**Today was a busy day every where we looked. The lot across our street is busy being dug up to lay new "everything's" for a new condo subdivision. All privately owned but haven't been sold yet. Construction workers come at 6:00 a.m. and leave by 3:30 p.m. too early for me to have such commotion so early in the morning.
**Day care was busy and bustling with laughter, tears, happiness, sadness, finally SILENCE for several hours and then back up repeating the same ole thing.
**I have been busy creating search a words for Jax. He has sight words to learn. He hates to write them and would rather circle them. As of now this is fine but I can't get the boy to write. I have even offered him big money to write a sentence but he hates it. This too, will come at it's own time. I have lessons planned up till February and look forward to a new fun year with him. I wish he was more excited but well, school can suck, at any form.
**I was in the bookstore and I was reading the back cover about different ways to structure homeschooling. I was way tired. Wanted some alone time. Did not want to talk to any one.I didn't pay a babysitter to watch my kids and then have my ear talked off! And I hear " Oh! your a homeschooler, are you?" This lady went on to tell me how bad a structured home school is and that she unschooled her kids and there is a big rival between the structured home school and the unschooled. I was nice enough to listen to her. I said Thank you and walked off. She was quite taken a back but the point to this story is there does seem to be a big rivalry between the unschooled kids and the structured home school kids. I have read quite a few articles about it. I find this very interesting.
**This week I am working with the boys that after 7:30 I am not available to them. Now by this, Ashton has to always be attended to and is usually asleep. But with Jax he is no longer to talk to me or ask me for anything. He has to start at 6:30 and pick out his 5 choices of food for the night, has to be dressed, teeth brushed, books read and prayers said. When the timer goes off at 7:30 the kitchen is closed, the house is put to bed, and unless the house is on fire or he is bleeding I must be left alone. It's hard when we live in such a small house but I am trying to teach more independence for both the boys and I have monitors in each of our rooms and alarms on the doors. I still can't trust Jax to not leave a door open and I still need to hear every thing that is happening while Jax is awake. I have really enjoyed reading several of my new books, watching a whole tv show with out interruptions. I do, however, hear lots of foot steps and sticky notes going on my door with writing that I can or can not read. I told him all questions must be submitted in the form of a sticky note and I will get to them as soon as I can. It's so funny to me how many questions come to a child's mind once you forbid them to ask a question or forbid them to speak. Very interesting. Jax's therapist suggested this and it works wonders.
~~ Snow is expected for tomorrow. Hard to say if we will get anything. Hayden is coming at 6:00 a.m.....ugh... but his Mom is a single mother, pulling in all the hours she can to give him a good Christmas... so, Hayden (4) and I can start our morning muffins and get orange made to feed the troops if the snow isn't bad.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
May I ask?
What the Hell?
AND...... SNOW POSSIBLE ON THURSDAY AND SATURDAY?
~~ With the possibility of snow I will have to go tonight and get the rest of all the 12 days of Christmas stuff in case they shut the city down, which they do for any type of snow here, and make sure we have plenty of fun things to keep us busy. Also, get some videos and some bread, milk, the staples, etc.. just in case..... you never know.
~~It's bitterly, disgustingly cold outside and there is a wind to top it off and to make if feel well under zero degrees. I am so grateful to have the money to pay my heat bill, to have a warm house and to be able to not be on the streets, homeless, this day. I am also extremely thankful not to have to put Jax on the bus and the buses are cold. The heat doesn't get to all the bus and he has spent many days cold or really hot on the bus. Just so glad I don't have to leave my house... until tonight.
~~ I have found some really fun homeschooling blogs with so many ideas to teach your kid. I want to ignore everything about life today and absorb all the information and get things going again. Jax will love these ideas and I can see him get more excited about reading especially.
~~We are going to play Monopoly for most of the day. It's Jax's new found love. I love Monopoly because it teaches kids so many things. Jax is learning the value of money, how to count money, that you have to pay taxes whether you want to or not, that living is expensive, and counting the square and the dice are all great learning tools. We played a regular game and then I made it so we all had hotels and it really helped Jax to see that with hotels it cost so much money, that he needed to save his money and that the reality of life is that you end up being homeless if you don't budget and be wise. I really want this instilled in him at a young age. Not to scare him, but it's just how life is and life is getting harder not easier.
~~Last night Jax was telling me all the stuff he wanted so we sat down and wrote the list of material things and looked up each price on the internet. He decided that he wanted to be a fire man for this exercise and we looked up the average salary of a fireman, which is nothing, didn't realize that, and by the time I took out taxes and all that stuff, I gave him his bi weekly payment and he couldn't afford all the things he wanted because he had to pay his rent, utilities, etc..etc... I think he is finally "getting it" when I tell him about money and the expense of something.
~~I read this and it sounds like I am scaring the hell out of him about money but I also teach him that you can have what you want if you work hard for it but also by thrift shopping, comparing, clipping coupons, saving a percentage of your money and even pawn shops are a good avenue.
