Spring Break - Day 2 pm edition

We had a great time today during our second day at the Science Center. We did a lot of things that we didn't have time for yesteray. We went to Grossology, a special exhibit that was all about the gross things that are part of the human body (think farts, snot, and poop...) The kids had lots of fun climbing through noses, making stomachs burp and vomit, and making farting sounds. Cole was quite the fart musician!

We also went to the Climate Change exhibit. I got a picture of Cole looking at coal, which I just thought was great! I also really enjoyed seeing all the "Can"struction projects. I have to say, though, that I do get a little tired of all the "global warming" rhetoric.

We also went to "Mr. Hubble's Universe" in the planetarium. We laid down on mats and got to learn about the constellations visible in the night sky. This was my favorite part of the day! I definitely will write more about it on another day.

All in all, our trip to St. Louis has been great! I definitely see us taking at least a day trip there over the summer.

Spring Break - Day 2 - a.m. edition

So, the weather forcast for St. Louis is calling for 2-4 inches of snow in the next 36 hours. I'm tempted to load the kids in the car and head back to Springfield. I don't mind driving in the snow when I know the streets I'm driving on, but I'm a little bit nervous about driving somewhere I don't know well.

Spring Break Day 1.5

For the second year, the kids and I loaded up in the car and headed for St. Louis. Just like last year, the weather hasn't really cooperated with us. We woke up this morning to see about 2 inches of sleet covering the car. Luckily I planned our activities with the weather in mind.

Yesterday I had class until 2:40, so we didn't get to our hotel until about 8:00. Katie and Cole enjoyed swimming in the pool while Brandon hung out in the room playing Command & Conquer on the computer. Today we got up and had breakfast at the hotel and then headed to the Science Center. We watched two movies, Tornado Alley and Sea Rex, at the Omnimax Theater. Brandon and I preferred Tornado Alley; Katie and Cole preferred Sea Rex. Watching the movies was a lot of fun! The screen was amazing and really made you feel like you were part of the show.

We wandered through most of the Science Center before and after our shows. We spent some time looking around in the gift shop after lunch. That's when Brandon discovered the animatronic T-Rex! We paid for our purchases and quickly headed downstairs. The kids all enjoyed looking at the different dinosaur displays and getting to touch fossilized dino poop. Earlier in the day, when we were discussing the movies we were going to see, Brandon told me he didn't like dinosaurs anymore and didn't want to see Sea Rex. But after spending time downstairs, Brandon told me that the Science Center had renewed his love of dinosaurs!

After the Science Center, we went back the hotel and just relaxed for the evening. So far we have been to the pool once and are planning one more trip downstairs before bed. So far the trip has been lots of fun and I'm looking forward to seeing what tomorrow brings.

To blog or not to blog....

that is the question. What is the answer? I am going to try to start using this blog again, at least weekly to remember the little things that make up my everyday life.

Today is the second "official" day of Spring. As I write, freezing rain is accumulating outside (along with fallen branches). The kids are on spring break, and I'm hoping that the weather turns around in time for our trip next weekend to St. Louis. We are planning to go to the Science Center and the Zoo (Katie is very excited about seeing polar bears!)

09/08/2009

Well, it's official, my son can hear!

About four months ago, Cole had his Kindergarten screening and failed his hearing test miserably. Many, many doctor visits, prescriptions and co-pays later, he was finally referred to an ENT who scheduled his for outpatient surgery to get tubes in both ears. Today was his post-op check-up and everything is all healed and his hearing is perfect!

September 7, 2009

I am getting back into the fall routine. The kids and I are all back in school. Brandon started middle school this year, Katie went to 2nd grade and Cole started Kindergarten. I am taking 16 hours this semester in the Post-Bac Teacher Certification program at MSU and am looking forward to a busy and productive semester. I am surviving through my use of lists - lists of assignments, grocery lists, to-do lists, chore lists for the kids - all paper and pencil for me; I work better when I physically write down and cross off all the items I need to do. I keeping with my love of lists, I am going to try to come here and post lists that reflect what is going on in my life.

Five things that happened last week...
1 - Katie went to her first sleepover on Saturday night, she got homesick and I had to go pick her up at 9:00 (but she still had a great time!)
2 - I was sicker than I have been in years, I'm finally feeling like myself again today.
3 - I dusted off my scrapbook supplies and made two pages; the first ones I've made since May.
4 - As of my last weigh-in I have lost 10% of my starting weight and am 40% of the way to my goal!
5 - Cole is learning about a different color every day and gets to wear colors to match! (I'm not sure what I'm going to do for the purple and pink days this week.)

Today I...

Today I have 5 children in my house (my 3, plus two).

