Catching Up

I can't believe it has been 2 months since my last post! Then again, if I think about how my life has been for the last two months it should be no surprise. Here's my recap...

I have been struggling with my new teaching position. The school I have been placed is going through a very difficult transition. It used to be the school in the poorer part of town that all the white kids were bussed into, but since the end of forced bussing its population is changing dramatically. The school is about 90 - 95% black and it is in a very poor area of town. Needless to say, that the balance of kids is completely out of whack. I'm dealing with kids who simply do not know how to behave and many who are academically behind. My last few years of teaching had been difficult enough with chatty kids who made it hard to just teach. This makes all that look like a piece of cake! To make things more difficult, the school is overcrowded, and that leaves me without a classroom of my own. So I teach music on-a-carte... This is about the most counterintuitive solution for freeing up classrooms that I can think of. Imagine trying to carry books, instruments, CD's, and other classroom materials from room to room...Then trying to teach music and movement on one (two if I'm lucky) area rug. To make things more difficult, the school is on three levels and there is no elevator. This forces me to have 3 different carts. My stuff is spread out all over the school and needs transported between each class. I have plenty of plan time, but I spend it calling parents or moving things around from cart to cart. When I do get to sit down and plan, I have to try to find a spot at a table in the teachers lounge or library, but mostly I have to bring all my planning home. If I run out of time to do it at home, I go in really early on Monday and try to get caught up. Anyway, I'm not sure how, but I will somehow make it to the end of the year and then things will have to change, because this is wearing me so thin I don't think I could do it again.

On to happier things. Halloween was exhausting, but fun as usual. It is a really stressful time for us since it is the majority of our annual income, so there is a lot riding on the weather and attendance. I'm always amazed at how expensive it is to get things up and running, but since we raised the price $1 per ticket at the field, it helped. We didn't increase our attendance over the last couple of years, but things went well. The island added a new twist and it was not as busy as we had hoped, but we didn't lose much money on it. We are going to try it for one more year and hope it will make a profit next year. If it wasn't for the vandalism, we might have broken even.

I am enjoying lots of design work right now. I just wish it would have all come in January instead of August! I spend most Wednesday mornings and every Thursday with my client who is building the 2 million dollar home. It is really fun to see it all coming together. Since it is very custom, I feel like I get a lot of creative input. I have several others right now who are getting custom window treatments and bedding that I have designed. It is one of my favorite things to do, but again, I am so short on time that I am falling behind. I got my first commercial job. It is a temporary vet's therapy office. It is a remodel for a very short term office, so they are on a very tight budget. I'm hoping it will lead to work when they build the new building in a couple of years.

Aidan is enjoying third grade. He has a fabulous teacher. She is very thorough, and some how manages to get the best out of Aidan. His parent teacher conferences were great. She commented that he had a "flair for entertainment." I'm not sure where he gets that from... He continues to entertain the class at recess with many imaginative games and he appointed himself lead reporter for a class newspaper. He also recruited an editor and illustrator....and a printer (that would be me...). The newspaper has had one publication, but there is talk of another. A few days ago he was inquiring about Santa and trying to figure out how he could really make it around the world in one night. He made himself laugh and stated that he bet Santa was a "techie" and secretly used special rocket boosters and wheels. We laughed about it and he declared that he would make a publication about it to let all the kids in on Santa's secret!

Owen is cute as can be. Mostly I just get a glimpse of him before I'm off to work and around dinner and bedtime. But he is happy most of the time. He smiles and goes anywhere without much fuss. Friday night I thought I would drop him off with mom and he just wanted to go home. This was one of the only times I have seen him fuss about getting dropped off. He was just so tired and wanted his mom and his own home! Otherwise, he smiles and loves everyone who takes care of him. He has the cutest little voice and wants to say everything. I love it when he runs down the hall and falls or falls off of a stool and says "I'm okay!" It cracks me up. One day this past week he patted me lovingly on the arm and said "Good boy." It was so funny I laughed out loud. He tells me, Kip and Patsy that all the time now. I keep telling him that I'm a good girl but he insists that I'm a good boy! The one thing that I hope lasts for a while is how much he loves to cuddle. He says "mommas bed" every night and morning. He repeats it over and over until we get in the bed. In the morning when he wakes up, he cuddles up with me and repeats over and over "momma" in the most sweet and loving way. Then he rolls over to dad and does the same thing with "dadda." I know this will end all too soon, but I can only hope it doesn't!

