When I toured Wake Forest, I got the kids souvenirs. Shot glasses. They were inexpensive and I knew I could tell the kids that they were cute tiny cups. I figured the girls would play tea party with them.
I'm not saying it's a great parenting moment. But I was buying souvenirs. So that makes me a good mom, right?
I just answered the door and listened to a sales pitch from some guy when my four year old sneaked up behind us. She was in a swimsuit drinking from her shot glass. Party girl.
Mother of the Year right here. No other applicants needed.
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Oops
Today I worked at Barksdale putting away school supplies. The kids were all with me, helping but also all over the place. The principal saw me and thanked me for being there. I thanked her for letting me bring my kids.
Then she looked at me, almost with pity in her eyes, and asked, "Julie, are you completely overwhelmed?"
In a voice almost three octaves higher than my normal voice (an indication that I'm lying), I said, "Nooo. I'm good! Thanks for checking."
Flash forward three hours...
We're eating lunch at Sonic and Sarah asks, "Mom, why is your shirt on backwards?"
"Is it???"
I looked down, and yep...it was. Then in my insecurity I asked Sarah, "Is it obvious?"
She said, "Well, I can see the tag under your chin."
That explains the look of pity in Mrs. Caplinger's eyes.
Brain dump
I hate being so busy.... I miss blogging.
Here are a few things rolling around in my brain--
The kids found out their teachers' names today. Sarah didn't get whom she wanted. She's also been split up from her best friend, Valerie.
She's shed more than a few tears. But I told her that I pray every year for her teacher and that God will put her in the class she needs. I refuse to request teachers because I don't want to interfere with the plan God has for her.
I think it's good for her to learn to deal with disappointment and learn to make new friends. Even if this teacher is hard to get along with, it's important to learn how to deal with people like that.
The bottom line is ---- she'll thrive wherever she's planted. She doesn't have special learning or behavioral needs, and --to me-- those are the students for whom teacher requests should be made. Sarah will be fine. I gotta let her hurt a little and pick herself up.
But it's still hard to watch.
.....................
Jack is thrilled with his teacher! And he's relieved that "one of the biggest trouble makers" from last year isn't in his class. ;) His teacher will be gone for the first four days of school. She's NEVER gone, but she had this opportunity to go on a special trip with her husband, and she took it.
I don't blame her in the least. She's probably stressed out missing the first few days of school, but this is a great opportunity for her.
It's an unusual situation, but we can roll with it.
.......................
I got this gem today, and my heart skipped a beat...
I saw my career flash before my eyes. What did I do???
As I was opening the letter, I thought, "Wait, they would make a visit if I was in trouble.... right??"
Anyway... it turned out to be the official letter naming me as the "controlling person" for the Weekday Preschool at ParkwayHills.
Ya know, I've always said that functionally I'm over the Younger Weekday Preschool, but on paper, I'm over the whole operation. Nothing makes it more clear that I'm over the whole operation than a letter from the Department of Protective Services letting me know I'm responsible for everything that happens there.
No pressure.
.......................
Jack and Sarah are going to a "Hsab Sdrawkcab" at my parents' house tonight. That's a Backwards Bash, in case you can't read backwards. ;)
They're wearing their clothes backwards and having dessert before dinner. It's to celebrate the end of summer/start of school.
I think the kids will love it... and Mom and Dad will be exhausted.
........................
We took the kids to Great Wolf Lodge on Sunday night. It was our first time there. The kids had a blast, but Jack kept saying, "This is one big money-making scheme." :) Our wallets are definitely a lot lighter after a night there! That's for sure!!
But I'm glad we went. :)
.....................
I'm watching the news. Vaccinate your kids, people. We shouldn't have an outbreak of measles. There's no need for it!
....................
Lots going on... will write more later!!
Here are a few things rolling around in my brain--
The kids found out their teachers' names today. Sarah didn't get whom she wanted. She's also been split up from her best friend, Valerie.
She's shed more than a few tears. But I told her that I pray every year for her teacher and that God will put her in the class she needs. I refuse to request teachers because I don't want to interfere with the plan God has for her.
