5 things about you - Colleen

1)  you love to take a selfie - we have dubbed you the Queen of the Selfie in our house

2) you love to dance and sing.  You are currently taking tap, ballet & jazz - I think that is the order of how much you like the style.

3) you enjoy playing with your American Girl dolls, barbie dolls, on the Wii U, and on Club Penguin!  that is your favorite

4) you are in the 4th grade.  You were nervous about attending a new school but it is going great so far

5) you always have a smile on your face and are a joy to be with

Small Successes - 10/24

This is a few days late but I was without reliable Internet...

My small success for the past week are (trying not to include this weekend);

1. hired an after school sitter for the kids.  This will be for Wednesday nights only while I teach and my husband is on 2nd shift.  She is a student on the campus I work at.  We found her via care.com
2. had my annual mammogram and they got the joy of going in for a second look.  Everything is fine just some dense tissue with non-cancerous cysts.  
3. signed up to volunteer at the schools Halloween party.  I will be working in the cafeteria - figured that would keep my inside in case of foul-weather
4. convinced my daughter that there are other costumes out there.  She wanted to be Lela from Teen Beach movie and the costume is sold out until February 2014.  Who wants a costume in February. 

Now go to Catholic Mom to post yours!

5 Things about You! - Daniel

1) You are officially a middle schooler - 6th grade.  You are at a new school and are very excited about that

2) You are enjoying Jurassic Park, Dragon vale, and Mine Craft on the Kindle and iPod Touch.

3) You are a very happy boy with a great smile

4) You do get very discouraged when things do not go your way.  Particularly with school and homework.  You don't enjoy homework time  when we review your work.  But you are slowly seeing why we do this work with you every night.

5) You are kind to your brother and sister.

5 things about you --- Patrick

1)  you do not like your picture taken

2)  you enjoy playing soccer.  This year your team finally won a game!  3-0 and you scored all three goals.  I am proud that you don't give up out there when it would be easy to
3)  you are a great helper in the household.  If we ask you to help out you do without arguing.  You may complain but you do not argue

4) you like to go to Target & Cost Co with me

5)  you really are into playing video games right now.  I don't really get most of them or why  you play but you try to explain them to me

Happy Halloween!

Jasmine, and 2 Little League World Series players

What fun!!!

Yesterday I took my daughter and her friend to the New Albany Classic.  We went to see Big Time Rush!




waiting for BTR



BTR Singing



Kendall Singing


The girls had so much fun!  It is so funny to watch 7 year old girls get so excited about this boy band.  It reminds me of how my sister and our friends were about Shaun Cassidy or Andy Gibb.  I remember going to the Shaun Cassidy concert at Blossom Music Center in the Cleveland area.  We all went and where wearing Shaun Cassidy outfits in baby blue and pink - tops & pants from Sears with his picture on them.

Here are some photos of the girls and the fun time they had!

Changes

We are going through some changes here....

First.. I started a new job on the 8th of September.  It was a very stressful transition but it is going good so far. 

Second... school is going well for all but one of the kids.  The one in question just does not get it.  He does not understand how his actions lead to the consequences he is getting at home or school.  So we are having to adjust how we react to this behavior.  Do we 'pile-on' to the punishment or do we just talk about it and let the punishment at school suffice?

Third... my husband has switched to 3rd shift which throws the dynamic off at home.  He is sleeping we when get home from school/work.  So far we have been doing well with not waking him but some days it is difficult. 

I do not do well with change... I like the status quo... I like my things just a certain way.... I have also passed this on to my children... I know that change is good as long as it is not change for change sake.   

Thank goodness August is Over Small Successes- September 1

It’s important for moms to recognize that all the small successes in our days can add up to one big triumph.....

Here are mine:

1. I am so glad it is September - August just plain stunk for me (more on this later now that I can talk about it)
2. School started and we have gotten to school on time without a hitch - wish homework was the same.  Same struggles with same children just a new year.
3. Updated my blog for the first time in 5 weeks!  can't believe it has been this long since I have been on the blog.  I really haven't been reading many blogs either during this time.  I real have missed it.  I need to start new!  As I read in Anne of Green Gables - everyday is fresh with no mistakes
4. Signed kids up for soccer and Miss C up for ballet and tap!
5. Today is my dear husbands 44th birthday!  Happy Birthday Sweetie.....



Tony at The Rocks Provincial Park in New Brunswick, CA

 What are your successes.... please visit Sherry @ Chocolate for the Brain to let us know!!!!

For my son....

Patrick - here are some photos of you since you have been missing for the blog.



He was not to happy with me for taking his picture but he is so handsome I could not resist. 

Happy Birthday D!

June 19 was Daniel's birthday!  He turned 9 years old.  Sometime I think he is much older than that and sometime much much younger! 

I love you Dan!!!!

