I have been sooo negligent about blogging lately. Claire has said a couple funnies lately so I thought I would share...
*Today in the car I asked her what she would do if someone came up to her and asked her what her name was but she didn't know them and mama or daddy weren't around...I would say NO and run to the police. OK...good enough answer. Then I asked her what she would do if the person said they lost their dog and wanted her help finding it or had a horse she could see...what would she do then. No response. I asked here again what she thought. Her reply (in a teenagery annoyed exasperated whine)....Do I have to answer these questions? They are freaking me out?!
God love her!!
I need to blog more frequently because she is constantly saying these things that crack me up.
More to come...summer is almost here. That means, more time for blogging!
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
In due time
We have been getting our house ready to sell over the past week or so. Because the bedrooms in our house are pretty small, one thing we decided to do was get some of the bigger beds out of the smaller rooms. Claire's room is the smallest and we had a full size bed in there. We moved that to the spare room and put the queen bed that was in there in storage. We put Claire's old toddler bed (that she probably slept in a total of 1 week) in her room. We figured she would sleep in her bed in the spare room for the time being.
Well, she was so excited about that toddler bed that she is sleeping in there now! Who would have thought. She is a little big, but she fits and is comfortable. I am glad we can get some use out of it. Here is a picture of her in her "new bed".
Now that we have moved some of the bigger furniture into storage, our rooms really do look bigger. We are not close, but we are getting there!!!
Well, she was so excited about that toddler bed that she is sleeping in there now! Who would have thought. She is a little big, but she fits and is comfortable. I am glad we can get some use out of it. Here is a picture of her in her "new bed".
Now that we have moved some of the bigger furniture into storage, our rooms really do look bigger. We are not close, but we are getting there!!!
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
What's Been Going On
I have been out of the writing thing for a bit now. I thought I would share a few things to update:
FISH...
We got some. Claire was trying really hard to have nice hands at school. We had planned on getting an aquarium for her, but she was having these bad days at school so we figured we would wait until she had a good hands day at school. The day arrived...about $80 later we had an aquarium, gravel, a Buddha statue, some fake greenery, a couple of bottles of beta water and two Mollies. About a week later, the Dalmatian Molly had passed and a few days after that the Black Molly sunk...definitely NOT the unsinkable Molly. Claire was devastated. She had a hard time sleeping that night and wanted a new fish right away.
We consulted the pet shop people who figured we needed some sacrificial fish...those who would help balance the water in the tank, but probably would not live. Claire took that all pretty well. I said these are not pets...they are workers. Their job is to clean the tank and they probably won't live for more than a week (Will PETA be on me for this?) Now watch, those Zebra Danios will live FOREVER!!!
Here is a picture of her tank and her first two fish...RIP.
PLAY THERAPY
As you read above, Claire was having trouble keeping her hands to herself and was really lashing out at home physically. We thought we would look into play therapy to see if that might help with some of the aggression. Claire met with Maura who showed Claire a tabletop sandbox with some red sand. Then she opened a cupboard with a million toys (Claire of course gravitated to the horse figures-there were at least 20). She played for an hour! Maura ocassionally would ask her questions, but for the most part, Claire led the playing and loved it! At times she showed a bit of being uncomfortable with the questions, but also that she was OK with it. She was excited to go back tonight (ummm, yeah....I wrote the wrong time down and was an hour late for the appt so we have to reschedule). But overall the experience was very positive for her. And...she has been doing SOOOOO well with her relationships with her classmates and with us. She has taken control of her behavior in such a wonderful way. We have three more sessions over the month, and I am sure we will see even more interesting improvements.
So cute...Claire and I were racing to the car after our appointment that didn't happen, and she got to the car first and said, "I won!" Then in the next breath, she said, "But good try Mama." I love that she is able to look at the other person and build them up. It is a big step for her.
Here is a pic of my cutie!!!
I saw her out of the bedroom window. She took her horse and book to her table and enjoyed reading in the beautiful weather. Made my heart smile.
FISH...
We got some. Claire was trying really hard to have nice hands at school. We had planned on getting an aquarium for her, but she was having these bad days at school so we figured we would wait until she had a good hands day at school. The day arrived...about $80 later we had an aquarium, gravel, a Buddha statue, some fake greenery, a couple of bottles of beta water and two Mollies. About a week later, the Dalmatian Molly had passed and a few days after that the Black Molly sunk...definitely NOT the unsinkable Molly. Claire was devastated. She had a hard time sleeping that night and wanted a new fish right away.
We consulted the pet shop people who figured we needed some sacrificial fish...those who would help balance the water in the tank, but probably would not live. Claire took that all pretty well. I said these are not pets...they are workers. Their job is to clean the tank and they probably won't live for more than a week (Will PETA be on me for this?) Now watch, those Zebra Danios will live FOREVER!!!
