Tyler had an awesome football game last week. The previous game, he had again seen very little playing time, so Chris decided it was time to contact the coach. And while, no matter what, the rules state that all kids are to have equal playing time regardless of how good they are, you still don't want them to have a horrible game right after you contact the coach!
But in his last game, besides being the cutest player on the field, Tyler also had TWO interceptions! The first one he ran back for a touchdown!! I was pretty ticked off about this one, though. Because the games start at 4:30 and the last daycare kids don't leave until about 5:15, Chris & I take turns going. If it's a home game, the other person can usually catch at least the last half. It was supposed to be my turn to go to the whole game, but since Chris has to work during the next game, I let him go instead....and so I didn't even get to see his first interception. The second one was actually the last play of the game, so his team was able to complete a shut out of the other team.
He said he got the interception by just hanging back & watching. Apparently, the quarterback of the other team also had a certain player that he always threw the ball to, and so Tyler just stayed near him. I told him to tell our quarterback that, so maybe he will try to throw the ball to more players.
Needless to say, he was pretty pumped after that game! And Chris & I were pretty proud, too.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Thursday, October 9, 2008
My Little Celebrity
Okay, first of all I know I've been slacking with my posts a bit this week. But it is my last week at my job so I'm feverishly trying to get everything that I have been putting off til another day done this week! Okay, it's not actually my "last day" last day, the council did approve me to work part time after hours & from home for at least a month, possibly longer depending on how the hiring goes, but it is my last day here during normal business hours.
But moving on... during Fire Prevention Week, the fire department drives all over the town with their lights on and sometimes sirens, and the kids of the firemen are usually riding on the truck, too. I don't know exactly why the do, but the kids always like it.
So last night when I heard them coming I told the kids to watch for them. They came by once and then turned around at the end of the road and came by a second time. Caleb was still standing by the window, and as they drove past I heard a "Hi Caleb" coming from the truck.
I'm pretty sure it came from one of the boys that was on Tyler's baseball team this past summer. Caleb was kind of their little mascot, as he loved to throw the ball to the kids who were on the bench. It got to the point that as we would be walking to the field, we'd hear someone saying "Hey, Caleb's here." I sure hope that his celebrity status here doesn't go to his head!
But moving on... during Fire Prevention Week, the fire department drives all over the town with their lights on and sometimes sirens, and the kids of the firemen are usually riding on the truck, too. I don't know exactly why the do, but the kids always like it.
So last night when I heard them coming I told the kids to watch for them. They came by once and then turned around at the end of the road and came by a second time. Caleb was still standing by the window, and as they drove past I heard a "Hi Caleb" coming from the truck.
I'm pretty sure it came from one of the boys that was on Tyler's baseball team this past summer. Caleb was kind of their little mascot, as he loved to throw the ball to the kids who were on the bench. It got to the point that as we would be walking to the field, we'd hear someone saying "Hey, Caleb's here." I sure hope that his celebrity status here doesn't go to his head!
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Judgemental
Okay, so I know I am being a bit hypocritical here, but I really hate it when people who don't know me get judgmental.
Last night was Cameron's night out and he wanted to go see Eagle Eye. I admit I didn't know much about it, but it is only rated PG-13. When we got to the popcorn counter to pay for our $5.10 small popcorn & $3.50 box of candy Cameron wanted (We did at least stop at a vending machine to buy our pop & sneak it in) the gal at the counter said, "You must be seeing the 7:00 Chihuahua showing." I said actually we were there to see Eagle Eye. She looked shocked and said, "Oh, well I just assumed..."
Now I admit this movie does have some swearing in it, but it's not like my boys don't know what those words are. They also know I better never hear them using those words. (Heck, to this day, I still don't swear in front of my mother) And technically there was some violence, but it was mostly military/war violence, not a bunch of kids running around shooting things up. And besides, it's not like he went alone. I was with him, so if there was anything in the movie that concerned me I could have discussed it with him.
Now, I know that I can be a wee bit judgemental at times, but at least I don't say it to their face. I wait until they are gone before and then I tell whoever I'm with!
Last night was Cameron's night out and he wanted to go see Eagle Eye. I admit I didn't know much about it, but it is only rated PG-13. When we got to the popcorn counter to pay for our $5.10 small popcorn & $3.50 box of candy Cameron wanted (We did at least stop at a vending machine to buy our pop & sneak it in) the gal at the counter said, "You must be seeing the 7:00 Chihuahua showing." I said actually we were there to see Eagle Eye. She looked shocked and said, "Oh, well I just assumed..."