~~Tonight we are supposed to volunteer at the soup kitchen for your 12 days of Christmas. I just found out they have enough volunteers. So, we will have to make some cookies tonight instead. I can't stop thinking about those who are struggling right now. I can relate to them so much and I feel guilty for having so much right now. How do you provide warmth, comfort and the feeling of a full stomach to every one?
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Christmas Grinch
~That is what I am this year. Maybe it's the holiday blues or that I have been sick since the day before Thanksgiving but I don't have the spirit of Christmas at all. I got about maybe 4 seconds of it last night when Frosty the Snowman came on and then it quickly went away.
~Tonight, I am literally gonna pray to have the Christmas spirit. I want it. I want the way I used to feel come Thanksgiving time but not even a blub is hanging on my tree. We have lights. A rope with Hot wheels race cars, a few army men, three skull tattoos, and I don't know how many glow sticks are on there. Can you guess who decorated the tree? It sure is an original masterpiece. Wish I had my camera.
~ Was angry with K-mart after losing my layaway two times but now I am glad they did because after tonight I have decided that the boys are getting identical presents.
~Some friends dropped off early Christmas presents for the boys. They handed Ash his present and before we could say anything he ripped it open and yelled "OH WOW!". It was the cutest monkey with light up figures and shapes. Very cute. Of course, BECAUSE NOTHING IS EVER FAIR, Jax had to open his and he got a remote control car. After 2 hours of removing the plastic twist ties, finding the right batteries, the car was off and running and then the fighting began.
~I guess I had in my mind that the boys wouldn't start fighting until Ash got a little bit older but boy! was I wrong! Tears were shed, fighting and hitting ensued and after 30 minutes of non sharing and my wanting to walk out the door. Both toys are in time out and every one was in bed by 6:30.
~I just sat and thought "This is not how I want my Christmas to be". Visions of Ash fighting for Jax's toys and Jax not sharing and wanting something of Ash's.
~ Now I am back to the drawing board of what to buy the boys. I have decided:
1. I want a battery free Christmas
2. Imagination and creativity
1. Legos. (I hate them) but the boys love them and can spend hours in harmony with the same identical box and pieces.
2. Lincoln Logs. (Did you know they are a novelty now and expensive?)
3. Games.
4. Playdough. They are getting lots of it. We love it. We eat it. We some how lose it but as a family we can spend hours having fun with it.
5. Walkie Talkies. I found some that are both battery and plug in. They can walk around the yard talking to each other and they can have their own cheap set and they can become rangers, policeman, fire fighters...whatever.
6. Used video games from Gamestop.
Jax wants a new Nintendo DS. "They are only $200.00 mom and games are only $40.00". Choke, cough, forgetaboutit! He has a Gameboy, that may be old, but he can get used games for $3.99 and fun.
7. Etch a sketch. My boys love theirs. They are beat up and tattered but well loved. Jax is really good at it.
So, that is gonna be their Christmas.
I know Jax will love all these gifts. It's a decent Christmas and we can all sit down and play together and be creative. Maybe I am still crazy to think that the boys won't fight over their gifts because kids will be kids but I am hoping this will make for a very happy and fun filled day.
~Tonight, I am literally gonna pray to have the Christmas spirit. I want it. I want the way I used to feel come Thanksgiving time but not even a blub is hanging on my tree. We have lights. A rope with Hot wheels race cars, a few army men, three skull tattoos, and I don't know how many glow sticks are on there. Can you guess who decorated the tree? It sure is an original masterpiece. Wish I had my camera.
~ Was angry with K-mart after losing my layaway two times but now I am glad they did because after tonight I have decided that the boys are getting identical presents.
~Some friends dropped off early Christmas presents for the boys. They handed Ash his present and before we could say anything he ripped it open and yelled "OH WOW!". It was the cutest monkey with light up figures and shapes. Very cute. Of course, BECAUSE NOTHING IS EVER FAIR, Jax had to open his and he got a remote control car. After 2 hours of removing the plastic twist ties, finding the right batteries, the car was off and running and then the fighting began.
~I guess I had in my mind that the boys wouldn't start fighting until Ash got a little bit older but boy! was I wrong! Tears were shed, fighting and hitting ensued and after 30 minutes of non sharing and my wanting to walk out the door. Both toys are in time out and every one was in bed by 6:30.
~I just sat and thought "This is not how I want my Christmas to be". Visions of Ash fighting for Jax's toys and Jax not sharing and wanting something of Ash's.
~ Now I am back to the drawing board of what to buy the boys. I have decided:
1. I want a battery free Christmas
2. Imagination and creativity
1. Legos. (I hate them) but the boys love them and can spend hours in harmony with the same identical box and pieces.
2. Lincoln Logs. (Did you know they are a novelty now and expensive?)
3. Games.
4. Playdough. They are getting lots of it. We love it. We eat it. We some how lose it but as a family we can spend hours having fun with it.
5. Walkie Talkies. I found some that are both battery and plug in. They can walk around the yard talking to each other and they can have their own cheap set and they can become rangers, policeman, fire fighters...whatever.
6. Used video games from Gamestop.
Jax wants a new Nintendo DS. "They are only $200.00 mom and games are only $40.00". Choke, cough, forgetaboutit! He has a Gameboy, that may be old, but he can get used games for $3.99 and fun.
