birthday. Shortly thereafter, Noah started a story, then quickly interjected, "You can listen if you want, Mom."

And if that wasn't enough...I got to sit down & share a piece of birthday cake with my honey.

So, it wasn't the birthday I expected.

It was better.

It was a great way to end my 35th year of life...and begin the next.