Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Where Did It Go????

You know I am talking about summer, right?  It just flew by.  School starts today for Elise & Jude.  I just went so fast.  It is like I took off running in May and I haven't stopped to rest.  I am tired.  On  the first day of summer we went out for breakfast and made a to-do list for the summer.  We really didn't do many of the things on the list.  Here are some of the things we did do: made tye dye tshirts, swimming in a lake, went to the zoo, water balloon fight, reading program at the library, went to the movies, had a picnic, went to West Virginia, went to Tennessee....

The neighborhood boys have been coming over and playing with my kids.  It is funny.  They play the Wii or go in the basement and throw these balls at each other.  Last week I took my kids to the neighborhood pool.  Two of the other boys decided to go with us.  I told them they had to behave if they walk in with me because then everyone would think they are with me and if they embarrass me I WILL embarrass them back.  They just laughed....  They were pretty good.  I did hear the one kid telling the life guard that I was his "guardian".  I denied it.  Jude is upset because I won't let him run around the neighborhood with them, without an adult.  Hey, when you do the work I do...you tend to be a little over-protective. 

Anyhoo....The day we got the school teacher list I was talking to the boys about which teacher they got (they are all 2nd graders).  Jude told them who his teacher is & the one kid was like, "Oh man....you are soooo LUCKY.  She lets you eat gum in her class AND you can even take it in the hall!"  That cracked me up.  I was thinking...I hope this lady doesn't give too much homework.  I HATE homework.  In another dimension - I am a homeschool Mom and my kids don't have "homework".  Well, I guess it would all be homework but oh so different. 

Last night Elise told me she does not want to go to Kindergarten.  I hope she doesn't cry or anything.  That would be bad.  I didn't cry when Jude went to school and I probably won't cry today.  You know what gets me???  When I am at school functions - like the first grade choir concert.  All these sweet little voices singing and being silly....so carefree.  So innocent.  I can look at them and see them grow up right before my eyes.  That is when I cry. 

Thursday is Open House.  Jake will be at work so I will be going alone.  Well, as alone as you can be with three kids.  When Jude was in kindergarten I realized there is a kid in his grade who's father I dated back in the day.  For two years I have avoided all contact with the guy.  This year the kid is in Jude's class.  Can you say awkward?  I don't know...  I want to erase that I know his favorite movie is Top Gun.  Honestly I barely knew the guy.  I knew his friends and that is how I met him.  The last time he asked me out he stood me up.  That is probably why I feel so weird, you know?  That is the ONLY time I was ever stood up.  EVER. 

Okay, one last thing.  I have decided to join the PTA this year.  I am not sayin' I will go to the meetings and all that but we'll see.  Baby steps....

Thursday, August 19, 2010

This One is Particularly Random....

Particular
I called a client.  She didn't answer her phone.  She used to have an annoying ring back tone.  I don't like those. I frequently complained about it to her.  This time she had a very nice voice mail that said "Hello this is xxxxx.  I can not get to the phone at this particular time so leave a message and I will call you back."  I laughed.  She told me she learned the word particular from me.  Only if you just how much progress that really is....

Random
A couple of days ago Elise was playing and she said, "Mommy when we do that it is really random."  Yes....my five year old said random. 

Pilates
I've been doing pilates for 11 days now.  I didn't want to do them today.  I was tired. Yes....I get tired.  Last night Elise and Avery were getting ready for bed.  They were in the bedroom on the floor.  I walked in and gave them a strange look because they were rolling on their backs.  Elise looked at me and said "we are doing our pilates".  Oh my.

Boobs
Avery has this thing with boobs lately.  She wants 'em.  Dear God...Help.  She also wants to paint her nails everyday and get her ears pierced. 

Naked Barbies
Avery has 3 barbies she carries around with her.  They are naked.  Why?  Not sure why she won't leave them clothed.  She had them in the basket of her tricycle the other day.  It looked funny.

The Rooster & The Cat
A woman I work with lives on a farm.  She told me a story that she had this rooster that always hung out with a barn cat they have.  The rooster kept getting in the garden and pecking things and was getting annoying so.....her hubby took care of the rooster.  Now that the rooster is gone, the cat is lonely.  She has been coming around the house more.  I think there is a statement somewhere about how different people can be companions. 