It's getting SCARY around here!

A list of the scary things in our life at the moment:

1. Our Reading Material: A couple of nights ago, Aidan begged Kip to read him the story of Horace, the crazy clown uncle from Field of Screams. A few nights before that, he was reading the idea of a new story to Aidan - a letter documenting the "atrocities" at The Lair of the Wolf (AKA Isle of Screams). Also, our website content has been all about ordering things for Halloween and Aidan is pretty interested - always over your shoulder! Yes we are still reading great books. His favorite is still Harry Potter as he is re-reading the entire series. We are also enjoying the 39 Clues series together. Things revolve around all things gory and frightening this time of year, so I'm happy he still loves to read something else.

2. Our House. We are making a huge effort to keep the house picked up. When you are constantly in and out - dropping bags, shoes, mail, backpacks - it can become a real problem to keep on top of the mess. A week ago we resolved to pick up and make sure things were clean before we went to bed. We faired pretty good for a week, (We have a "clean-up" nazi...I won't name names...keeping us in check.) but I just walked in the house after another full day and the dishes were almost a mile high and there are toys everywhere! I was super hungry and exhausted, but I did the dishes because the nazi will be home soon...there are still toys everywhere...and the carpet is still not installed...and there is a pile of laundry that needs folded and put away...bills mail all over the table...

3. Our Hair: My dear sweet hairdresser sister hasn't made it this way in awhile....

Need I say more?

In case you didn't know...

I am busy! I hardly have enough time to think straight! I probably look and act like a complete scatterbrain these days. I am constantly tired. Really tired. I go through my days two steps behind the whole way. I kinda feel sorry for the people who only know me this time of year. It must be interesting.....

Anyway, thanks to my family who help me out and keep my boys happy. My sisters, my mom, and my mother-in-law. I am so lucky to have such great support. I love you guys!

Mishaps, Messes and the Bed on the Floor

My bed is on the floor. Aidan has taken over my bed on the floor. If we haven't heard boo from him in a while, he's probably doing this.....

or this.....

I was really excited to disassemble the bed and finally get my new carpet. This was my chance to wrap up the projects for the summer (yay!!!). It's been pretty difficult to deal with my house has looking like a construction zone for the past few months - Most of the time lately my kitchen counters are stacked with a wide array of paint cans, solvents, brushes, rollers, sandpaper, etc. I thought I would be putting everything back in place - nice and pretty that same night, but now I am dealing with this.....

My carpet installation didn't go so well. Apparently this picture proves it. As soon as the living room was installed, I knew there was a problem. The pattern was not looking straight at all. The installer felt really bad and called immediately to get me a new piece ordered. As the day continued, things didn't get any better. Finally, the installer called an inspector out and they determined that my carpet wasn't manufactured correctly and it couldn't be installed straight. Long story short, the manufacturer is sending an independent inspector out to check out the issue. He lives in Stillwater, OK. He is on vacation and can't be here until August 31. No new carpet can be ordered until he determines whether it is indeed a defect. It takes 2-3weeks to get new carpet. That puts me to the second half of Septemeber until I can get carpet - if the new carpet comes in straight. Right now, my carpet is duct taped together! I'm trying to be patient, but the tack strips in the closet have gotten my toes one time too many! We didn't reassemble the bed because we thought we would be moving the big bed out again soon.....Which is why our new favorite spot in the house is the bed on the floor. In the meantime, I guess we will have more of Aidan relaxing in my bed and we will get to see a lot more of Owen doing this.....

My Baby is Two!