Now I admit this movie does have some swearing in it, but it's not like my boys don't know what those words are. They also know I better never hear them using those words. (Heck, to this day, I still don't swear in front of my mother) And technically there was some violence, but it was mostly military/war violence, not a bunch of kids running around shooting things up. And besides, it's not like he went alone. I was with him, so if there was anything in the movie that concerned me I could have discussed it with him.
Now, I know that I can be a wee bit judgemental at times, but at least I don't say it to their face. I wait until they are gone before and then I tell whoever I'm with!
Monday, October 6, 2008
Monday
Well work pretty well sucked today. I had the worst day at payroll I've had in years! I'm still not done, but at least paychecks are out, so the employees are happy.
The best part of my day was when I ran home to pick up Amata for an appointment. Caleb ran to the door and yelled, "Mama". That is another new word for him. Granted it came behind ball, poop & m&m, but at least he finally said it! (Especially since he has not said "dada" yet....all of our kids have always said that first!)
The best part of my day was when I ran home to pick up Amata for an appointment. Caleb ran to the door and yelled, "Mama". That is another new word for him. Granted it came behind ball, poop & m&m, but at least he finally said it! (Especially since he has not said "dada" yet....all of our kids have always said that first!)
Friday, October 3, 2008
Sneaky Boy
We had "brunch" for dinner last night. It's always a favorite. However Caleb has become somewhat picky lately. Not so much about what food he likes, more about how the food is put onto his plate &/or what plate he is using.
To start out, Chris has put a little bit of everything on Caleb's plate. Caleb didn't like that. First of all, he did not just want some of the eggs on his plate...he wanted the entire plate of eggs that was in the middle of the table. Going with the whole "choose your battles" theory, since everybody had taken some eggs & there wasn't that much left, we gave it to him. Then it was an issue about the waffle. He didn't like the one that Chris cut up. So fine, I got him a different one, and didn't cut it. But that wasn't good enough, either. I guess there was a specific waffle that he wanted.
I was getting a wee bit tired of the game by this point & told him that he had to eat the waffle that was on his plate before he could take another one. Caleb then took the waffle on his plate & put his hand under the table. He saw me watching him, so he paused for a minute. I thought for sure he was going to throw the whole thing to the dog. I guess he realized that would be to obvious, so instead, he began pulling it apart & just throwing pieces to the dog.
Need I remind you that he is not even two years old yet???!!! Lord help me when that boy is a teenager!!
To start out, Chris has put a little bit of everything on Caleb's plate. Caleb didn't like that. First of all, he did not just want some of the eggs on his plate...he wanted the entire plate of eggs that was in the middle of the table. Going with the whole "choose your battles" theory, since everybody had taken some eggs & there wasn't that much left, we gave it to him. Then it was an issue about the waffle. He didn't like the one that Chris cut up. So fine, I got him a different one, and didn't cut it. But that wasn't good enough, either. I guess there was a specific waffle that he wanted.
I was getting a wee bit tired of the game by this point & told him that he had to eat the waffle that was on his plate before he could take another one. Caleb then took the waffle on his plate & put his hand under the table. He saw me watching him, so he paused for a minute. I thought for sure he was going to throw the whole thing to the dog. I guess he realized that would be to obvious, so instead, he began pulling it apart & just throwing pieces to the dog.
Need I remind you that he is not even two years old yet???!!! Lord help me when that boy is a teenager!!
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Wierd
I've left jobs before, and I've always known people have applied the job I've left. But it feels a little odd this time around because it is such a small office, I am actually taking the applications from the people who want my job. I don't know why, but it's just weird!
I'm kind of regretting giving 3 weeks notice at this point, because I am already tired of all of the BS. But the good part about giving 3 weeks is that I will get to work with the new city administrator for a week and the council has decided to let me work part time after hours & from home for at least a month, possible longer depending on who they hire & how long it takes that person to learn motor vehicle & my job. That kind helps to avoid that whole awkward last day stuff, especially when you will not really be missing the people you have worked with for the last 7 1/2 years very much...if at all!
I'm kind of regretting giving 3 weeks notice at this point, because I am already tired of all of the BS. But the good part about giving 3 weeks is that I will get to work with the new city administrator for a week and the council has decided to let me work part time after hours & from home for at least a month, possible longer depending on who they hire & how long it takes that person to learn motor vehicle & my job. That kind helps to avoid that whole awkward last day stuff, especially when you will not really be missing the people you have worked with for the last 7 1/2 years very much...if at all!
