Week in Review 9/2/10

Week in Review 8/26/10

Blast from the Past

Well, isn't this just too funny? I took a few minutes to answer some questions about my first year of college at BYU in 1990 ... and they quoted me in the Summer 2010 issue of the BYU Magazine. The article is titled "The First Year - Four Generations" It's an interesting feature about how much things have changed (or stayed the same) for incoming freshman between 1950 and 2010. My lovely little nugget of insight is under the heading "Lost in the Crowd". I know. I'm such a nerd.

Week in Review 5/27/10

Oy to the vey ... how can it get any more busy???

It seems like things should really wind down at the end of the year, slowing down to a nice easy pace ... things I could handle with my eyes closed. Why then did I end up double booked with kid activities almost everyday??? So not good. So hate to pick which even to go to first and which I would only catch the tail end of. Uck. OK. Here's the recap.

We started out the weekend with the big guys leaving for a scout camp out at the sand dunes, followed by several loads of sand-encrusted laundry. Fun. After that, hubby left for Idaho on a business trip and I got slammed with the rest of the week. There was a one-night-only cross country parent meeting for the oldest scheduled at exactly the same time as the pack meeting where #4 would be receiving his arrow of light. Luckily, his mommy was able to attend ... so we sat impatiently through all the cross country mumbo-jumbo and then raced down the hill to Scouts. We missed the presentation by about 3 minutes. Dang. #2 was able to snap some photos for me though.

Next, there was a full day of Airports Training for me followed by ... the mixed chorus concert and mother/daughter church activity ... scheduled at the same time again! So, I high-tailed it up for the concert and then raced down the hill to the church just in time for refreshments. One of these days I'm going to get a ticket on that hill - knock on wood. Thursday started off with a double whammy. There was the 9th grade awards assembly and 8th grade SBO skit assembly ... same time. At least this time they were in the same building. #2 opted to skip out on his own ceremony to come to watch the skits and cheer for his little sis with me. We also let big sis sluff morning classes to come and scream with us. Let me tell you, my 8th grader has got some serious moxy. She performed her own rendition of The Evolution of Dance ... solo. If you don't know it, you should definitely watch it here. Her courage paid off too. She was the only girl elected!!!

So I ran from the assembly, home to pack for my weekend trip to Washington. Got the last bit of laundry done so hubby would be all set. Waited for #1 to get home from school and we were on our way. We made a quick stop at hubby's office as he'd just gotten back into town from Idaho. I saw him for all of 4 minutes, 2 hugs and 3 kisses, then off to the airport, in the air, into PDX, whizzed back to my mom's house where we shoveled down her delicious Korean food and raced to my nephews' baseball games. Yep, 2 games ... same time. What the heck???

Busy, crazy-crazy busy. Whew!

The Count Down is On

Only nine more days of school left. What? Lots of mixed feelings about this realization. I love summer - boating with the kids, sprinklers, sidewalk chalk, long days with the kids building forts or making a lemonade stand. But what I fear is a lot of this ...You know, those days where you can actually see your kids getting ... shall we say, less smart? I hate those days. Last year, I had a plan of attack. I started the summer with a schedule. All the kids were required to read for 30 minutes a day and the 'littles', as we call them, had worksheets to do that I printed myself from the internet. This way I was in control of their curriculum and could vary it to keep them thinking. We did lots of math ... lots and lots of math for our upcoming 5th grader and loads of spelling and reading exercises for our soon-to-be first grader. I made sure they each had things like mazes, word searches or coloring pages too and #4 even learned how to play Sudoku.

The work paid off and they both had a great school year because of it. They never hit this point where they completely shut their brain down and it made it a lot easier for them to learn new concepts right from the begining of the school year. Now, it's time for me to get back on my game and start searching for activities and worksheets. If you have kids at home this summer and want to give them a headstart for next year you should take a few minutes to check out these websites.

http://www.mathfactcafe.com/ (great for designing your own work)
http://www.tlsbooks.com/ (used tons of these last year)
http://www.helpingwithmath.com/resources/worksheets.htm
http://www.homeeducationresources.com/FREE1.htm
http://treasures.macmillanmh.com/utah/families

http://www.uen.org/k12student/interactives.shtml (fantastic online activities)

This year there will also be organized activities for the 'bigs'. #2 will get to start and finish his Eagle project. #1 will be increasing hours at work as well as picking up driver's ed so she can finally get her license. I think I'll also have #1 and #3 start a charitable effort making hair accessories for the Center for Change. I can't help but want them all to really know how to do things ... and to be involved in doing things for others. I think we'll also look for some local opportunities here. What are your plans for summer?

I'm Going Bananas ... ?

It's the week of Monster Mash, the high school Halloween dance. It's girls' choice. After laying down very clear ground rules, we've decided to let #1 go. She's not allowed to date until she's 16, so we're making it an "un-date". So tonight, after a few days of the normal teenage boy-girl drama ... she asked him. It was really cute too. She laid a big poster on his front porch that said, "I'd go bananas if you'd go to Monster Mash with me!" and scattered bananas all around it. Then, she put a smaller sign that said, "Don't monkey around and answer me quick" on his front door surrounded by monkey faces made from brown latex balloons. So. Cute.

We made tape rolls in the car and hustled to get everything set up, but while I was trying to get a picture his dog starts barking behind the door. We both took off and ran down the stairs to the car and pulled away. Hilarious. We parked a couple houses down and she dialed his number. When he answered, she yelled, "YOUR FRONT DOOR! YOUR FRONT DOOR!" What a great bonding moment.