Here is a picture of her tank and her first two fish...RIP.
PLAY THERAPY
As you read above, Claire was having trouble keeping her hands to herself and was really lashing out at home physically. We thought we would look into play therapy to see if that might help with some of the aggression. Claire met with Maura who showed Claire a tabletop sandbox with some red sand. Then she opened a cupboard with a million toys (Claire of course gravitated to the horse figures-there were at least 20). She played for an hour! Maura ocassionally would ask her questions, but for the most part, Claire led the playing and loved it! At times she showed a bit of being uncomfortable with the questions, but also that she was OK with it. She was excited to go back tonight (ummm, yeah....I wrote the wrong time down and was an hour late for the appt so we have to reschedule). But overall the experience was very positive for her. And...she has been doing SOOOOO well with her relationships with her classmates and with us. She has taken control of her behavior in such a wonderful way. We have three more sessions over the month, and I am sure we will see even more interesting improvements.
So cute...Claire and I were racing to the car after our appointment that didn't happen, and she got to the car first and said, "I won!" Then in the next breath, she said, "But good try Mama." I love that she is able to look at the other person and build them up. It is a big step for her.
Here is a pic of my cutie!!!
I saw her out of the bedroom window. She took her horse and book to her table and enjoyed reading in the beautiful weather. Made my heart smile.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Blog Swap
Better late than never!!!
I participated in an awesome swap at Mamarazzi Blog Swap.
I was partnered with craftymoosecrafts.Check her blog out here...she is so crafty!!!
http://craftymoosecrafts.blogspot.com
I had so much fun shopping for my swap buddy!
When I got my package on the same day I mailed mine, I was stoked! She sent such fun things. Each was numbered, and she also included a little note about everything.
If you haven't been over to check out her spot, click here to get there:-)
I believe mamarazzi is also going to be doing another swap soon, so make sure you check her out too!!!!
Here is a picture of my loot!!!
She, being the crafty lady that she is, made a fabric fortune cookie *to signify her love for Chinese take-out*, yummy dark chocoate, a puzzle of the New York Skyline, her favorite tea, a book by her favorite author (who I also love) and a DVD of Fiddler on the Roof (LOVE THAT MOVIE). She also made a suncatcher with a teacher theme. THANK YOU DEBBIE, MISS CRAFTYMOOSECRAFTS!!!!
I participated in an awesome swap at Mamarazzi Blog Swap.
I was partnered with craftymoosecrafts.Check her blog out here...she is so crafty!!!
http://craftymoosecrafts.blogspot.com
I had so much fun shopping for my swap buddy!
When I got my package on the same day I mailed mine, I was stoked! She sent such fun things. Each was numbered, and she also included a little note about everything.
If you haven't been over to check out her spot, click here to get there:-)
I believe mamarazzi is also going to be doing another swap soon, so make sure you check her out too!!!!
Here is a picture of my loot!!!
She, being the crafty lady that she is, made a fabric fortune cookie *to signify her love for Chinese take-out*, yummy dark chocoate, a puzzle of the New York Skyline, her favorite tea, a book by her favorite author (who I also love) and a DVD of Fiddler on the Roof (LOVE THAT MOVIE). She also made a suncatcher with a teacher theme. THANK YOU DEBBIE, MISS CRAFTYMOOSECRAFTS!!!!
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Finding Friends
I have joined the world of Facebook and one of the things I have loved more than anything about it is reconnecting with old friends. Imagine my surprise today when I was able to do this the old fashion way...I bumped into my first roomie from college at a conference! I guess this does still happen, but after not seeing someone for over five years and then seeing them sitting in the same room that you--well, it just seems a bit surreal.
So here is the scene...
I sit down and get ready to hear a lecture on struggling readers when I glance over and think...is that Fee? Not being so sure (which I am embarrassed that I had trouble being sure), I decided to play it cool. So I creepily kept looking at her. I figured that if I keep looking her way, she will eventually look my way and I can give her a smile. Well, that happened, but when I smiled, her smile back was one of those not of recognition, but more so of a pleasant, "Ok, I will smile back to this weird woman looking at me." I decided that it had to be a look alike person. Surely she would know me (What is the logic in that? I was not sure it was her!). I kept looking her way for the hour or so of the lecture. Then, I spy a ski tag on her coat. Hey, Fee skis! It HAS to be her! I tell the friend I am with that I am just going to yell her name at the end of the lecture and see if she turns around. If it isn't, oh well. I can deal with that. Turns out, when the lecture was over, I was talking with my friend and see her looking at me out of the corner of my eye. I decide it has to be her. I look and say, "Get over here! I knew that was you!"
After hugs and "how are things", we exchanged numbers and vowed to call. And I will.