Happy Birthday!

wordless wednesday

Dress Rehersal



all made up and ready to head to dress rehersal



Lazy Days and Sunshine

This weekend was to be a lazy weekend for the family.  We have a birthday packed weekend next week, then Easter, then my sister in from Scotland, then Mother's Day and finally my In-Laws wedding anniversary.  So we will be running - running - running for the next month.  So I decided that it would be a lazy nothing planned weekend. 
Friday - my brother's family stopped by on their way home from Athens county.  They just finished their spring break trip.  My kids were so excited to see COUSINS!!!!! as Miss C shouted.  We visited and went out for pizza

Saturday - I did not do much but laundry, hang out, make dinner, & watch TV (Ghost Whisperer marathon).  Hubby worked on the fridge - trying to fix the ice maker.  Kids played on the Wii, outside, and watched some TV.

Sunday - We hung around the house.  Went to Mass at 11 instead of our normal 8.  That in itself throws the entire day off.  Kids played on the Wii and outside.  I was not feeling well so I stayed indoors and hung out with Miss C.  Hubby went to help a co-worker of mine with her Finance class.  We had dinner and all went outside to check out the new rail-to-trail path in Marion county. 

It turned out to be a great weekend!  I hope this week goes smoothly.  P turns 10 on Saturday!!! we have a friends party planned for Friday and family on Saturday. 

Happy Birthday Baby Girl

Today my baby girl turns SEVEN years old today.  So I guess she is not really a baby any more.  Today we are celebrating just the 5 of us and giving her our presents. 

buying the kids clothes

I remember when my kids were little and they would wear whatever I bought for them.  There was no complaints about color or style.  I think I have good taste and I buy high-end quality clothes that will last more than one season and one kid (my cousin who has two little boys is the beneficiary of these clothes) unless of course if they are stained. 

Well -- it is time for new winter gear (end of season sales and all).  Normally I would pick something really warm (temp rating -5 or less at the low end) and in the appropriate favorite color of my kids.  P likes blues, D likes reds, and Miss C is a girly girl so definitely Pinks.  After my Christmas clothes gifts there were a few complaints about this and that.  So I decided why not give them a 'say' in the matter since they are the wearer of these clothes and I would not like it if someone picked everything I wore.

So I asked them to help and all I get is well I don't know, not sure about the color or style, why isn't that in PINK!.... don't they know end of season sales clothes go quickly and what you like today may not be there tomorrow or even later today.

EDIT:  winter coats bought!  P picked Black;  D pick green & black; C picked Fuschia  ;)  Happy Mom that this is done.

schooling

We are trying to determine what to do about schooling starting this fall.  We are planning on leaving our local parishes school because of how the school is handling a particular situation. 

The situation is that my son's coach 'assulted (not sure if this is the right word to use or not)' a parent at a game.  He came into the stands and poked the man in the chest.  If my brother (a high school coach) did that move he would have been fired or at least suspended.  Well nothing happened to this coach at all and the parent who this happened to they are pulling themselves and their kids from all activities.  This was the straw that broke this camels back.  I do not see how a Catholic school and the Church (this went as far as the parish priest) can support a person who would do this action.  If he will poke a parent what about a kid?  After basketball season we are pulling our kids from all sports.  Only reason we are finishing basketball is that we made a commitment to that particular sport.

So now we are going to have to go and shop for a new school.  Our options are: 1) homeschool, 2) public school in our county or 3) a different Catholic school that will involve a drive of at least 20 - 30 minutes.   We are praying about this but I know that this decision has to be what is best and most advantageous for our kids.  What gives them the best opportunity, best education, and if we go route 1 or 2 where will they attend PSR (since we will have cut our ties with our parish by leaving the school).

Small Successes - January 20

It’s important for moms to recognize that all the small successes in our days can add up to one big triumph.

1) lost 4 pounds doing my 10 day cleanse!  Hubby lost 6.5!

2) survived basketball games & practice this week.  The 3rd grade boys coach stresses me, my hubby, my sons, and generally everyone else I know (except a few) out.  He was out of town for their game and it was such a joyous occasion for all!  Daniel scored a basket! and so did each and every boy on that team!

3) took a winter hike with the family!  our dream is to move to Northern Michigan so we are learning to enjoy and embrace the winter weather where we are instead of just dreaming about it down the road.

Christmas Recap

What a whirlwind of 3 days we just had....

December 23rd - we got ourselves ready for our family Christmas.  Santa visits our home the night of December 23 into the 24th.  Reason for this is that we do not wake up in our own home on Christmas morning.  When we moved to Marion the kids (aged 3 & 2 - the newborn did not care) were worried that Santa would not visit them since they were not at their own home.  So Tony & I decided that we would 'talk' to him and request a visit while he is out on the other side of the world (it was December 24 somewhere) and make a special visit to our kids.  Six years later he still visits us and it is one of the most wonderful thing about our Christmas.

