My little pumpkin
This was a pose. They got grossed out and I had to finish.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Happy Halloween
Posted by JMC at 1:54 PM 1 comments
Labels: Andy, Being the Mom, Jannet, Lenna, Rebecca
Friday, October 30, 2009
Reckoning
Today I got the call. The "Your-kid-misses-too-much-school-so-you must-be-neglecting-her" call. Way to kill my happy mom morning Mrs. Principal.
So here is my little rant off into cyber space, because the principal didn't really want to hear it.
She has missed 12 days so far this year. After 10 you get in trouble. I totally understand that part- esp if she was staying home to watch tv or because I didn't feel like driving her over. However, here are my excuses:
7 of them are medical excused- the allergist, a sprained elbow, four days with the swine flu, and one day that I didn't take her to the doctor but kept her home when her back was covered with an itchy rash. And I think you should get reverse credit when you miss after the nurse calls to tell you to come get your sick kid and not to bring her back until she is fever-free for a whole day. Instead you get a tardy and an absence.
The other five she was in Orlando. Although technically three of those were sick days as well that she spent throwing up in a hotel room. And two of them were supposed to be vacation days that they took off the school calendar at the last minute, after we had reserved and paid for everything.
The principal pointed out that she also misses once a week to go to the gifted program so add all those together and she has missed too much. And my response for that is that it is the district's lame policy that the only way they can educate the gifted kids is by busing them off-site once a week to have "enrichment" lessons, instead of moving them up a grade, ability grouping, giving them harder work or IEP's, or hiring someone to teach them on-site. So that really shouldn't count against her.
And if she is in the gifted program, obviously the missed instructional hours aren't really a problem. Did she even look at the report card with all 99%s, the perfect scores on the CRCTs, or the top of the curve placement test scores before she decided my kid was missing too much class? Or that I have to send her to school with toys in her pocket, so that all the time she spends being bored and looking out the window, she can spend fidgeting with the toy instead of chewing her fingernails until they bleed or reading a book or working ahead (too distracting for the other kids who have to pay attention) or talking to her friends.
I am all for enforcing the rules, but they should really take a look at the whole picture, not just the tally marks in their record books. Go after the kid who shows up for school every day without doing his work, who is falling behind, who never eats breakfast, or goes home to an empty house for hours after school. They are the ones who need intervention.
OK. That's my rant.
I'm off to clean the living room just in case they decide today is a good day to drop by. Wish me luck, and does anyone know of a good, free, homeschooling curriculum? I'm not sure if we will make it until May without missing another day...
Posted by Jannet at 10:49 AM 1 comments
Labels: Being the Mom, Lenna
My new favorite holiday
Today while I was in the shower Lenna and Andy made me breakfast. They wanted to do breakfast in bed but I wasn't aware of their plans when I decided to get ready for the day. They said it was for "thank you mom day," a holiday they had made up the day before.
I came out to breakfast on a tray set with a place mat and rolled cloth napkin- slightly soggy cereal with whole milk (the regular jug of skim was new and too heavy, so they used the qt of whole I had for Becca), dry toast (they couldn't get the butter spray to work), yogurt, and a juice box. And a tiny card that said "I love you Mommy".
Best breakfast ever!
Posted by Jannet at 10:39 AM 1 comments
Labels: Being the Mom
Monday, October 26, 2009
Word Clouds
I made this for Lenna's baptism program. The closest you'll get to a real invitation!
title="Wordle: Baptism"> src="http://www.wordle.net/thumb/wrdl/1267458/Baptism"
alt="Wordle: Baptism"
style="padding:4px;border:1px solid #ddd">
Posted by Jannet at 1:53 PM 2 comments
Sunday, October 25, 2009
We're back
We just returned from a week in Orlando. I will spend a while journal-ing and posting pictures, but first I thought I would give you a quick summary of our trip. Bad first, to end on a good note.
Negative things:
Parking fees. Everywhere
Toll roads
Too cold to swim, beach, or picnic
Full-price fare.
Estimated wait time: 30 min and up
"They should change the name of this place to "Line-World" not Disney World. I even have to stand in line to go to the bathroom!"
Fold the stroller to board the train, escalator, monorail, shuttle, etc. Carry the two sleeping children and a days worth of stuff, and fold and pull the stroller.
I need another tissue.
101.5*
Can I please go to bed now (spoken by a 5yr old)?
She's throwing up. Again.
"We recommend you locate the nearest urgent care clinic or emergency room"
"Can you tell me the name of the closest urgent care? Can you give me directions?"
Dehydration
Vomit
Bile
Rectal temp
Intravenous re-hydration
"Mommy, I threw up"
"Jannet, there goes #3"
Non-refundable advance purchase attraction tickets
The Good Stuff:
On-time departure and arrival
Cooler temperatures
Wait is less than 10 minutes from this point
Character dining reservation
Fastpass available for this attraction
"This is the best day of my life so far!"
"Everything here really is magic!"