The Crib
After writing my post about the crib I asked Jake if he read it.  He said yes, it was funny.  Funny!?  My eyes shoot lasers at him.  Okay...they didn't really but if I could have activated them well it wouldn't have been pretty.  Yesterday I mentioned the crib.  He told me to sell it.  I said what about saving it to pass it down.... He said, "what size bed is your mom bringing here"?  BTW...that is why I am cleaning the play room because it is going to be a "guest room".  As I told him I realized DUH....the crib turns into a full sized bed and that is what they are bringing.  So...I get to keep the crib for non baby purposes.  I like that. 

Thursday, August 12, 2010

All is Quiet in the Miller Home....

Because it is 4:30 A.M. and I am wide awake.  I am pretty sure I will regret this later.

I love summer.  BUT I was thinking yesterday, I need the winter to give me time to rest.  During the summer, I don't stop - traveling, kid activities, the garden, the flowers.....  Do I rest in the winter?  I think so.  Just a thought.

Work has been a little slow lately.  That is good because I was off two weeks in July.  I think it is starting to pick up.  I prefer it to be busy.  I think I do a better job when I have more clients.  I don't know, maybe I just feel like I do a better job. 

The kids go back to school in a couple of weeks.  Elise will start kindergarden.  Avery is starting preschool.  Jude 2nd grade.  All my babies are going to be in school.  It is bittersweet. 

Yesterday, I told Jake that I think we should sell the crib.  He said OK.  Honestly I wanted to have a discussion about it but he was cleaning off the desk and filing stuff and doing Jake stuff.  I went back to getting ready for the day.  I started thinking about it and then I convinced myself we should keep the crib. I went back and told Jake that I think we should keep the crib.  He said OK.  Grrrr....  My original reason for thinking about the crib was because it is in the playroom in the basement.  My parents bought a "guest" bed for us and that is where I plan to put it.  I need to figure out where to put the crib.  When we took the crib down we didn't sell it because I planned to adopt.  Notice I said - I.  I think if I came home with another kid, Jake would be cool with that. (sounds crazy but you never know) But as far as planning and adopting - well it probably won't ever happen.  I am okay with that.  I've accepted it.  I have my hands full as it is.  Avery is becoming more independent and I am really enjoying that.  No more diapers, diaper bags (oh thank God), potty seats, high chairs....  So, as I am thinking about the crib and where to put it I thought my original plan of keeping it for the next baby isn't necessary. So we should sell it.  But it is a nice crib and we could keep it to pass on to one of our children.  Is that dumb?  So, if I keep it....where the heck am I going to put it?  LOL - the vicious circle.  Perhaps I should have just asked Jake for advice on where to store the crib until I make up my mind. 

It is 4:45 and my alarm just went off.  Time to do my pilates.....gotta go! 

Monday, August 02, 2010

The Story of Steph....

Last year, my friend Stephanie (Norris) and I decided we should write a book about the adventures we've had together.  We haven't started it yet.  I think it would be a good read.  She and I met in the sixth grade.  We lived in Vermilion, a smaller country town on Lake Erie.  In our town there were three elementary schools that fed into two different middle schools.  We me at Sailorway Middle School in Mr. Karolak's homeroom class.  He was the funniest teacher.  He had one of those mustache's that curled on the ends and he would do things like slam metal film cases together if a kid fell asleep during a movie.  I remember the first day of sixth grade.  It was a new building and all kinds of new kids...new to me anyways.  Our desks were arranged in a double row, semi circle.  Steph and I were in the same row.  Funny how you remember stuff like that.  Back then she went by the name Stephie.  She went by that name up until high school.