7. Etch a sketch. My boys love theirs. They are beat up and tattered but well loved. Jax is really good at it.
So, that is gonna be their Christmas.
I know Jax will love all these gifts. It's a decent Christmas and we can all sit down and play together and be creative. Maybe I am still crazy to think that the boys won't fight over their gifts because kids will be kids but I am hoping this will make for a very happy and fun filled day.
December~
Today is a quiet, rainy, very cold day.
Chocolate chip cookies in the oven,
dryer humming and a thump, thump, thump
as the clothes spin round and round.
My favorite Dunkin Doughnut coffee brewing.
Lots of great smells in the house.
In a few hours will put a roast in the crock pot for a late night snack and tomorrow's dinner.
Tonight we are having Jax's favorite Stouffer's Mac and Cheese. He can eat the whole thing if I let him.
~~~ We have been sick again. The throw up/diarrhea flu. Jax and I felt like we had to puke for a few days and I don't know what's worse? Throwing up or never doing it and wanting to? Poor Ashton really suffered and had lots of poop EVERYWHERE. I was crying on Friday when I called Crystal and told her she had to come SAVE ME because both Ashton and Eston started in the morning and by afternoon I had so much poop every where and I don't know how many baths they had, etc.. I was so done. The only thing that got me thru was the thought of "At least your not Nadia Sulueman." I know, a crazy thought but I think of her ALL the time and wonder how she does it.
~~I was sadden by the passing of Elizabeth Edwards. It reminded me so much of Mom and it brought back memories of those final days and what it was like. I thought of her family by her side. Especially, her little ones. And once the last breath is taken how sad but how relieving for everyone. Such a hard and cruel life lesson to walk thru. I thought the most about taking your last breath. What is it like knowing "This is my last breath". I may never be on this earth again. Just a crazy thought I can't get my brain around. And then reading about Bernie Madoff's son and thinking wow... He knew he was going to die. How was that? Death is just something I just can't wrap my head around.
~~~It's been two years since my job with the State Attorney Generals Office was frozen and I pretty much knew I wasn't going back due to the economy. Our Governor, Bev Perdue, just froze all jobs and are merging State jobs and laying off people. It was hard to get say goodbye to my boss when she called to say all positions are gone and it will be a skeleton crew. I really loved that job. It was fun and just the perfect job for me.
~~Jax is tracked from school and he has a weeks vacation so the month of December he is off school. We are still doing lots of reading and arts and crafts for fun. He is still on his structured schedule. Jax is loving more TV time and being "free". I am enjoying my freedom and have lots of fun things planned for the new track in.
~~ It's poll time. Do you constantly clean your kitchen all day? I know I do!! and I am ready to strike. Answer the poll above, for fun!
Happy Sunday~
Chocolate chip cookies in the oven,
dryer humming and a thump, thump, thump
as the clothes spin round and round.
My favorite Dunkin Doughnut coffee brewing.
Lots of great smells in the house.
In a few hours will put a roast in the crock pot for a late night snack and tomorrow's dinner.
Tonight we are having Jax's favorite Stouffer's Mac and Cheese. He can eat the whole thing if I let him.
~~~ We have been sick again. The throw up/diarrhea flu. Jax and I felt like we had to puke for a few days and I don't know what's worse? Throwing up or never doing it and wanting to? Poor Ashton really suffered and had lots of poop EVERYWHERE. I was crying on Friday when I called Crystal and told her she had to come SAVE ME because both Ashton and Eston started in the morning and by afternoon I had so much poop every where and I don't know how many baths they had, etc.. I was so done. The only thing that got me thru was the thought of "At least your not Nadia Sulueman." I know, a crazy thought but I think of her ALL the time and wonder how she does it.
~~I was sadden by the passing of Elizabeth Edwards. It reminded me so much of Mom and it brought back memories of those final days and what it was like. I thought of her family by her side. Especially, her little ones. And once the last breath is taken how sad but how relieving for everyone. Such a hard and cruel life lesson to walk thru. I thought the most about taking your last breath. What is it like knowing "This is my last breath". I may never be on this earth again. Just a crazy thought I can't get my brain around. And then reading about Bernie Madoff's son and thinking wow... He knew he was going to die. How was that? Death is just something I just can't wrap my head around.
~~~It's been two years since my job with the State Attorney Generals Office was frozen and I pretty much knew I wasn't going back due to the economy. Our Governor, Bev Perdue, just froze all jobs and are merging State jobs and laying off people. It was hard to get say goodbye to my boss when she called to say all positions are gone and it will be a skeleton crew. I really loved that job. It was fun and just the perfect job for me.
~~Jax is tracked from school and he has a weeks vacation so the month of December he is off school. We are still doing lots of reading and arts and crafts for fun. He is still on his structured schedule. Jax is loving more TV time and being "free". I am enjoying my freedom and have lots of fun things planned for the new track in.
~~ It's poll time. Do you constantly clean your kitchen all day? I know I do!! and I am ready to strike. Answer the poll above, for fun!
Happy Sunday~
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