Today I have to run a Daisy Scout cookie booth.

Today I have a girl's night out with Marsha and Deamber.

Today I need to do dishes and 2 loads of laundry.

Today I want to finish 1 scrapbook page.

Today I need to find the top of my desk again.

Today I want to finish cleaning out the kid's future playroom.

Today I need more hours in my day.

Today I will be happy, even if I don't get everything done.

Catching up...

It's been so long since I've posted anything here. So much has happened in the eight months since my last post.

• I got a job working at Reliable Toyota in the business office.
• I turned 40.
• Katie turned 6, Cole 5.
• I celebrated my 12th wedding anniversary.
• Robert and I separated.
• Brandon turned 11.
• I was laid off from my job.
• I went back to school full-time to get my teacher certifications in Middle School math and business.

Life has been full of changes. I think I'm on a road to where I need to be. While everything is not always sunshine and roses, I am happier and more content than I've been in years. I know I will come out on the other side of all of this a better person than I was when I started.

Monday's Memories

A little late....again....

I finally finished reading the latest Terry Goodkind book, Confessor. I don't know why it took me so long to start it. Maybe because I knew my journey with Richard and Kahlan was coming to an end. Through 11 books I followed their story and the ending was wonderful. Thank you, Jennifer, for introducing to the "Sword of Truth".

I've been reading a lot to the kids. We have been going to the library every week since school's been out. Great, cheap entertainment. My favorite this week has been "The Forgetful Bears Help Santa." I think it's so funny that Katie picked out Christmas books in the middle of summer!

Went to swim at Fassnight pool. Brandon went on the water slide, but the other kids were too small. We had lots of fun playing in the water, although it was really cold when we first got in.

Monday's Memories

Posting a little late...

Last week
- The kids started summer school. Wow does it start early. We have to leave the house at 7:00 for them to be there on time. That means I have to up no later than 6:00 if they eat in the car.
- I found out I didn't get the City of Springfield job. I never heard anything from St. Johns, so I'm assuming it is a no as well. The search will continue...
-Katie and Cole played in the sprinkler at home since we didn't have time to go the pool. They had so much fun running around playing.
-Went to Baby D's first birthday party. The party was at a fire station and Katie, Cole and I got to go up in the bucket on one of the fire trucks. Brandon didn't want to go (he's a little afraid of heights).

Wednesday Musing - Scrapbook kits

I am taking a new class at BPS call Crazy about Kits taught by May Flaum. I am really enjoying it. This week the goal was to pick a manufacturers kit and use it to make some scrapbook layouts or other projects using primarily the items in the kit along with some items chosen from your "stash". I was amazed at how freeing it was to start with a limited amount of "product" and to create just with those items. It was also a lot faster. Over the course of one week I completed 6 12x12 single page layouts, 2 cards, 2 altered notebooks and a mini album. It is so much faster to create a page when you start with the product and then select pictures that fit. I usually pick my photos first and then spend hours trying to pick the perfect papers and embellies.

I am really looking forward to the week when she helps us learn to create kits from our own stash. I am really starting to see all the stuff I've accumulated in a different light. It's not just piles of stuff, it's items that are ready to coordinate and play with.

So much fun...

Monday's Memories

During the last week:

Katie and Brandon finished Kindergarten and 4th grade, respectively. They have a few days off before they start summer school. I got a really sweet note from Brandon's teacher. I am really going to miss both of the kid's teachers.

My latest BPS class, Crazy About Kits, started. I have used an entire MM Noteworthy kit and have now started to work with a Paper Salon Palazzo kit. So far I have done 6 12x12 layouts, 2 cards, 2 altered journals and am working on a mini-album for Robert for father's day.

I had a second interview with the City of Springfield. I am hoping I will have a job offer this week, but am still submitting resumes just in case.

Went to see Horton Hears a Who at the Palace with the kids on Saturday. Such a cute movie. I will definitely buy this when it comes out on DVD.

30-minute Thursday

My layout for the latest 30-minute Thursday challenge from Lain Ehmann. The challenge this week was to make a monochromatic layout using red. I decided to use photos from our Valentine's Day celebration at home this year. We surprised the kids with heart-shaped pizza and doughnuts and a small toy.

For the layout I used a kraft cardstock base and then grabbed my red drawer and red ribbon jar and started pulling out all the things I thought I might use. Then I pulled my folder of "love and heart" stuff, picked a few things from there and it all put together in about 20 minutes.

Thanks for another great challenge, Lain! http://knitandpurlgrrl.blogs.com/scraphappy/2008/05/30-minute-thursday.html

Wednesday Musing - Waiting

Waiting - I hate waiting. Waiting in line, waiting on hold, waiting to hear from someone, waiting tables (ok, so I haven't done that in years). I much prefer doing.

