Journal Entry

If I kept a journal, here would be my entry for this afternoon...

I intended to go to an Al-Anon meeting as research for one of my classes.  I must've misunderstood the website because it turned out to be an AA meeting. 

I'm so glad I went!!  I was inspired and encouraged by the transparency and commitment of the people who were there.

Honestly--- What a surprisingly great way to spend an hour!  

Quick Update

So I'm up to my eyeballs in school work... hence the lame blog posts... I mean, not that they're usually great... but I know they've been sparse and pretty short.

I'm trying to work ahead in the classes that allow that sort of thing while Jack and Sarah are still in school.

On top of all the reading and tests, I have 4 papers I need to write.

One is a ten-page paper written in APA format (I don't know what that means) about group therapy.  As a therapist, what would my approach be? How would I screen clients? How would I conduct the group?  Since I'm not going into career counseling and will never be a therapist, I'm hoping that wide margins, double spaced, and 15 pt font is acceptable.

Another paper is a four-page paper for which I'm supposed to watch 2 episodes of a sitcom and write about the minority character(s).  Were they stereotyped? Was the humor found in the fact that they were a minority?  I think I'm going to do "Modern Family" for this one.  With Mitchell, Cam, and Gloria, I'm hoping to have enough material to fill four pages.

For my third paper-- also a ten-pager, I believe-- I have to attend a multicultural event and write about what I learned.  According to the syllabus, I should choose a minority group towards which I feel the most prejudice.  I have so many things I could say about this one... [deep breath]...But I'm not going to. 

For my last paper, I have to attend 10 hours of group therapy and discuss what I learned about the ways different groups are conducted. 

Ok--- Part of me (and it's a BIG part of me) wants to scream, "I did Celebrate Recovery for EIGHTEEN MONTHS! Doesn't that count???"  The answer quite simply is: Sure... as an example of the way ONE group session is conducted. But I need at least THREE group sessions. 

So today I'm making time to go to an Al-Anon meeting.  Then Saturday I'm going to try to make a recovery group meeting for those who struggle with Codependency.  I wish there was a support group for stressed out moms or for students who have to write papers on ridiculous topics, like sitcoms.  THOSE are groups I could sink my teeth into... because-- I gotta be honest-- I don't feel I have time for therapy that I don't actually need.

On the upside, although the readings are long, they're not terrible.  I do enjoy the fact that all of the studying I'm doing is applicable to counseling.  No "Business Math" or some required subject that is irrelevant to my degree.

And it's that small silver lining that I'm clinging to as I power through this summer term.

It's Not About the Nail

You've probably seen this on facebook, but in case you haven't.... Enjoy! :)

Pre K graduation

My last week of Pre-K teaching...

I was a little emotional; I'm embarrassed to admit it.  Part of it was saying goodbye to students for the first time in 8 yrs. I forgot how attached you get to your students. But a lot of it was saying goodbye to Robyn.  We really had a fun year together!

Check out these cupcakes for our end of year party...

Rolos and Hershey bar squares for the graduation cap. 

The  mom who made these always makes cute snacks.... and gives GREAT teacher gifts. :)

 

I know our kids will do so well in Kindergarten!!
Yay, Pre-K Grads 2013!!

Caroline's last day of 3 yr old preschool

Next stop--- Pre-K!

Hopefully she'll let me pick out her clothes next year... Although I do like the purple headband and the furry boots in May.

Bronco Press

Sarah wrote a story that was published by the PTA.  All of the second graders who participated were presented with their books at a Bronco Press Reception in the library.

Sarah was so nervous.  She was supposed to read the title, show a picture she drew, and sit down.  She ran up there so fast, asked Miss Rodriguez to read the title and show a picture and then sat back down.

I snapped a pic as quickly as I could because she moved FAST.  Bless her heart... she hates to be in front of people.

 

 

Then I couldn't remember if I had shown you this....

 



So I took a pic of the boy in question... just so you could see....  (I'm sure she's going to love that I blog about this stuff one day.)

Good job, Sarah.

It doesn't count as a vegetable.

Sarah said...

Mom, you'd be proud of me. I ate a vanilla bean cupcake today, and I didn't gag. In fact, I couldn't even taste the bean.

crazy week

Some weeks just don't go as planned.

Unexpected thing #1:  At the end of last week, we found lice in Sarah's hair.  Did we find lice in Jack's short hair?  Of course not.  In Caroline's thin chin-length hair? Nope.  But they were in Sarah's thick, down to her mid-back, curly lice-colored hair.

