Making a Difference...

So today was a teacher work day.  I was dreading going back.  Don't get me wrong, I love my job and really enjoy the kids and what I do.  However, I just spent an extra long break with my biological kids and had a great Christmas.  When I got to work, I had presents piled on my desk.  That wasn't the highlight.  It was a note from a mom of one of my 2nd grader's mom.  It was a Christmas card with the sweetest note about how much her kid enjoys my class and can't stop talking about me at home.  Now I only see 2nd graders two days a week and he is a very quiet boy who doesn't say a word in class unless I call on him.  So this took me by surprise.  Yes I get to teach them fun things instead of the normal subject areas.  For those that don't know, I teach gifted kids.  Contrary to popular belief, gifted kids are not always the kids who want to learn.  In fact a lot of them are lazy, don't like school, or just do enough to get by. I don't think that this kid has those qualities, but I wouldn't say he was excited to be in my room.  The mom was so sweet and it was the best present ever!  It totally made my day!!

Happy New Year

Well I am proud to say that I stayed up past midnight tonight.  The last three years resulted in me going to bed and Brandon coming in and giving me a kiss at midnight.  I didn't even have a drink this year!!  Life with young kids...........

I did try a few recipes over the last few days and was happy with them.  The first was a ham and bean soup using the leftover Christmas ham and northern beans.  I was pleasantly surprised.  The second was a hot spinach dip.  I've made cold spinach dips but I love hot spinach dip and was happy with this too.

Happy 2013.  I recently heard the song, "Let's party like it's 1999" and then thinking how long ago that was.   Man I'm getting old..........................

Disney for Christmas

We went to Disney the week before Christmas.  I was a little apprehensive about it being super busy.  Last year we went in October and February which were wonderful.  Surprisingly, the lines were short an it wasn't as crazy as expected.  We were told the week of Christmas is the crazy time!  Fantasyland is now open so that was new to us.  We were excited to go see Enchanted Tales with Belle.  It was great.  Each kid gets to play a part and some adults do too.  Brandon was the wardrobe, Chloe was Phillipe the horse, and Ashlyn was Maurice.  It was very cute and highly recommended.

We got to Orlando on Sunday night.  We went to Disney on Monday and Tuesday, went swimming on Wednesday, and Brandon's mom and sister's family came into town and went to Disney Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.  We had a great time.  THe beginning of the week was warm and we went swimming each night and during the day Wednesday.  The end of the week was cold and I was so happy I threw in hats, scarves, and gloves at the last minute before we left.

Prior Disney trips meant we went to the park in the morning, hotel for naps, and back to the park afterwards.  Since the kids are a little older and I'm not as strict anymore, we spent the entire day at the park.  Chloe would often nap in the stroller and was content.  Ashlyn stayed up the whole day and crashed in the stroller on the way out of the park.  I even took the swimming when we got back to the hotel and stayed in the pool until 9 or 9:30.  Those who know me well know that I am strict when it comes to schedules and especially bedtime.  Big step for mommy!!

Dancing with Daddy

Brandon as the wardrobe, Paul as the knight, Logan as the Beast, Ashlyn as Maurice, Abby as a picture frame, and Chloe as Phillipe.

Long day at the park

We met up with Brandon's aunt and uncle who live in Florida

Me Time

Me time is few and far between these days.  I got the kids to bed before 8:00 tonight, poured a glass of wine, and drew a nice, hot bubble bath.  So what if I used princess bubble bath, Dora shampoo, and was staring down a rubber ducky, scuba Steve, and a bathtub racecar-------it was Me Time!!

That is NOT Elfy!

We were in Orlando for a week (will blog about that later).  Well we happened to forget our Elf on the Shelf.  OOPS!  We got back at midnight last night so we told the kids Elfy had further to go so it would take longer to get back.  During nap, Brandon went to get a new elf.  Simple, right?

I took the kids to Brandon's sister's house tonight and Brandon called to tell me he hid Elfy on their kitchen.  So we walk inside and I made a big production about how I thought I heard something flying, blah, blah, blah.  Chloe runs into the living room and yells, "That's not Elfy."  I go in to look and sure enough, my husband got a black Elf on the Shelf...........................

He tried to tell them that it got a suntan in Florida but is currently on his way back to Barnes and Noble to trade it in for a white one.

How MUCH?

So I said I was going to get a housecleaner if I would be working full time.  After two quotes, I'm beginning to change my mind....  "For that kind of money, I'll clean my own house."  That's what I say.  Does it get done?  Partially.  By the time I have a few rooms cleaned, I turn around and they are messy again.  Did I mention the laundry is always piled up??  Fortunately my kids have a million clothes so I usually do their laundry every three weeks when they run out of underwear.

Here's my dilemma......  I get home and the kids have homework and want to play.  I feel guilty because I'm at work all day.  So the thought that runs through my head is that I'll do it at 8:00 when they go to sleep.  8:00 rolls around and I'm packing lunches, checking papers, laying out clothes, and making sure everything is signed and packed for the morning.  Now it's 9:00 and Chloe has to go to the bathroom.  Seriously, every night at 9:00.  I put her back in bed and sit down on the couch while she goes to sleep.  This is when I turn on the TV, wrap presents, do Christmas cards, etc.  I eventually begin to pick up around the house but I'm too tired.  I go to bed.

Questions:
How did my mom keep such a clean house while raising three kids??  Seriously, I can't remember our house being anything but spotless growing up.

I do make my kids clean up and the house is usually picked up.  It's the deep down cleaning I can't get done.  Is anyone else in the same boat?

Brandon wants to know why I care.  Nobody visits us anyway.  I guess he has a point there.

Do I live in filth and complain or suck it up and pay the big bucks for a cleaning lady??

Baby Jesus Do This, Baby Jesus Do That

Chloe loves to play with babies and is always bugging Ashlyn to be the mommy.  Ashlyn was never into baby dolls but from time to time will play along.  Well they have started playing "Baby Jesus."  Chloe is baby Jesus and Ashlyn is Mary.  These are the bits and pieces I hear while I've been cleaning, baking, wrapping, organizing, folding laundry, etc. all weekend:

"Let me put you in your swaddling clothes Baby Jesus."

"Baby Jesus get in the manger."

"Do you see the star?"

"Are the three wise men coming?  I think they will bring gifts.  I forget what gifts they bring."

"Baby Jesus, stay in your swaddling clothes."

"Get your other baby doll, Chloe, and she can be a shepherd."

"Baby Jesus lay down so I can wrap you in your swaddling clothes."

One week from today we will be on our way to Disney World and the kids have NO idea.  We are going to tell them we are going to Brandon's mom's house because they know that is a far distance.  Luckily they don't know north from south.  We will drive halfway on Sunday and use some of Brandon's hotel points for a room.  Then on Monday we will drive the last three hours and go straight to one of the parks and surprise the kids.  Brandon's mom and sister's family will get there Wednesday night so our little fib wasn't too far fetched:).