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Not so cool after all
About a year ago or so, Chris & I started doing a monthly night out with Tyler & Cameron. To give them some special, alone time with one of us. Especially since at the time, we had a very challenging foster child, in addition to a newborn & an 11 month old & a two year old. It's gone pretty well so far, we have had to reschedule at times, but they have each gotten to go out every month.
This month it was my turn to go out with Tyler. But it ended up being a very busy month, with school starting, football season, soccer, and me having to attend both council meetings to finalize the 09 budget, so we did not get to go on our usual 2nd Monday of the month. We were having a hard time fitting it in. But on Wednesdays, there is no football practice, and Chris said he would take Amata to dance if Tyler & I wanted to go out that night.
Tyler had mentioned that he wanted to go bowling, so when I picked them up from school, I told him that if he wanted to call & make sure there was open bowling, we could go that night when I got home from work... on the ONLY night of the week he doesn't have football practice of a game. His response?? "Tonight? But a bunch of us were going to go up to the park & play some football."
Ouch!
This month it was my turn to go out with Tyler. But it ended up being a very busy month, with school starting, football season, soccer, and me having to attend both council meetings to finalize the 09 budget, so we did not get to go on our usual 2nd Monday of the month. We were having a hard time fitting it in. But on Wednesdays, there is no football practice, and Chris said he would take Amata to dance if Tyler & I wanted to go out that night.
Tyler had mentioned that he wanted to go bowling, so when I picked them up from school, I told him that if he wanted to call & make sure there was open bowling, we could go that night when I got home from work... on the ONLY night of the week he doesn't have football practice of a game. His response?? "Tonight? But a bunch of us were going to go up to the park & play some football."
Ouch!
Monday, September 29, 2008
Amata first day of "School"
Amata started pre-school this year.
She goes one morning a week. I'd love to send her more, but transportation gets a little difficult. And I didn't want to push it too hard, since technically they are supposed to be potty trained before they can go. She has her good days, but she still has way to many accidents for me to consider her successfully potty trained. (Delayed potty training is yet another symptom of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome) Her teacher said she could go, though, and she just wouldn't notice if Amata happens to be wearing a pull up to school.Caleb is not very happy about it. It's bad enough that the big kids get to go "bye-bye" every morning & he has to stay home, but now Amata gets to go, too? He had his shoes on & made it all the way out to the car the first morning.
There is one thing that is irritating me about her pre-school, though, is how well she has been behaving there. I spoke to her teacher last week about the fact that I was going to have her assessed for fetal alcohol syndrome, so she would probably be contacted about that soon about how Amata is doing in school. She told me Amata is doing great in school! She stays on task & doesn't run all over and climb onto things she doesn't belong on or anything. My daughter?! Apparently, she saves it all for us at home. It's still early in the school year, though, there is still time for her to show her true colors!
Friday, September 26, 2008
Soccer
Cameron is not quite as into sports as Tyler is. In fact, the only sport he does take part in is soccer. It kind of bums me out, though, because in our area, soccer is not offered through school, so after they hit about 12, they're pretty much done.
Cameron's team was pretty good, this year. They were undefeated, and in fact they only had one goal scored against them all season, and that happened in the very last game.
He had to behave, though, because I heard his coach was really tough!
This was actually Chris' first time coaching. We usually use the babies as an excuse, but they were really unfair about it this year. The guy who was calling to find people to coach happens to be the same guy who coached Tyler's baseball team the first half of the summer. It's kind of hard to say, well, thanks for coaching my kid for the last 2 months, but I really don't feel like coaching soccer for you! They all had a good time, so it worked out well.
Cameron's team was pretty good, this year. They were undefeated, and in fact they only had one goal scored against them all season, and that happened in the very last game.
He had to behave, though, because I heard his coach was really tough!
This was actually Chris' first time coaching. We usually use the babies as an excuse, but they were really unfair about it this year. The guy who was calling to find people to coach happens to be the same guy who coached Tyler's baseball team the first half of the summer. It's kind of hard to say, well, thanks for coaching my kid for the last 2 months, but I really don't feel like coaching soccer for you! They all had a good time, so it worked out well.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Ready or not....
As I've mentioned, I decided several months ago that I was ready for a job change. So, Chris & I have both been looking for a job, and whoever found something first would be going to work & the other would stay home with the daycare.