Now, comes the fun part for me. I get to make her costume. I love making Halloween costumes; in fact, she has never had a store-bought one ... ever. We found some gorgeous purple fabric last night and I sketched the pattern pieces today. Do you like how I use up my old Christmas paper? More photos later as it comes together.

Make it Stop!

OK. I'm not sure what happened with our schedule this week, but this is really getting out of hand here! Sure, my day was pretty open during school hours. I was even able to sew the new baby blanket, finish up an old project AND come up with a new tutorial ... and then I got slammed with this:

2:30 Drive carpool
2:50 Get #1 to work
3:05 Finish up games for church activity
3:20 Boys home from school/help w/ homework
4:15 Get #2 dinner before football practice
4:30 PT conferences at high school (trying to meet w/ 8 teachers)
5:15 Get #2 to football
5:20 Pick up #3 to help at church tonight
5:30 Meet at church to set up games
6:15 Pick up #1 from work
6:45 Take #1 to babysitting job
7:00 Get #4 to scouts
7:30 Pick up #2 from football
8:00 Pick up #4 from scouts and get #5 in bed
8:30 Pick up #1 from babysitting and get #4 in bed
9:00 Get #'s 3,4 and 5 through showers
9:30 Get them in bed
10:00 Breathe

We didn't finish up at church until 9:15 tonight. Thank goodness hubby was able to come home at 4:00pm to help out. And tomorrow is going to be about the same too. #3 gets her braces off so we'll get her retainer fitted at 4:00, finish up PT conferences at the high school, start PT conferences (16 teachers total) at the junior high, race to #2's Court of Honor and try to get the girls to their young women's activity at church.

Someone stop the ride. I'd like to get off for a minute to catch my breath.

The Crud ...

You know, as much as I love this time of year and all that it brings: the smell of fall, yellow school busses, quiet moments while the kids are away being educated ... as much as I love all of these things, I could really do without this cold. It brings back way too many memories of last fall for me, one sickness after another after another. My sinuses, congestion, coughing, ear pain ... It feels like there is a fire burning inside my chest. I have no energy. Loads of free time and no energy? What's that about?

I'm doing everything I can think of to fight back, lots of fluids, rest as needed, honey and lemon tea and I've jacked up on Vitamin C like it's going out of style. I've disinfected everything I can think of and washed the bedding. I have the yucks and I'm not happy about it. :(

Back to School

Aah ... it's time. The endless summer is over and the kids are back in school tomorrow. I will be able to have complete thoughts. Without interruption. In sequence. I've almost forgotten what that was like. I can't wait. It's time for regrouping, planning, structuring ... oh heck, it's time to cut loose a little and figure out what comes next for me and Mariposa Avenue. Ideas. So many ideas. I will need lots of notebooks to scribble them down in and lots of 'me' time to make things happen. School rocks!

Itching for Fall

Shopping for school supplies in the heat of summer just doesn't feel right this year. I can't wait for the seasons to change. Today I have such a craving for colored leaves, cozy sweaters and fun scarves. This photos are by Jeff Beck and give me a little bit of what I'm wanting right now. He was featured at the Utah Arts Festival this year. We missed it, but were able to enjoy some of it http://www.uaf.org/. Thank you Jeff.

Feeling Like a Bad Mom

Our kids are growing up so fast it's hard to even understand it sometimes. One minute the most important thing is which friend is coming over for a play date ... and it feels like the very next day you're having to research how closely high school graduation standards and college entrance requirements align.

My oldest son will be in 9th grade this year. Ninth grade is the last year of junior high in our district, but these grades will be included in his high school transcripts. He's a great student and is 'socially appreciated'. He's even run for student government three times and has been elected every time. Great kid. I'm so proud of the person he's become and how much he's grown up in the last couple of years.

This year I pushed him to join the football team. He needs the extracurricular for college and school/coach politics have squashed his dreams for basketball. Luckily, almost his entire male social group also went out for the team. The first week of practice was tough. He was sore. He was beat. He was exhausted, but determined to stick it out.

Now, he has a growing passion for it. But you should see him. He has huge bruises all over his arms from his shoulder pads and from other players' face masks. He looks like someone beat him with a baseball bat all week. What have I done? I'm glad he is feeling successful and strong. He really is 'taking it like a man' so to speak, but I ache inside to think of how much it must all hurt him. Crossing my fingers that all we'll have to deal with this season is more bruises, no broken bones ... no concussions. And I'd better do some more in-depth research at those college entrance requirements to make sure this is worth it.

29 Days and Counting

The registration packets for school came in the mail this week. There are forms to fill out in multiple and fees waiting to be paid. It's a joyous times for parents, isn't it? In the meantime, it's clear the kids are determined to pack in as much as they can while they still have their freedom. My two oldest are back in town now, one home from visiting her dad in LA and my son back from a week of scout camp ... here we go. The laundry which was nonexistent this morning is now screaming for my attention. The kids, who were so eager to tell us about their latest adventures have disappeared again, one out to a friend's house and the other into a mass of teenage boys and girls who suddenly appeared in our basement this evening. All I'm left with is this pile of their shoes by the front door.I remember exactly what it felt like to be their age though so I don't give them a hard time about it. In fact, I'll even send out a song dedication in their honor. Old school song, new school sound. Here's a little Beastie Boys for you via Andrew Paul Woodworth to wind down the summer. You can get it free here.