It probably couldn't have been more perfect...Owen was a super sweet baby all day!!! Okay, I probably need to stop calling him "baby" or "the baby" all the time now that he has officially hit toddlerhood. He has been a bit of a bear lately so you can understand why I am not ready to let go of my baby and why I am so excited that he was so good. I have really been sweating the fact that I might have a terrible two year old on my hands. His personality to this point has been so easygoing. I'm still telling myself that this past month of clinging and crying whenever I walk out of the room... just a phase, right?

Anyway, his birthday was a wonderful day. We hung out around the house all day. He was not crying whenever I turned around and we played, napped, enjoyed ourselves. (I actually got work done!) Kip and Aidan had been gone on their daddy-son camping trip and we were really missing them. Owen inquired daily for the past week about "Aidan?" "Dada?" etc. - always wondering where they were or if that sound he just heard was Aidan playing. As their arrival time got closer, I told Owen that Aidan and Daddy were almost home. He got so excited that he started running in circles. We watched out the window and as soon as the truck pulled up, things got even crazier. When Aidan walked in, Owen was all over him! I don't know quite how to describe it. It was one of the sweetest things I have ever seen. Hugs and kisses were flying everywhere! My two boys reunited. Earlier in the day, I was beginning to feel a little guilty that we didn't have a big party for Owen. But the arrival of his "big brovers" and "dada" made his day. I loved it!!!

Aidan and I went to pick up a last minute cake and I accidentally messed up the frosting. The cake lady "fixed" it by putting the ring of white around it. We laughed so hard because it looked like our perfect sunshine cake had an accident and had to be put in a head wrap!

Owen was a little freaked out by the flames. Who knew?

Swing Away!

Monday when we were at the park for Aidan's picnic, he wanted me to push him on the swing. I thought this was really sweet - my newly nine-year-old still wanted pushed on the swing. Once I tired out from pushing his almost 80 pounds "Higher! Higher!" I sat on the swing beside him and we swung together. I don't know how long it has been since I've been on a swing.....but I forgot how fun it is - that exhilarating feeling of flying through the air! I've just been thinking of swinging since that night. Don't know why, but I guess it reminded me how lucky I am to get a glimpse of the wonderment childhood every day. But mostly, I've just been thinking I need to play more. Kids get to have so much fun, why can't I have some of it too? As I gear up for months of more work than I can handle, feel free to remind me.....

Another Year Older (sigh) or Halfway to 18 (double sigh)

We have officially wrapped up the month-long birthday celebration for Aidan. He is now a nine year old boy. Some people regard this as the beginning of the "tweens" of which I am thoroughly NOT ready for. He fits the description to a tee...One minute he is oh-so-boyishly cuddling with me on the couch, the next he is oh-so-teenagery rolling his eyes at me because I apparently said something utterly ridiculous. I can see some challenging teenage years in the near future all too well (insert loooong sigh).

July began with a bang...literally. The weekend of the fourth, Aidan was bombarded with parties, gifts, sweets, and fireworks. We had two birthday celebrations. The first one with my side of the family and all the summer birthdays. The second with his cousin Jacob on Kip's side of the family. He got more gifts than a boy could want and that was just the beginning.

Last week we invited 7 school friends to join us for swimming and laser tag. He loved it! We had a yummy cookie cake (thank you Joanna) and 3 rounds of laser tag...and more gifts than a boy could want.

Yesterday, after another fun day with cousins, I asked him what he wanted to do on his birthday since we were all done with parties. He declared that he was in charge all day and that we should cook out - so he was in charge, and we did cook out. He had a great day. Here's how it went: Sleeping in past 9, Cookies and Cream ice cream (his new favorite) for breakfast, lunch with Grammy, all the tv he could handle, and a picnic in the park.

We cooked spicy brauts (another favorite) at the park, took a paddle boat and a train ride, played on the equipment, swung as high as we could, frisbee, and cookies for dessert. Sounds like the perfect birthday to me! Oh yeah, and more gifts than a boy could want!