That's what I'm calling "sandy blond" now.  Lice-colored. Those suckers blend in.

I can't even tell you how much vacuuming we've done.  Of mattresses. Of chairs. Of couches. Of floors.  We've vacuumed things that probably don't even make sense to vacuum, but this is my first experience with lice so we weren't taking any chances. 

Ugh. Just typing it makes my scalp itch.

She's been medicated and picked over with a fine toothed comb multiple times.  Every day. I haven't seen any since Saturday, but that doesn't stop me from checking...
and pulling my hair back before I hug her...
and wanting to change my shirt after she hugs me... just in case a bug crawled from her head to  my shirt.

I don't care if I'm being ridiculous.  Lice make me ridiculous.   

For the last 6 days, we've washed her sheets every day as soon as she wakes up to kill any eggs that we may have missed from the day before.  We're neurotic over here. 

I. HATE. LICE.  And I don't have time for them either.

I know, logically, we're probably in the clear.  But in my mind they're everywhere.  And it disturbs me.

.......................................

Unexpected thing #2: I went to get my oil changed and tires rotated Monday.  They said I needed a new front left tire.

I always think they make that stuff up because I'm a girl.  So I gave them attitude and said, "Um, I'm pretty sure my husband would've told me if the tread was worn on my tire.  I'm not getting a new tire."

"Ma'am, it's on the red line."

"Show me.  Show me it's on the red line. Show me I need a new tire when my husband hasn't mentioned it even once."

 (The truth is-- I don't know what "it" and the "red line" are.  I'm not sure if he showed me that "it" was on the "red line".  But I was not going to be upsold without a fight! I want a tire rotation and an oil change. Period.)

He was the most persistent little man I've ever met.  So after going a few rounds with him, I said, with an eye roll, "Let me call my husband.  He's not going to like the games you're playing."

I called Jason....

"Jason, they're saying I need a new left tire.  That the tread is worn. But I told them that I don't."

"You really do.  I've noticed that.  It's looking pretty bad."

WHAT?!

"So you're saying that you want me to buy a new tire?  You think that's what I should do?"

"Yes, go ahead."

Crap. 

Persistent little man = 1, Julie = 0


..................................

Unexpected thing #3: After my left front tire was replaced and the rest of the tires were rotated, I got this strange dashboard message that my left REAR tire was low on air pressure.

Jason looked at my tire, kicked it, and told me that it was fine.  He said that the sensor was probably broken. 

I woke up this morning and my left rear tire was as flat as a pancake.  *sigh*

I drove to work on my spare, and Jason took my tire to Discount Tire to be fixed.  Then he drove out to my school and changed my spare in the parking lot.

Dashboard = 1, Jason = 0
......................................

Unexpected thing #4: Sarah's game was rained out on Tuesday.  We had severe weather in the metroplex.  And considering we have weather men and weather apps, this technically shouldn't be considered an "unexpected" event, but it is irritating because we were supposed to bring snacks to the games. 

I was trying to be a good mom so I planned ahead and bought them Sunday. But then the storms came.

So now I've got 24 Gatorades and 2 boxes of Cheez-Its that I won't need until our make up game.  On June 21st.

............................

I feel like I can go-with-the-flow on most days.  I really do.

But from here on out, I'm going to need the week to cooperate, and go-with-MY-flow because I'm done with surprises.

Look what Jason found in the pool on Saturday

Isn't it cute??....  And probably carrying some type of disease.

But mostly it's cute... so let's touch it and bring it inside!

This is our pet until this afternoon when Jason and the kids will release the little guy into the creek near our house.

He doesn't seem super happy to be living with us, but then again I'm not an expert on reading turtle emotions.  And why shouldn't he be content?  He's got a log to climb on, some water, and turtle food. That's a fine substitute for freedom, don't ya think? 

We didn't take the time to decide on a name since we won't be keeping  him.  So depending on who you ask, this is "Shelly", "Sheldon", "Fred", or "Buttercup Grace McGlamery".

Please say a quick prayer that the release goes well and if he's eaten by a hawk or a snake or something in the creek, my kids don't witness it. 

Playing a little catch up

It feels like I haven't blogged in forever!! It may sound dumb, but I miss it when I don't do it as often as I'd like.

I've been busy with my classes.  I feel like any second I  have Jason home to help keep the kids out of my hair, I need to have my nose in a book.