When I got home I found a video of our last week at school together that we made with our other dorm friends. I laughed so hard that I decided I need to have a BG get together this summer. I am going to arrange it and am so excited at the possibility of seeing these friends of mine that, for the most part, I have lost touch with but were such an important part of my life for 2-4 years.
Here is to finding old friends (however you do so).
So here is the scene...
I sit down and get ready to hear a lecture on struggling readers when I glance over and think...is that Fee? Not being so sure (which I am embarrassed that I had trouble being sure), I decided to play it cool. So I creepily kept looking at her. I figured that if I keep looking her way, she will eventually look my way and I can give her a smile. Well, that happened, but when I smiled, her smile back was one of those not of recognition, but more so of a pleasant, "Ok, I will smile back to this weird woman looking at me." I decided that it had to be a look alike person. Surely she would know me (What is the logic in that? I was not sure it was her!). I kept looking her way for the hour or so of the lecture. Then, I spy a ski tag on her coat. Hey, Fee skis! It HAS to be her! I tell the friend I am with that I am just going to yell her name at the end of the lecture and see if she turns around. If it isn't, oh well. I can deal with that. Turns out, when the lecture was over, I was talking with my friend and see her looking at me out of the corner of my eye. I decide it has to be her. I look and say, "Get over here! I knew that was you!"
After hugs and "how are things", we exchanged numbers and vowed to call. And I will.
When I got home I found a video of our last week at school together that we made with our other dorm friends. I laughed so hard that I decided I need to have a BG get together this summer. I am going to arrange it and am so excited at the possibility of seeing these friends of mine that, for the most part, I have lost touch with but were such an important part of my life for 2-4 years.
Here is to finding old friends (however you do so).
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Even though...
Even though I can complain a lot,
I really am happy most of the time.
Even though I procrastinate,
I feel so much better when things are done.
Even though it has been hard getting that second child,
I am so blessed to have such a fun, fantastic four year old.
Even though said four year old tries my patience daily,
she give the best run-hugs ever and makes my heart smile daily.
Even though I am getting my masters,
I feel like I have not given it my all.
Even though I really want to be healthy,
I still head to McDonalds for that darn Sausage McMuffin goodness.
Even though I am a teacher,
I am a human being who makes mistakes with the best of them.
Even though I usually forget to send my friends cards on their birthday,
I usually think about them at least once on their special day.
Even though I would love to write a children's book,
I still fear rejection too much to finish it.
Even though I don't tell my family enough how much they mean to me,
they are responsible for helping shape who I am and I am so grateful.
Even though TV rots my brain,
I can't turn it off.
Even though I tell my students to be organized,
I have to tell them NOT to look at my desk.
Even though I have lived thirty-seven years,
I still have not really lived.
I really am happy most of the time.
Even though I procrastinate,
I feel so much better when things are done.
Even though it has been hard getting that second child,
I am so blessed to have such a fun, fantastic four year old.
Even though said four year old tries my patience daily,
she give the best run-hugs ever and makes my heart smile daily.
Even though I am getting my masters,
I feel like I have not given it my all.
Even though I really want to be healthy,
I still head to McDonalds for that darn Sausage McMuffin goodness.
Even though I am a teacher,
I am a human being who makes mistakes with the best of them.
Even though I usually forget to send my friends cards on their birthday,
I usually think about them at least once on their special day.
Even though I would love to write a children's book,
I still fear rejection too much to finish it.
Even though I don't tell my family enough how much they mean to me,
they are responsible for helping shape who I am and I am so grateful.
Even though TV rots my brain,
I can't turn it off.
Even though I tell my students to be organized,
I have to tell them NOT to look at my desk.
Even though I have lived thirty-seven years,
I still have not really lived.
Monday, February 16, 2009
The Terrible Fours??
Oh my....what to do with a daughter who hits? We have been battling this for a short while and I am at my wits end with it. She is so quick to anger...when something does not go her way. We talk calmly with her, we do time outs. We do not spank. Looking into some behavioral therapy for her before she heads to kindergarten...is this necessary? I don't know. I do know that I do not want things to get worse. I was wondering if it was a situation that she was unable to control...too impulsive. But, she does not hit at school or in other situations...just us.
It does not help that she comes from two parents who like to have control. How much do we let up? Where does the line fall between giving in because it is not really a big deal and sticking to your guns so she does not have the sense that, "Hey, I "got away with it last time", let's try it again.
IT IS SO HARD BEING A PARENT!!!!
It does not help that she comes from two parents who like to have control. How much do we let up? Where does the line fall between giving in because it is not really a big deal and sticking to your guns so she does not have the sense that, "Hey, I "got away with it last time", let's try it again.
IT IS SO HARD BEING A PARENT!!!!
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