E-I-E-I-O

Everytime we say anything about the farm, Owen sings E-I-E-I-O. Then he repeats over and over "fahm, E-I-E-I-O, fahm, E-I-E-I-O." It's so cute!

It reminds me of Aidan as a little boy. He would always see McDonalds when we were in the car and yell "Old McDonalds!" I can't remember when the last time he asked me if we could get a chicken sandwich at "Old" McDonalds, but it doesn't seem like very long ago...time flies...

Spirit Names

We went swimming with my sister Jacque and her boys tonight. Aidan informed us while we were playing in and around the pool that he had given us all "spirit names" - for what purpose we have no idea. I'm not sure if they are random or if he had given it any previous thought, but here is the list of names he came up with:

Aidan - Dangerous Eagle
Riley - Fierce Lion
Aunt Jacque - Nice Dolphin
Reece - Chunky Chipmunk
Owen - Skinny Bird
Dad - Stinky Fox
Mom - Chunky Squirrell

I know that I would prefer any name that doesn't include "chunky" but I have to believe that he meant no harm to my ego. Kip has probably already forgotten that his spirit name includes the word "stinky."

I guess we can see his pecking order here!

My Awesome Brother

I've been dreaming of updating the tile in the entryway and on the fireplace for a few years now. My brother came to make my dreams come true this weekend.

Step 1: Demolition (Fun)

Step 2: Prep for Tile (Backerboard not fun)

Step 3: Lay Tile (hours later...kinda fun),

Step 4: Look at Pretty Tile and Smile (Really fun)

Step 5: Clean Up Mess (I'm sure you know the answer to this one)

Step 6: Wait (no, no, not another unfinished project...),

Step 7: Grout (I'll let you know how this goes - I'm on my own for this step).

Thank you Shawn!!!

Very Mini Vacation

We love to go to Tablerock Lake each summer. It seems like this summer has been flying by so we decided (kinda last minute) we better make a quick trip to the lake. We usually camp with the pop-up camper, but last year was so miserably hot, we decided to get a hotel. Down on Tuesday and back by late Thursday - it was the quickest trip we've ever made! The weather was cool enough that we could've camped and we had some rain most of Thursday. Despite all that, we did manage to have some fun. I loved playing tag in the water with Aidan. He and I laughed for about an hour with our game. Owen was finally comfortable getting in the water by day two on the boat and he giggles as we swished him around. He's going to be a little fish I think...

Haircut...Curls Gone...Again

I hope we see those curls again, but Owen looks like a new boy today. I loved the curls, but a few days ago I noticed he was pushing the hair out of his eyes, so I conceded it was time for a haircut. Jaime is pretty much a hair genius, but when she turned on those shears and Owen exclaimed "All done!" we knew we were in for a tough one. He was pretty wiggly but she somehow managed to produce a great cut. When it was over all he needed was a kiss from Aunt Jaime and some assurance that she was "All done"..... for now anyway! Thanks Jaime!!!

Fwimming?

We spent much of the weekend celebrating. The 4th of July...Birthdays...more Birthdays. Owen has taken to the pool so much that every time we go to the farm, one of the first words out of his mouth is "Fwimming?" Each day we had to delay him somewhat because of meals and rain. But, even with all the rain, we managed to get in the pool a few times this weekend. I love Owen's "eyes" or "oggees" he always has to wear - on the top of his head. Gotta be like the big kids!

We also had a great birthday party at Joanna's house. My sister can throw a backyard party like no other. Thanks sis for setting up so much water fun! I didn't have my camera so please send me some pics!!!

Toga, Toga!

Went to the video store last night to redeem Aidan's free movies. He got 5 this summer! One movie for each A (or the equivilant therof). He wanted to rent Clash of the Titans - the 1981 version. He has read the complete Percy Jackson series and is exited about Greek Mythology so I said ok. I wasn't sure he would actually like this movie but I thought we would give it a try. He watched it this morning and was pretty into it. There were plenty of gross monsters and such.