Chris has accepted a job offer as a store manager for Dollar General, which means that as of October 13th, I will be doing daycare. Even though from the beginning, I have said that I was ready to stay home for a while, I am now starting to feel a little bit nervous. Because change it always hard & you just never know how things will turn out.
Now I keep thinking am I an idiot giving up a good job with the City just because I'm tired of dealing with the crap that goes along with it? I sure hope not. My former supervisor (the one who left her job with this city in May) keeps assuring me that even though there are a lot of nice benefits with working here, it just isn't worth the stress. And I do agree. That's why I started looking in the first place. I didn't want to continue being away from my kids all day to go to a place where I was miserable.
So wish me luck. I will soon be home, with about 10 pre-school & toddler children everyday. If I end up in an insane asylum, you'll know why!
Chris has accepted a job offer as a store manager for Dollar General, which means that as of October 13th, I will be doing daycare. Even though from the beginning, I have said that I was ready to stay home for a while, I am now starting to feel a little bit nervous. Because change it always hard & you just never know how things will turn out.
Now I keep thinking am I an idiot giving up a good job with the City just because I'm tired of dealing with the crap that goes along with it? I sure hope not. My former supervisor (the one who left her job with this city in May) keeps assuring me that even though there are a lot of nice benefits with working here, it just isn't worth the stress. And I do agree. That's why I started looking in the first place. I didn't want to continue being away from my kids all day to go to a place where I was miserable.
So wish me luck. I will soon be home, with about 10 pre-school & toddler children everyday. If I end up in an insane asylum, you'll know why!
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Excellent Email
My sister forwarded me this email, and since it is one that I agree with whole-heartedly, I thought I would post it here.
The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.
My confession:
I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees.
It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, "Merry Christmas" to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it it shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year.
It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu. If people want a crïeche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.
I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period.. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.
Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too.. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to.
In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.
Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her, How could God let something like this happen? ' (regarding Katrina) Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, "I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?"
In light of recent events... terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O ' Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.
Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he ' s talking about. And we said OK.
Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.
Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with ' WE REAP WHAT WE SOW. '
Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send jokes through e-mail and they spread like wildfire but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.
Are you laughing yet?
Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you ' re not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it..
Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.
Pass it on if you think it has merit. If not then just discard it... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don ' t sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in.
My Best Regards, Honestly and respectfully,
Ben Stein
The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.
My confession:
I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees.
It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, "Merry Christmas" to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it it shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year.
It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu. If people want a crïeche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.
I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period.. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.
Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too.. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to.
In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.
Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her, How could God let something like this happen? ' (regarding Katrina) Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, "I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?"
In light of recent events... terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O ' Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.
Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he ' s talking about. And we said OK.
Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.
Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with ' WE REAP WHAT WE SOW. '
Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send jokes through e-mail and they spread like wildfire but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.
Are you laughing yet?
Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you ' re not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it..
Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.
Pass it on if you think it has merit. If not then just discard it... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don ' t sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in.
My Best Regards, Honestly and respectfully,
Ben Stein
Finally!
We went to court yesterday to finalize Caleb & Baylee's adoption. And there were no law changes, no natural disasters, the judge wasn't sick or anything. So as of yesterday afternoon, they are legally ours now. And Caleb is not even 2 yet (because that is the statuatory maximum that a child can be in a pre-adoptive placement). Maybe BluePlus will even send me Caleb's insurance card now...I dare to dream.
(They wouldn't send me one for he last 23 months because, "I was not his legal guardian". )
There was a trial going on yesterday, too, though, so I felt a little more rushed than when we had Amata's hearing. So, we didn't spend much time trying to get a really great picture...everybody was looking in the general direction of the camera, so we kept it. (Please pay no attention to the boys' attire, I did make them put on nicer shirts, but since they were at school all day it's kind of hard to make them dress up more than that.)
That was actually the second take. Baylee was very interested in the judge on the first take.
(They wouldn't send me one for he last 23 months because, "I was not his legal guardian". )
There was a trial going on yesterday, too, though, so I felt a little more rushed than when we had Amata's hearing. So, we didn't spend much time trying to get a really great picture...everybody was looking in the general direction of the camera, so we kept it. (Please pay no attention to the boys' attire, I did make them put on nicer shirts, but since they were at school all day it's kind of hard to make them dress up more than that.)
That was actually the second take. Baylee was very interested in the judge on the first take.
We went out for pizza at Godfather's afterwards to celebrate before we went home. I'm just wondering, is it a bad omen that Baylee threw up as soon as we got home? Once literally on our way into the house, and then again on the brand new, less than 2 weeks old couch.
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