I think it's good for her to learn to deal with disappointment and learn to make new friends. Even if this teacher is hard to get along with, it's important to learn how to deal with people like that.
The bottom line is ---- she'll thrive wherever she's planted. She doesn't have special learning or behavioral needs, and --to me-- those are the students for whom teacher requests should be made. Sarah will be fine. I gotta let her hurt a little and pick herself up.
But it's still hard to watch.
.....................
Jack is thrilled with his teacher! And he's relieved that "one of the biggest trouble makers" from last year isn't in his class. ;) His teacher will be gone for the first four days of school. She's NEVER gone, but she had this opportunity to go on a special trip with her husband, and she took it.
I don't blame her in the least. She's probably stressed out missing the first few days of school, but this is a great opportunity for her.
It's an unusual situation, but we can roll with it.
.......................
I got this gem today, and my heart skipped a beat...
I saw my career flash before my eyes. What did I do???
As I was opening the letter, I thought, "Wait, they would make a visit if I was in trouble.... right??"
Anyway... it turned out to be the official letter naming me as the "controlling person" for the Weekday Preschool at ParkwayHills.
Ya know, I've always said that functionally I'm over the Younger Weekday Preschool, but on paper, I'm over the whole operation. Nothing makes it more clear that I'm over the whole operation than a letter from the Department of Protective Services letting me know I'm responsible for everything that happens there.
No pressure.
.......................
Jack and Sarah are going to a "Hsab Sdrawkcab" at my parents' house tonight. That's a Backwards Bash, in case you can't read backwards. ;)
They're wearing their clothes backwards and having dessert before dinner. It's to celebrate the end of summer/start of school.
I think the kids will love it... and Mom and Dad will be exhausted.
........................
We took the kids to Great Wolf Lodge on Sunday night. It was our first time there. The kids had a blast, but Jack kept saying, "This is one big money-making scheme." :) Our wallets are definitely a lot lighter after a night there! That's for sure!!
But I'm glad we went. :)
.....................
I'm watching the news. Vaccinate your kids, people. We shouldn't have an outbreak of measles. There's no need for it!
....................
Lots going on... will write more later!!
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
My adventure
I've been away for a while. Five-ish days to be (sorta) exact. I went on an adventure. :)
So I said I had some R&R planned for this weekend. But I've learned that adventures are fun, not necessarily restful and relaxing.
I've wanted so badly to go on a vacation for a while, and this summer sent me over the edge. I think with everything I had on my plate, I needed to get away more than ever. So Jason encouraged me to take a trip.
Pick a place. Go have fun. (I have a paycheck now so I can fund little getaways without tapping into our everyday budget.) He said he'd stay with the kids, and I could go all by myself!!
I don't know if you're a loner, but I LOVE time to myself. I love only worrying about myself. Being alone doesn't make me lonely or sad.
Well, I picked North Carolina as my destination. I've never been (at least not that I can remember), and I don't know that we'd ever go as a family. So it seemed like a great place for a loner trip.
On Friday, Jason and the kids dropped me off at the airport, and off I went... on my Carolina adventure. I rented a car for the very first time ever! (I'm such a grown-up.) I flew into Raleigh but stayed at a bed and breakfast in Wilmington.
I was sorta flying by the seat of my pants, but I had also done research. Every day I knew what I wanted to do and where I wanted to eat lunch and dinner. Now-- when I got up, when I headed out the door, when I ate lunch, etc-- those are the things I played by ear.
Friday night at the B&B, I met the owner and other couples staying there. We sat around the dining room table, ate cake, drank tea, and I had a great time getting to know everyone.
Saturday I headed to Wrightsville Beach for the morning. There's a park nearby where I ran the loop to work off all that cake from the night before. ;) Then I headed for the ocean to cool off. I had lunch on the water. It was amazing!
Then I headed back to the B&B just in time for snack time, which apparently is grilled pimento cheese sandwiches, chips, grapes, and wine. That's a meal in my book, not a snack. But Sophie, the owner, didn't like to hear that you weren't hungry. So I politely stuffed myself until I wanted to pop.