The funny part of this story comes when he got to thinking about his birthday party later on. He was talking my ear off so it took me awhile to realize that he was in the planning stages of a toga party! He didn't call it that of course, but he wanted everyone to dress up like ancient Romans or Greeks and he wanted to have a black toga. He said "Mom, do people ever dress up like that any more?" - meaning in modern day Greece or Rome - and I said "Nope, I think only college kids do that!" I had to extrapolate on that of course - so I explained to him what a toga party is (I left out the alcohol that accompanies it...). Needless to say, after all is said and done, I believe that my son has his heart set on a toga party for his 9th birthday!!!

Budding Athlete?

Aidan has not shown much interest in sports in the past. I've never really been one to push sports, but I do think there is real value of being involved in athletics so we keep trying. He has a naturally athletic build and good instincts, but he just hasn't seemed interested in working hard at it yet. Today made me think that maybe he will be more involved in sports than I had been thinking...

Swimming Lessons: He is truly excited to go to swimming every day and today his teacher informed the swim team coach that he is ready for swim team! He had been asking me about it since he heard about last month and he listens to the teachers and takes instruction so well. I am so proud of him! He has come a long way in only 3 weeks of lessons and now really wants to get on the swim team! Move over Michael Phelps. Haha.

The Final Baseball Game: Tonight was his last game. He's been playing ball at the Bel Aire Rec League. When we got ready to go and he realized it was the last game, he was truly disappointed that it was ending. He actually liked it!!! He had one really good hit. But what was exciting for us is that he got two runners out at first. He's been a good hitter the whole season, but he hasn't tackled fielding as enthusiastically. A big step in the right direction - Way to go Aidan!

Project Central

Maybe this will help me get focused. We purchased this house 12 years ago. I guess that is the magic number, because everything needs done, redone, and repaired all at once! We are so close to finishing the outside projects but the rain has really slowed things down. So, even though I swore I wouldn't, I began some of my inside projects. The end result - everything is in limbo!

Here is what I hope to check off the project list in the very near future:

Outside:

1. House painted: We have taken on the painting job ourselves in order to save $$$. The cost savings will buy my new carpet. It seemed like such a daunting task, but really went pretty smoothly. The rain has really slowed us down and now the weather is sooo hot. We are to the point of being so close but so far away. The only time to paint is early morning and late evening before the sun goes down. This week, the project has come to a halt, but another one got underway...

2. Concrete patio stained: I have to admit that the staining of the concrete might not happen this year. This week, with some helpers, Kip tore out the lower deck, removed all the paving stones, and put in a huge concrete patio in the back yard. I want to try this do-it-yourself acid washing technique on the concrete. The concrete needs to cure a little, and I can feel Halloween season encroaching on me...

3. Upper deck stained: Again, I started this project, but rain has caused delay - and now the heat!

Inside:

1. Get carpet ordered: It's been on the list for a few weeks. Can't seem to get it done and I hope what I picked out is still available.

2. Finish my freshly painted bedroom: I'm excited about this room! I love the new paint color. The trim needs touched up. Wallpaper project needs started and finished. Fabric is here, so I need to sew new curtains, shams, and get bench cushions made. Lamp makeover. Artwork framed. I'm thinking of a chair makeover too... Wow, I didn't realize that was such a big list!

3. Touch up paint hallways and living room: So apparently Home Depot doesn't carry Ralph Lauren paints anymore. I love my paint color, but I do not have enough of it to touch up all the walls. Problem is, I didn't know this before I spackled all the nail holes and dents all over these rooms! I have to finish painting before the carpet goes in. Guess I'm going for a color match, which will not be exact, I'm sure, so I will end up painting the walls in their entirety...

4. Tile entryway: My brother is going to bring his tile saw! I'm excited. This will be my first DIY tile job and it has to go in before the carpet!

5. Re-hang living room draperies: I've added two panels to my draperies and extended them into the eating area. I just need to clean the originals, hang the new (very long) rod and sew the new coordinating pillows.