December 24 - we drove up to Cleveland to visit my parents and my Dad's family.  We had a lovely surprise when we pulled in the drive and right behind us was my brother, his wife & kids.  My kids were so excited to see their cousins - another blessing of the season - having cousins.   There were a few hiccups on Christmas Eve.  First one was that my Aunt & Uncle did not come up to Cleveland.  Normally we have dinner with them and spend the evening hanging out sometimes just talking, sometimes playing game.  Second - we did our best to try to go to Mass.  Being the only regularly practicing Catholics in our family (most are C & Er's as my sweet hubby calls them) we usually do not get to Mass on Christmas.  Well since my Aunt & Uncle were not going to be in town we figured we would go to Mass and then to dinner.  We arrived at the church and it was packed to the rafters (full of C & Er's) so we made the decision to just have dinner and headed back to my parents house.  We ended up not having dinner (reason is that since my Aunt & Uncle were not going to be there my Mom decided not to make a dinner - just snack on leftovers from lunch).  So Tony & I decided to go and see the 'new' Harry Potter movie while the kids stayed with my parents.   The movie was good - followed the book fairly closely.  Only bad thing was we sat near smokers and they stunk.

December 25 - we woke up a bit late on Christmas morning.  Kids opened up gifts from my parents.  We then headed out to my Grandmother's house.  Grandma is 88 years old and this is the first year she did not do all the cooking.  My mom did the cooking and it went well.    Kids were able to play with their cousins here also - so they were happy.  After the visit with my Grandma we headed to Tony's family Christmas gathering at his brother's house. 

December 26 - headed home!!!  The kids were able to play with their new booty!  Glad the gatherings are done and looking forward to the new year ahead.

Monday - Monday can get me down

Some days I really dislike Monday's and today is one of them.  I do have an exciting weekend to update everyone on but do not have the pictures/time/or desire to do this.

Today started with a 2 hour delay for the kids.  I seem to always fall behind on 2 hour delay days. 

Then my work situation is what it is..... I have the means to get out I just need to get on that and figure out the how to start.  I believe once I start down the path - it will be successful.  I just need to find it in me! 

Start of the school year reflection

The kids started school 2 weeks ago ---  it has been such a bumpy ride! so far.  We have had more downs than ups - or at least that is what I hear from teachers.

Colleen is doing great!  She is loving 1st grade and is having fun with reading and math.  I hope this keeps up.

Daniel is struggling - no academically but behaviorally and socially.  He is doing great with his tests, homework, and class work but the rest is just plain awful.  We have been in school 10 days so far and he has 2 reds, 6 yellows, and 2 greens.  One more red and he is in detention - not good for third grade.  He is working his way to be the classroom trouble maker.  Part of me wonders if something is chemically off and this is causing the behavior, part of me thinks he is being picked on (since some of the things are very nit-picky), part of me thinks that he is trying to push the envelope to be paid attention to, and part of me thinks he is just not challenged at his school and he is done with his work and this is how he acts when he is bored.  We have a doctor's appointment set for Wednesday to see if it is #1.  A big part of me hopes that this is what is going on since then it may be easier to fix than the others.

Patrick is hit or miss --- he is sitting with his best buddy and they talk which gets him trouble.  School work wise is is doing OK - his big problem is his need to do things as quickly as possible and this leads to mistakes.  His writing is also very very sloppy and that is causing negative marks on his papers which otherwise should be positive. 

Each kid is having their struggles but they are also enjoying being back in school.  I think that they enjoy the interacting with friends and learning new things. 

My school year goals are:
1) Daily  pray a Rosary for the kids
2) Get myself up and running so we are not getting to school at the first bell
3) REMEMBER to Praise the good of the day before focusing on the negative

My favorite photo from the first day of school
 August 23, 2010

one of those days

Ever have one of those days where you just want to get back into bed and pull the covers over and start again - like Groundhogs Day.  That is how I feel today.  It just has not gone well for me and it is all my own doing.  1st yelled -- not yelled but bellowed (is that harsher than yell) at my sons because they did not want to do their summer reading.  The oldest wanted to read some College football preview guide and the middle one wanted to read Super Mario Bros Wii User manual.  Don't think these are on the teachers list. So I suggested the books we picked out at the library - that specifically meet the requirements.  They both said NO and walked away with their previous books. 

Well being the CALM person that I am  -- i just let loose with both barrels about how I do not want them reading that crap (yes I used that word) when I tell them to do their summer reading.  If they want to read that crap (2nd time) they could do it on their own time (i.e. prior to bed).  Then I said crap one more time about their choice of reading material just for good measure.  The ended up reading their school work but also crying and very angry at mom.  


I eventually apologized (even thought) I did not want to but I knew that I should and things are fine - - - BUT how I wish I could turn the clock back and that never had happened.