After cleaning up, I wandered around downtown and went to a restaurant later that night. I sat at the bar and met a really nice woman from Tennessee. We drank and talked for 2 hours. (I mean, I wasn't drinking that ENTIRE time. I ate an appetizer too.) I heard her life story, and she heard mine. It's fun to talk to strangers. :)
The next morning I checked out of the B&B after the biggest breakfast I've ever seen and headed down to Charleston, SC for a quick one night stay. I toured a plantation, stayed by the Waterfront Park, had oysters for dinner, drank a little too much ;), and went to bed early.
Monday I went back to North Carolina for a very quick trip to Winston-Salem to see Wake Forest. It was one of the schools I had considered for undergrad and had always wanted to see. (It looked beautiful on the brochures.) It was just as pretty in person.
Then I drove to Raleigh and went out for sushi. It was an unbelievable way to end my trip.
I left this morning and landed just a few hours ago.
.....
I had a couple of mishaps.
My headlight was busted. as in, the glass was broken. I didn't do it, but I didn't notice it until I was at my first stop. I was sure Enterprise was gonna want me to file on my insurance to fix it, but they didn't notice. :) Whew.
I forgot where my car was parked, thought it was towed, called towing companies, couldn't find it. Then I thought it was stolen. Then I remembered that I had parked somewhere else. Oops.
My car battery was dead this morning. I was trying to catch my flight and needed to leave and the darn thing wouldn't start. After asking the hotel to help, I was sort of dismissed to figure out what to do on my own. Then the nicest guy in the world took pity on me and jumped my car. He saved the day and I made it to the airport with enough time to spare to get a cup of coffee.
......
This has awakened the adventuresome spirit in me. I'm so thankful to have a family that supports me and takes care of me. But it's nice sometimes to strike out on your own, even if for a weekend, and figure out a new place and meet new people.
If I felt like being quiet, I got a table by myself at lunch. If I felt like meeting people, I sat at the bar and would talk with the tourists around me. I can't even tell you how much fun I had.
Anyway... that's where I've been. Now I'm back. :)
I leave you with a few pics from the trip.
Can you see the busted headlight? Enterprise couldn't. Hee hee.
The beach--
Lunch at Dockside--
My room in Charleston--
Plantation gardens and house--
So I said I had some R&R planned for this weekend. But I've learned that adventures are fun, not necessarily restful and relaxing.
I've wanted so badly to go on a vacation for a while, and this summer sent me over the edge. I think with everything I had on my plate, I needed to get away more than ever. So Jason encouraged me to take a trip.
Pick a place. Go have fun. (I have a paycheck now so I can fund little getaways without tapping into our everyday budget.) He said he'd stay with the kids, and I could go all by myself!!
I don't know if you're a loner, but I LOVE time to myself. I love only worrying about myself. Being alone doesn't make me lonely or sad.
Well, I picked North Carolina as my destination. I've never been (at least not that I can remember), and I don't know that we'd ever go as a family. So it seemed like a great place for a loner trip.
On Friday, Jason and the kids dropped me off at the airport, and off I went... on my Carolina adventure. I rented a car for the very first time ever! (I'm such a grown-up.) I flew into Raleigh but stayed at a bed and breakfast in Wilmington.
I was sorta flying by the seat of my pants, but I had also done research. Every day I knew what I wanted to do and where I wanted to eat lunch and dinner. Now-- when I got up, when I headed out the door, when I ate lunch, etc-- those are the things I played by ear.
Friday night at the B&B, I met the owner and other couples staying there. We sat around the dining room table, ate cake, drank tea, and I had a great time getting to know everyone.
Saturday I headed to Wrightsville Beach for the morning. There's a park nearby where I ran the loop to work off all that cake from the night before. ;) Then I headed for the ocean to cool off. I had lunch on the water. It was amazing!
Then I headed back to the B&B just in time for snack time, which apparently is grilled pimento cheese sandwiches, chips, grapes, and wine. That's a meal in my book, not a snack. But Sophie, the owner, didn't like to hear that you weren't hungry. So I politely stuffed myself until I wanted to pop.