Ok, that is my must do list. I have a million ideas and projects floating around in my head. My husband would probably fall over if he only knew what is in this brain of mine. My original deadline was June, but July is almost here.

Colorful, Intense and Fiery

Aidan and I were picking out a background for my blog and he noticed a really colorful tie dye background option. He said "Mom, you are beautiful and colorful, you really need that one!" I don't think of myself as colorful, but I'll take it! What a great compliment. I've been feeling really worn out lately and I look at myself in the morning and think, "Whoa! What happened here!" I'm not 25 anymore, but it's nice to know that my son thinks I'm beautiful. *smile*

The conversation went on and he wanted me to describe his personality. I said he is fiery (which he very much liked), intense, smart and beautiful. He wanted a further clarification of intense so here it is son: 1. existing in a high or extreme degree 2. having strong feeling. Pretty much sums him up. My job with this intense boy is to channel all that "strong feeling" into something productive. We are still figuring that part out!

Aidan has decided he wants a blog. He has also decided his background will be fire!

Not Just a Phone

I was reading some friends and family blogs yesterday, and I loved reading the anecdotes about the funny and sweet things kids say and do. For the past couple of years, I had made a habit of recording my "Aidanisms," as I call them, on memos on my phones. By December of last year, my Blackberry (the one I didn't think I needed but now rely on) was beaten up, and pretty rough looking, but otherwise in workable condition - with minor frustrating moments. My husband, however, heard my frustration and bought me a fancy new touch screen model for Christmas. Its a great phone, but it has been a bit of a learning curve. Needless to say, I never started the memo thing on the new phone. I saved the old one knowing I could load the memos and pictures to my computer when I could get around to it. A month or so ago, I lost my new phone (temporarily), so I had my old one activated. In all the confusion of the day, I lost my old phone (permanently), found the new phone and had it reactivated. As I was reading these blogs, I had a thought about the "Aidanisms" and realized they were on the memory of my old phone! I started crying, because I could not for the life of me remember the awesome things my boy had said. I decided at that moment, that I have got to find a way to record these things and make myself do it!

Here is my favorite memo - not on my phone anymore! Owen has begun talking up a storm. When he says something and I agree I must say "uh huh" a lot. He now uses that phrase like "yes" for everything he wants us to agree with him on. "Outtide, uh huh" ... "Fwimming, uh huh" ... "Fwee Fahm, uh huh" ... "Cawh, uh huh" ... I will have to figure out a way to record this, because the inflection in his voice is absolutely adorable!

Summer

I've got Aidan beside me as I begin this journal. He is excited about this "blogging thing" and, as he sits here with me, he has inspired my first post and the name of my new blog. I said to him,"What should I write about?" Of course he said "swimming!" Aidan is in love with swimming as every strong, energetic, 8 year old boy should be in the summer. We have finished one round of swimming lessons - onto round two next week, and the pool is finally warm enough to really enjoy. Aidan is in swimming heaven! I'm sure we will give the pool a work out this year since Owen has just discovered how good the water feels too.

Summer is definitely in full swing, and although I look forward to it each year, it inevitably means exhaustion. We are three weeks into our summer vacation, and after many miles in the car, two days in a row at the pool, and so many bags of gear the car is about to explode, we are worn out! Aidan had a full week of soccer camp, science camp and baseball games (Can you guess which was his favorite?). As the chauffer extraordinaire, I get to drive Aidan from activity to activity and Owen gets to ride along everywhere we go. He takes it all in stride, never short of big toothy grin, or a deep belly laugh. My favorite part has been listening to Aidan entertaining Owen in the back seat. He can get a giggle like no one else!

For now, I've put projects on hold (temporarily...there are too many unfinished things to stop now...) and I keep telling myself that "it can wait." Summer is for swimming, outside time, and cooking out, right!?! I'm trying to remember to check more of those things off my list. With so many projects we have taken on around this house, it is quite an exercise in patience!