"Lap children allowed to ride"
Take the train
"I am going to sleep in tomorrow"
"Hey, I still have some cash left!"
"We are open until 11"
Insurance accepted
Zofran (my new favorite invention)
mild dehydration- no IV required
24 hr pharmacy
housekeeping
linen exchange
warm enough to swim
cable tv
Seaworld entry this way
no waiting for this attraction
event included with admission
free treats
I want to be an animal trainer when I grow up!
I guess maybe I can learn to dive without holding my nose.
"I got splashed by a dolphin!"
no traffic to report
"I think I am going to take a nap now."
Augusta 27 miles
Home Sweet Home
"Hey, someone cleaned our house while we were gone!"
"I can't wait to go back to school!"
Posted by Jannet at 7:28 PM 1 comments
Labels: Being the Mom, Jannet, vacation
We had a good time, really!
We went on our first Florida/Disney vacation in October. No vacation experience is complete without a photo slide show at the end, so I made one for you!
A quick narration:
Day one we spent at the Magic Kingdom. Mike's sister, Tammy met us there to join the fun. Super fun, long lines, and lunch with Pooh. We ended with the light parade and hauled three exhausted kids back to the hotel.
The next day we thought we would spend at Universal City Walk. Rebecca rearranged our schedule by getting violently ill at Bubba Gumps and puking all over the restaurant. We ended up making a midnight run to the ER and spent the next two days nursing sick kids.
We ended our vacation with a stop at Sea World on the drive home. I had already bought the tickets and was determined to get some use out of them. We skipped all moving rides and stuck to animal viewing and shows. Ended up a nice day, even if we were all still exhausted!
We sent Tammy home sick instead of with a souvenir Pooh hat. I still feel bad every time I think of it. Next year, I am sure it will be better!
Posted by JMC at 12:29 PM 1 comments
Labels: Andy, Being the Mom, Jannet, Lenna, Mike, Rebecca, vacation
Monday, October 12, 2009
6 Words
Happiness is thriving, not just surviving.
I was recently challenged to write my autobiography using just six words. Harder than it looks! I am still not completely satisified with it, but for now it will do!
Posted by Jannet at 8:58 PM 1 comments
Labels: Wordfull Wednesday
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Brain purge
It is 4AM. I have been awake since 3:13. My head hurts and y eyes are burning because I am so tired, but I still can't sleep. How completely unfair. I thought if I just typed out all the junk running through my head and got it out, that maybe I could go to sleep.
Did you know my son has a doctor's appointment this morning? I forgot until a few minutes ago. I must cancel my gym date (sorry Rosetta). It is at 10am. Should I take him to school for an hour or just keep him home? Should I return him after or let him stay home? He missed a full day last week for an allergist apt. I guess it depends on if he gets shots and how he is feeling. I need to get his shot record from school. I think I accidentally gave them my only copy. Since we are visiting a new doc they won't have it on file. He needs his three point screening as well. I have to fill out the packet of papers before we go. Must remember to talk to them about his wheat allergy. And his snoring and strep and see if he needs his tonsils out. He grew nearly 5 inches last year. Is that normal? I got two reminder calls for this apt, from different offices. I wonder where I am supposed to take him. Must call and find out as soon as there are normal people awake and at work. Maybe I will drop him off, get his shot record, go run a few errands, then go back and get him. Let him ditch the second half of the day because it is just lunch, recess, naps, and snack. And why I am I even bothering to send him if it is just filler the last two hours....
Both kids need lunch money for the month. Find checkbook.
I need to send a note with Lenna to the nurse explaining that she outgrew her nut allergy (hooray) so will not need special snacks or an emergency treatment plan. Also need to contact the teacher to find out if she has to do all of those papers from last week when she had the flu. I think she is feeling overwhelmed. Today is horizons day, so she will have even more to do. I think I will just throw them all away and see if she says anything. Add in another weeks worth for our trip and we will be drowning in worksheets. What exactly do we say to a truant officer when he calls and asks why our daughter missed 10 days of school in one month? I am continually tempted to start homeschooling. But after last week, I think it would make us all crazy. I have to not even think about it until after Christmas, at least. then it wont seem so overwhelming.
Vacation. We have one coming up in two weeks. Less then that actually. I feel like I am leaving something important undone. We have a hotel booked. Have a outline planned. Have character dining reservations (note- make kids watch Winnie-the-Pooh so they can appreciate lunch with Tigger and Pooh. Andy didn't know who Eeyore was last week. Really? Lenna lived on that movie as a baby, how did he miss it?). Have online sites with discount tickets marked. Oh, must go on base and see if out TA status makes us eligible for military discounts. That will save a few hundred dollars- must make time for base trip then buy tickets. Then settle up with school and face the scorn of the receptionist. I hate attendance policies. I should be able to take my kids on vacation when ever I want when they are that little and way ahead anyway.
Need to make reservations for discount getaway Mike got for long weekend. Sometime during Christmas break. Maybe to the beach? Will it be too cold? Do the kids care if they have to wear jackets to the beach? Probably not.