But it IS my weekend after all.... so while I'm taking notes on Family Therapy, I've got Lifetime on in the background.  I watched the end of "Mom at Sixteen" and bawled when the teen mom gave her baby up for adoption at the end of the movie.  (Sorry to spoil the ending!) 

Then "Glass House: A Good Mother" came on. It was about a woman who took in foster kids only to slowly kill them.  Angie Harmon was the "good" mother. I love her!! She makes a FANTASTIC crazy lady.  And, in my opinion, she's one of the most naturally beautiful women around, even when chasing kids with a butcher knife.

I was yelling, "Run! RUN!" and "You know she's not dead, right?!" and "Out the door, not up the stairs! What are you doing??!" while taking notes on the life cycles of families.

Life's all about balance, right?  Work and recreation.  Both good things.  

...........

Next week is my last week to teach.  I'm sad to leave.  I'm NOT going to miss the drive, but I have grown to really enjoy the people there.  I'm also sad because part of me thinks/wonders/knows this will likely be my last time as a classroom teacher.  The plan is to direct the Younger Preschool until I get a job as a counselor.  I may sub in public school, but I don't know that I'll ever apply to be back in a classroom full time. 

It's a weird feeling.

Of course I also know that plans change all the time. So we'll see.  Maybe I will be doing calendar time and taking attendance again one day.


............

Sarah had her first softball game Friday night. 

I took some pics.  They're not great because I didn't find a place away from the fence, but they serve the purpose of documenting the night.

She played centerfield.

She's on the right.  Ready to field the ball. :)

On her second trip to the plate, she got a hit!!

You can't see it, but the smile on her face when she got to first base was priceless! 

This was her first time to be a part of a team and play a game.  She's done recitals before, but never has she heard people cheer for her or scream, "Go, Sarah, go!!"  She'd never lined up and done the high five/"good game, good game" thing with the other team.

She seemed to have a fun time!  I'm so glad... especially because she has another game on Tuesday, practice on Thursday, a game on Saturday, and one on Sunday.  If she hated it, we'd be in for a rough week.

We ended the night with Snow Cones.  We decided this would be a post-game tradition.

...........

It's going to be another busy week, but I'm going to be better about blogging.

 I hope y'all had a good week... and hey, long weekend coming up!! WOO HOO!!!!!!!!!!

You know what this means...

Classes start Wednesday night.

Should be a fun summer. ;)

Playing at the Galleria

The days are numbered where Caroline and I can play at the Galleria on a Monday, mid-morning.  We're doing it while we can!

Happy Mother's Day to me

Yesterday was a wonderful day! 

Caroline and Jack sang a few songs in "big church". 

I came home with a flower from each of them from their Sunday School classes.

Sarah had written a letter to me at school.  I'm pretty sure that her teacher had given her prompts for every sentence, but she finished the sentences however she wanted. 

It said:

"Dear Mom,
If you were a flower, you would be a dandelion because you're so dandy. If you were a song, you would be country because you like Taylor Swift. If you were a super hero,  you would be Wonder Woman because you're the best. If you were candy, you would be chocolate because you're so sweet. If you were a color, you would be yellow because you look on the bright side.  If you were an animal, you would be a koala because you're so calm.  If you were a TV show, you would be nick mom because you got this mom thing down.
Love,
Sarah"

I'm calm and look on the bright side of things?? Does she know me at all?  ;) 

I thought this was such a sweet letter.  I try so hard to encourage my kids and affirm them.  It really makes me feel good when they take the time to do the same for me.

Then the kids put their feet in the pool while I read a People magazine.

I'm SO incredibly blessed to be a mom to these three.  They are precious!  I love them, of course, but I also enjoy being around them.  We've definitely had seasons of hard times.. (crying, tantrums, craziness).. but as they mature, they want to be helpful and kind.  They are very teachable and moldable, which makes my job a lot easier. I'm sure I don't really have a clue how blessed I've been to be given these kids, but I do recognize how special they are.  I'm so proud and thankful for them!

Al and Jason's Birthday Dinner 2013

My brother-in-law and Jason have birthdays a couple of weeks apart.  Because the dates are so close,  it is a tradition to celebrate "the boys" sometime in late April/ early May.

This year we went to The Capital Grille.  I hadn't had a steak in a loooong time, and this was a great place to have one!!  The food was delicious.  The service was great.  We had a really fun night!

Happy birthday, Jason and Al!

Wasn't sure which pic was better... So I decided on both...

