First Week and a Half of School

After five weeks of off track, it's been a long two weeks.

Andrew was home the first day back due to asthma issues, but then went to school just fine. He had a hard time getting back into the swing of things. All that time off made us all a little lazy. Lindsey had her second round of croup. I'm really glad it's going to be warmer this week so they can get out of the house and stop infecting the rest of us.

Andrew finally had his birthday party. It's only a month late, but he had it. (I guess that Mom of the year award had eluded my grasp once again this year.) He had wanted laser tag and I was perplexed as to where to have it. I looked and finally found Laser Quest. It's all laser tag all the time. And really loud. The children all had fun, if the chatting afterwards was any indication.

Next is Lindsey's birthday. The dilemma of a five year old deciding what to do is going to send me to an early grave. She is however very funny while discussing it. I'm not even sure that she's actually made up her mind and we only have 2 weeks to go. Hopefully I'll be a little more organized for hers.

That is all that has been happening in the house of Thomas. I'm still here and alive and can't wait for summer so I can take the kids out to run off their energy.

The Lovely Ballerina...and Brother

Having been out of town last year for individual photos, for dance, I decided to take them myself. I should be able to do as well as a photographer. I have a great camera, lots of things for backdrops, extra lights, and friends that will loan me any of the items above I might need. I, however, did not take into account that I would be taking pictures of MY children. Yes, those children, I have to yell at to be heard. The children to whom I have to repeat EVERYTHING I say a minimum of three times. The children ... you get the picture.

So the result is passable, but we will have the "professional" take them this year.

Who is FlyLady?????

Okay, maybe I missed a blog somewhere, but as I read my fellow bloggers posts I am still not sure who this mysterious woman is. My imagination abounds. So instead of letting my deprived adult mind wonder, I google her. Well this is what I find.

Are YOU living in CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome) like Franny in the pink sweats? Do you feel overwhelmed, overextended, and overdrawn? Hopeless and you don't know where to start? Don't worry friend, we've been there, too.

Step through the door and follow FlyLady as she weaves her way through housecleaning and organizing tips with homespun humor, daily musings about life and love, the Sidetracked Home Executives (SHE) system, and anything else that is on her mind.

When you join FlyLady, you will receive daily FLYmail. Your FLYing Lessons will guide you through babysteps to help you set up routines, get rid of your clutter, and put your home and life in order. FlyLady's approach has worked for thousands. Join anytime you want (there is no cost involved)! You are not behind - you are just getting started! Read FlyLady's personal testimony in WhyFly? Don't be overwhelmed by all the material on this site - take it a little piece at time - baby steps. To get started, check out the FLYing Lessons - it will tell you how to begin. You can have this peace too, and it won't cost you a dime!

Okay, so now I know why I don't know who FlyLady is. She has never visited my house. Before DH, DS & DD I was sort of organized and my days thought out sometimes. I planned trips, school work, evenings out with my friends, etc. Thanks solely to my dad, who is a Virgo. (Those of you who have ever lived with a Virgo know what I mean!)

Then I got married, and my life fell to an unorganized state. Not that my husband is a slob because he was relatively organized when I met him. The problem is we save (almost) everything. Now I'm not near as bad as some of the people you see on those HGTV shows, but I do scurry around picking up prior to anyone coming over. That is one of the reasons, I don't like drop in visitors. My friends and family know this character flaw, so they are welcome anytime. However, I have been known not to answer the door if someone knocks unannounced.

I am wondering if the FlyLady can turn this:

Into this:

If so, I am signing up. I need to hear some testimonials from my fellow bloggers.

Catching up....?

Since all of my fellow bloggers have already posted many times in the new year, I feel a little lacking in comparison.

This year started out great, however, Andrew had a recurrence of Strep Throat. He is now on his second round of antibiotics. He is not contagious and is feeling better, but what a way to start the new year.

Two more weeks until the kids track back on at school. I can hardly wait. I so look forward to having them off and at home. The mother in me thinks that we will have hearfelt conversations, snuggle on the sofa and watch movies (that we all love), the children will play together nicely and all will be well with the world. As I listen to them argue over ... (who knows what) ... I think all the way back to last night when they were sleeping and they looked so angelic. I wanted to wake them up and just hold them. It's amazing that a couple hours can seem like a lifetime ago.

While I am an only child, I do not understand the nick picking, the tormenting, the annoyance and the sheer terror of having a sibling. I actually look forward to having one of them to myself, because they are then the children I thought I would have.

Enough of the self pity!! Now that the holidays are behind us and the new year is ahead I have several thoughts for you (12 on the 12th):

~ The statistics on sanity are that one out of every four Americans is suffering from some form of mental illness. Think of your three best friends. If they're OK, then it's you." -Rita Mae Brown, writer and activist

~ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst, for they are sticking to their diets.

~ Life is an endless struggle full of frustrations and challenges, but eventually you find a hairstylist you like.

~ Stress reducer; Put a bag on your head. Mark it "closed for remodeling". *Caution - leave air holes.

~ The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing in the right place, but also to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.

~ God put me on earth to accomplish a certain number of things. Right now I am so far behind, I will live forever.

~ Insanity is my only means of relaxation.

~ It's frustrating when you know all the answers, but nobody bothers to ask you the questions.

~ Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I can get.

~ There cannot be a crisis this week; my schedule is already full.

~ "Cute as a button" Is that supposed to be a compliment? Since when are buttons cute?

~ Why are people so scared of mice, yet we all love Mickey Mouse?

Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year Everyone!

After a month of illnesses, we are finally all healthy. We have survived colds, bronchitis, and strep throat. We are so happy to have all of that behind us and are ready to start the new year healthy.

The holidays were pretty uneventful. We spent Christmas Eve with my parents and Christmas Day here at home. The kids made out better than we ever did as kids. The big gift this year seems to be Nintendo DS. It looks like a lot of the second graders in my son's class got them and all they can talk about are the games.

It was a musical holiday here. DD got a guitar. Since she's only (almost) 6, it is a 3/4 and I'm not sure she realizes that it is an actual instrument. We are looking into lessons for her. I got a keyboard, I guess that I now have to actually play, like I have been talking about for the last five years. I may need to take more lessons myself.

Balls, balls, and more balls!

Make a slideshow - it's easy!

Ms. Tracey had her annual Ornament exchange party. This is the first year I was able to attend. Fun was had by all. The ornaments were pretty and lots of imaginative ideas. We all had fun with "taking" each others balls (glass ball ornaments).

Of course, when you get a bunch of women, who all know each other, together and add in libations, we were all laughing about lots of things. Mostly the balls that were given. Balls of all different sizes, large, small, dangly, and stinky sticks. Lots of fun men would not understand!!

Fiesta Anyone?

Make a slideshow - it's easy!

My second grader's class is studing Mexico. Instead of having a holiday party, the teachers decided to to have a Fiesta. The kids did the Mexican Hat Dance, ate an assortment of "Mexican" food and broke a pinata. The past couple weeks, they have also made woven placemats, masks, ponchos and a pinata. The kids loved being involved in the festivities. They had such fun.