Need to make reservations at Tenn cabins for Mike's side of family vacation. So his sisters don't declare us incompetent vacation planners and disown us. How did we get stuck planning two reunions in one summer anyway? Need to make final decision for Law family trip. Need to just call people and ask what they want to do or is the beach is too expensive. You'd think they would want to have some input since it is their money at stake. Maybe I should just do whatever I want and let them worry about getting here and finding a place to sleep on their own. I am booking a beachfront condo then with Tammy's timeshare club.
Need to find time to pay three bills online today. Websites have been down. They should wave late fees if their site is down, I should get a credit just for trying to log in.
Starting to feel stressed about out of town visitors. I am afraid I will run out of time to get things ready. I still am trying to catch up from two years of neglecting the house. Working, pregnancy, and postpartum depression will do that to you. If it took me that long to mess it up, I should get that much time to put it back together. wait, I did have that much time. I am just really slow.
Need to move crib to spare room so I can do Andy's room. Maybe then he will sleep in it instead of migrating to everyone else 's bed during the night. Tonight he picked Lenna's. She just came out completely offended that he snuck in and has been kicking her and stealing the covers for the last few minutes. Should I tell her her was in there before 8 and she just didn't notice? Before I can move the crib I need to get the file cabinet and end table out. End table to good will, file to dining room by the computer. Need to move craft table out of dining room by decluttering, storing art supplies, and finding a new place to stash 10 boxes of food storage. Maybe in Becca's closet since her clothes only hang down a foot. After than I can move crib and set up Andy's room. Then I can organize toy storage and get the totes out of the front hall. Then deep clean everything before people get here. And should probably patch up the gaping hole in the bathroom ceiling before company starts to arrive.
Need to get winter clothes out of storage and put away summer stuff. Did I ever move the winter clothes out? they might still be hanging around here somewhere. That would make it easier. Need to get next size up clothes for Becca. Starting to get cold, need to do it this week before I give up and just go buy them new stuff and then next month find they have too many clothes to fit in the drawers. Trying to decide if I should give away Andy's clothes as he out grows them. Made peace with getting rid of Lenna's starting with the 5's- by the time Becca gets that big the clothes will be 12 yrs old, and most of them were hand me downs to begin with. They deserve to be set free. But toddler clothes get outgrown faster so I feel ok about hanging on to them. But boy clothes are really hard to find second hand. so if we have another boy within the next year or so, I will be wishing I had a stash. But what if it takes another yr to get pregnant and it is a girl? If by some miracle I feel competent enough to have another one after that and it happens to be a boy, that puts at least 8 yrs or so between Andy and the next boy, which seems too long to be toting around boxes of tiny sweats. Keep or pass? I have no idea. I guess I will just box them up and put them in storage and worry about it later.
So, a week and half until our FL trip. Disney, Seaworld, Busch Gardens. Is there a beach near Orlando? I know it is in the middle on the map, but how long does it take to get over to the edges? Might be a nice diversion on our in-between resting days. After we get back it is a week until Halloween. I need to find time to get Lenna's princess dress (early birthday gift?) and make her costume. Becca and Andrew are still young enough to dress up from the stash of play clothes. The next week is Becca's 1st birthday, my dad flies in a few days later. Spend the week touring, then that weekend is Lenna's b-day and baptism, which brings 7 out of town guests to host and entertain and find a place to sleep. Did I mention I have to get the bedrooms ready? I need to order her scriptures and check on her dress to make sure everything gets mailed and shipped and delivered on time. The next week is Thanksgiving and our 10 yr anniversary. then its Christmas time already and I haven't shopped, decorated, or anything.
And I am supposed to throw in Lenna's birthday party someplace. She didn't ave one last year because I was having a baby, so I told her this year she could have some friends over. She wants to go skating, She has never been. I should find time to take her so she can try it out first. it would be sad to spend her birthday party hating the activity she chose. I still need to get Andy to Chuck E Cheese since he didn't go on his b-day because Lenna was sick. And they keep asking me to take them to the pool. Andrew wants to go to the Y because he is finally old enough to go to the clubhouse.
I wonder what I can do the week my dad is here. Seems a waste to fly 6,000 miles to watch me drive them around to school and ballet and basketball. But I am not sure I could get away with pulling them out of school again to do any day trips. Hmmm. Would like to go to the zoo/gardens. Maybe a day trip to Savannah and Tybee Island. The county fair is that week as well. Hard because the only weekend he is here is filled with birthday/baptism stuff. Will think some more. How about I just pull the kids out of school altogether until after Christmas so I can haul them around as much as I want?
There. Feel a little better. at least now I have a list. Sort of. Help. I am not going to make it. Should have stopped at "I can't sleep." Must refill prescription in the morning.
Goodnight. I hope.
Shoot. Time to get up in 2 hrs. Baby awake. Lenna insists I move her brother before she will go back to bed. Don't call me later. I will be napping.
Posted by Jannet at 4:04 AM 2 comments
Labels: Jannet