The things that made me laugh today

DISCLAIMER:  The following stories may not make you laugh.   Can't even guarantee they'll make you smile, but I'm sharing anyway. :)


.............................

It was Teacher Appreciation Week at school.  Depending on where you work, this is also known as "THE BEST WEEK EVER". 

I was blessed with so many sweet notes and treats.  I loved it!!

I co-teach with Robyn, as you know, so most of the time we received identical gifts.  Today we both got cards from Jori, a precious little boy in our class, who has a crush on Robyn.  He's told his mom that he thinks she's beautiful.

Robyn's card had a picture of Jori and her drawn on the inside.  Her note said, "Thank you, Mrs. Robyn.  Love Jori"

Here's my card:

I know it's hard to see, but it's a picture of me on the left, some grass, a building, and a caption that says "Mrs. Julie is in the farm. From: Jori"

We're not together.  No "thank you" or "love".

I think he has a favorite teacher.  And it's not me. ;)

............................................................


Caroline gave me an early Mother's Day present.  It was her little handprint turned into a bouquet of flowers.  Super cute.  I'll take a picture later.

But she also answered questions about me, and her teacher wrote down the answers.  These are usually good for a laugh.

My favorite one is probably the one in the middle of this shot.

"My favorite thing(s) to do with Mommy is __________"

Her answer:  "Making a card for daddy."

Spoken like a true Daddy's girl.  It might as well have said, "I like it when I'm with Mommy and all we do is talk about Daddy."  :)


In case you're curious about the rest of the questions and answers, they said:

My mommy's name is:  Julie.

She is: 31 years old. (Thanks for giving me a couple of years, Caroline.  I owe you one.)

She is: 65 inches tall. (Sixty five is her favorite number recently.  Everything takes 65 minutes or she's tried something 65 times.  Ironically, she's pretty darn close to my height because I'm 64 inches tall.)

Her favorite food is: Hamburgers and Quiche.  (I make this one thing that my family calls "Hamburger Quiche" that my kids really like.  I think that's where this answer came from.)

My mommy is really good at: running.  (Ok, I should probably be wishing that she had said something like "scripture memory" or "keeping a clean house", but I'm kinda happy that she associates me with trying to take care of myself.  And I'm relieved that she didn't say anything like "drinking" or "spending money".)

If mommy were a cartoon character, she would be: Daffy Duck.  (Do I spit when I talk? Or have a lisp I don't know about?)

When I'm not at home, my mommy likes to: ______ (Of course she has no answer.  How would she know?  She's not at home.  I think leaving this blank shows her intelligence.)  ;)

What I love most about my mommy is that she: lets me play on the computer with Jack.  (My permissive attitude is always a crowd pleaser.)


.....................................

We had dinner tonight with Aunt Kim and Gran at IHOP.  As we're leaving, Jack saw this sign in the window:

YOUR KIDS.  OUR TREAT.  Kids eat free, Everyday 4pm - 10pm.

Without missing a beat, Jack said, "Your kids. Our treat??!!??!!!  AAGHH! They're gonna eat us!!"

And that quick wit is what keeps me laughing.

Had he misunderstood the sign, it would've been cute.  The fact that he understood it and was able to make a joke is what I really appreciate.  :)

Sweet video :)

Tooth #5

She's done it again... Pulled another tooth.  Now her two front teeth are gone!

Which is great because her permanent tooth had already started growing in.

She put it under her pillow along with a note to the tooth fairy.  It says, "Do you like your job?  Yes____ No_____"

So I guess the tooth fairy will be flying up to her room with a silver dollar... and a pen.  At least it won't take long to answer.

All these missing teeth sure make her seem more grown up!

Surgery update

Jason's septum is no longer deviated.

:)

It was a quick 45 minute procedure. He's home now, eating princess Spaghettios that Caroline picked out.

So far, so good!

busy

After scheduling and having meetings for my new job, wrapping up my old job, completing registration for summer grad school classes, volunteering at the elementary school, working on school supplies for the PTA, and researching curriculum for the Younger Preschool Program,

I got a jury summons in the mail today.  Shoot me.

But that wasn't the only piece of mail I received that was addressed to "Julie Fishero".  I also got a letter from Scottish Rite because they have a file on me from when I was a kid.   They're asking that I come in to have new x-rays of my hips, a clinical exam, and a functional evaluation in the lab. 

Sure.  Why not?  I've got nothing else going on.

Oh yeah.. and did I mention that Jason's having surgery tomorrow?

**I'm ready for the weekend.**