Sometimes I wonder how many hours are consumed each week by the act of waiting. Today I waited on hold when my Internet wasn't working (time lost-20 minutes), I waited to hear back from a potential employer (time lost-hard to say, but I have not been my most productive lately), I waited for water to boil to make macaroni and cheese at lunch (time lost-10 minutes).

I don't suppose there is any way to avoid waiting, so I guess my goal should be to find things to fill my time while waiting. I will have to wait and see if I come up with any ideas to fill the wasted hours.

Waiting....

Waiting....

Waiting...

Monday's Memories

I almost forgot today was Monday since we were all home. A quick recap of the last week.

*I had two job interviews. One with the city of Springfield, the other with St. Johns. I should hear this week if I got either of them.
*Went to Fassnight Park with Robert, the kids and the weekend son. Planned to go swimming today, but the weather didn't cooperate.
*Completed 3 layouts.
*Watched Christian Bale movies with Jennifer. {sigh}
*Reading the second magic treehouse book to Katie and Cole.
*Went to see Nim's Island at the Palace. Really cute movie, and really hunky Gerard Butler.
*Had last Daisy Scout meeting for the year. Glad to have a break from planning meetings.

30-minute challenge

This is my layout for this weeks 30-minute Thursday challenge by Lain Ehmann.

http://http://knitandpurlgrrl.blogs.com/scraphappy/2008/05/30-minute-thurs.html This weeks challenge was to scrap your favorite book and use something with lines. Since I rarely read for myself anymore, this was my take on the challenge.

Wednesday Musing - Vocabulary

When I was growing up I can remember how good I felt when my mom would look at me and say, "Oh, that's a good word, Amy." I was always an advanced reader and picked up a better than average vocabulary for a child. I still love to read and delight in discovering new words. Unfortunately, as a mom of three, I don't have the time to devote to reading that I would like. I used to devour books. Now I read at a snail's pace. Someday, I will have free time to devote to the written word again. But, for now, I will have to be content with reading the "Magic Treehouse" chapter books to the kids.

Monday's Memories

This week - I completed 4 scrapbook layouts (1 2-page and 3 1-page). I printed and filed almost 200 photos. I mowed our yard. Cole got sick. Katie went on a field trip to the Discovery Center. I had a phone interview with Sisters of Mercy. I scheduled an interview with the City of Springfield. Brandon and I earned almost 50 bowls of rice at www.freerice.com. Watched the season finales of Smallville, Supernatural and Gossip Girl. So glad all those shows are coming back next year. Completed my first 30-minute Thursday challenge.

30 Minute Challenge

I completed my first ever layout for one of Lain Ehmann's 30-minute Thursday challenges. The challenge this week was to use a vacation photo, a paper clip, hidden journaling and to complete the layout in 30 minutes or less. I am proud to say that I completed mine in 29 minutes.

Here is my layout "Art Imitates Art". The hidden journaling says, "When I attended the first Lollapalozza in 1991, I was lucky enough to see some amazing art in Chicago. I found the sculpture first and later discovered the mural. I was amazed at how art imitated art."

I discovered Lain's blog and podcast when I took the LOAD (layout a day) challenge in January at Big Picture Scrapbooking. So glad I did. http://knitandpurlgrrl.blogs.com/scraphappy/

Weekly Musing

As I approach my 40th birthday, I realize there are many things that I want to accomplish during my remaining years. To that end, I am working on a list (tentatively referred to as "50 by 50") of things I want to do, see, go to and be during the next 10 years.

One of the definite items on this list is to begin a journal where I record my thoughts and memories at least once a week. This is the motivation behind starting this blog. Each Monday I am going to write a "Monday's Memories" post that will list the little things that made up my previous week. On Wednesdays, I will write my "Weekly Musing". This will be a more freeform post that I will use to record my progress on my 50 items, to write entries that will eventually become part of my "Encyclopedia of Me" (more about this later), or to talk about whatever is on my mind.

Eventually, I plan to add more post-specific days. I have learned that when I get too ambitious, I tend to burn out, so I will take this slow and keep it fun.

Monday's Memories

During the last week I:

Discovered a meatloaf recipe that Robert really loved.

Jammed to Rock Band - consistently singing in the 90's. Is a stint on American Idol next?

Got flowers, had lunch at Village Inn and ice cream at Braum's for Mother's Day.

Made a loaf of homemade bread - dusted off the breadmaker for the first time in about 4 years.

Burned the inside of my wrist on the handle of the breadmaker's loaf pan. I really hope it doesn't scar.

Decided to start this blog.