Lunch time at Sailorway was typical of most middle school lunch rooms.  We were able to pick our own seats. But when we were done eating we had to wipe off the table and sweep the floor surrounding our table.  I can't remember how we would decided who got that job but I know it was one of the "new" and intimidating things about lunch.  On the first day of lunch I sat with some friends I knew from Valley View - my elementary.  There were a couple of girls from one of the other schools who sat with us too.  Stephie walked by.  One of the girls said, "She is so innocent.  She doesn't even know what an o***** is."  I thought....what the heck is an o*****? (I edited for some of my younger readers.)  But I didn't say anything.  Then another girl said, "She isn't allowed to say the word God.  She says Golly."  I said, "Really!?  Gosh, that is crazy."  Well, long story short, the next day I sat with her.  For lunch that day we had these brownies or something with a thick layer of powdered sugar on top.  One of the first things I ever did was take a big puff of air and blow the powdered sugar all over Stephie and the table.  She was so mad.  She took one look at me and told me I had to clean up the mess.  Needless to say, I wiped the table and swept the floor that day. 

It wasn't long before she and I realized our Grandparents lived one town over from each other in Tennessee.  This was great.  I can't remember if we knew it first of if we just ran into each other in Tennessee.  I do recall shopping at this store (before Oneida even had a Walmart) and seeing Stephie there.  That pretty much sealed our fate at friends.  That meant when I was stuck in Tennessee, if Stephie was at her Grandmother's then we could call each other and even visit each other.  I thought that was the coolest thing.  We have been in Tennessee many times together as kids and as adults.  In fact she was just there this weekend and she might be at my parent's house as we speak.  But I digress....  We are most likely related since the area our parents are from is pretty small.  Somehow our parents did not know each other but my Dad was involved in an accident with Stephie's Grandfather.  Small world, isn't it. 

Oh....I have lots of more interesting stories to tell.  Maybe Stephanie can be a guest blogger and tell a few of her own.

Monday, July 26, 2010

Life....

Life is short.  I guess I've always known this but recently it has been a thought weighing heavily on me.  Two weeks ago my father in law passed away in an accident.  I know any of us could go at any time.  I believe that and I don't shy away from even thinking about it.  But when it happened the shock and grief of it was just....awful.  His funeral was beautiful.  People told many stories about him.  There were hundreds of people there.  It has caused me to pause and really think about life.  I suppose that is part of the grieving process, for me anyways.  Paul lived a full and adventurous life.  I'd like to add a little more adventure into my own life.  Don't we all need more adventure?  Not just for a cheap thrill but for enrichment.  I don't know...just something to think about.

Currently, I am in Tennessee.  I like to visit here.  I could definately live in the south but I know I couldn't live in Scott Co., TN.  It is just so different.  I could maybe live in Knoxville or on the outskirts.  We've talked about moving to West Virginia.  The conversation started before Jake's father died and now the talk has increased. I could see living there.  It is close to stuff but man is it curvy.  I like Ohio.  And I like living in a neighborhood.  We walk around and everyone knows us...stops and talks to us.  I really enjoy that.  But we don't have enough green space.  I want a acre orchard (I have it planned out).  I want a greenhouse.  I want big gardens.....  I want, I want, I want.  Nice.  Also,  I hate slush.  I don't mind the cold.  And I don't care about the snow but I HATE when it melts and the snowplows throw all that grey/ black snow all over.  There are no leaves and no sun. YUCK.  Plus I am cold.  Seriously.  I don't even get hot until it is about 85 degrees.  I told my Mom I could open a Farmers Market in Oneida and sell fresh veggies, homemade canned goods & good cheese.  She said no one would shop there.  Stupid Walmart.  When I was in WV, I asked Steph & Linda if they wanted to open an Amish bakery.  They said no thanks.  LOL.  I guess I am on my own.  Just if I would get to work on that book.  I think I am afraid to start.  For now, I guess I will continue being a wife, mom and case worker.  Those are three pretty cool jobs.

Tomorrow Avery (my baby girl) is going to be THREE.  How did that happen.  It seems like I just gave birth to her.  She is such a big girl.  Last week our normal babysitter was out of town so we had one of the teens from our church babysit (Jessica).  She has younger brothers.  Jessica and her mom took the kids and did a ton of stuff last week.  One day Avery kept saying she was a "big girl" which sounds an awful lot like....Bagel.  They started calling her Bagel.  How cute. She is so ornery.  But at the same time she can be oh so sweet.  She loves to help me with everything. I'll post some pics later.

And for now....Goodnight.

Thursday, June 03, 2010