After cleaning up, I wandered around downtown and went to a restaurant later that night. I sat at the bar and met a really nice woman from Tennessee. We drank and talked for 2 hours. (I mean, I wasn't drinking that ENTIRE time. I ate an appetizer too.) I heard her life story, and she heard mine. It's fun to talk to strangers. :)
The next morning I checked out of the B&B after the biggest breakfast I've ever seen and headed down to Charleston, SC for a quick one night stay. I toured a plantation, stayed by the Waterfront Park, had oysters for dinner, drank a little too much ;), and went to bed early.
Monday I went back to North Carolina for a very quick trip to Winston-Salem to see Wake Forest. It was one of the schools I had considered for undergrad and had always wanted to see. (It looked beautiful on the brochures.) It was just as pretty in person.
Then I drove to Raleigh and went out for sushi. It was an unbelievable way to end my trip.
I left this morning and landed just a few hours ago.
.....
I had a couple of mishaps.
My headlight was busted. as in, the glass was broken. I didn't do it, but I didn't notice it until I was at my first stop. I was sure Enterprise was gonna want me to file on my insurance to fix it, but they didn't notice. :) Whew.
I forgot where my car was parked, thought it was towed, called towing companies, couldn't find it. Then I thought it was stolen. Then I remembered that I had parked somewhere else. Oops.
My car battery was dead this morning. I was trying to catch my flight and needed to leave and the darn thing wouldn't start. After asking the hotel to help, I was sort of dismissed to figure out what to do on my own. Then the nicest guy in the world took pity on me and jumped my car. He saved the day and I made it to the airport with enough time to spare to get a cup of coffee.
......
This has awakened the adventuresome spirit in me. I'm so thankful to have a family that supports me and takes care of me. But it's nice sometimes to strike out on your own, even if for a weekend, and figure out a new place and meet new people.
If I felt like being quiet, I got a table by myself at lunch. If I felt like meeting people, I sat at the bar and would talk with the tourists around me. I can't even tell you how much fun I had.
Anyway... that's where I've been. Now I'm back. :)
I leave you with a few pics from the trip.
Can you see the busted headlight? Enterprise couldn't. Hee hee.
The beach--
Lunch at Dockside--
My room in Charleston--
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Take medication as directed
I got a new prescription. I took two (over the course of two days) before I realized that there were days of the week written on the other side of the foil pack.
It turns out that the first 2 I took were the last 2 I was supposed to take.
Oops.
So I started taking the pills for Week 1. Finished Week 1. Started on what I thought was Week 2.
I just realized I've been taking Week 3.
And now I understand why I've been feeling kinda sick. This medication was supposed to gradually build up in my system, and I've screwed up the whole process.
Taking pills is really complicated.
;)
It turns out that the first 2 I took were the last 2 I was supposed to take.
Oops.
So I started taking the pills for Week 1. Finished Week 1. Started on what I thought was Week 2.
I just realized I've been taking Week 3.
And now I understand why I've been feeling kinda sick. This medication was supposed to gradually build up in my system, and I've screwed up the whole process.
Taking pills is really complicated.
;)
Monday, August 5, 2013
It's finally starting to feel like summer!
Yay! Summer is finally here. I can tell because...
1. I took the kids to a friend's house last week to swim. It was the first time we've ever gone anywhere without floaties or a kickboard or a noodle or something.
They were able to jump in and swim around like "normal" kids. :) It was so much fun!!
And we had friends over to our house to swim as well. What a difference it makes when kids can swim! Summer is WAY better!
2. Hasta la vista to my first 9 hours of grad school and first 4 textbooks!
Out with the old...
In with the new... :(
But my Fall semester doesn't start for another couple of weeks so I'm not thinking about school right now.
3. The parent handbook and employee handbook are FINISHED. I've typed them up, handed them off for editing, will revise, and then print and bind. But the "thinking part" of putting handbooks together is over. Hallelujah!
4. My office was gutted, but we have put it back together. It now looks like an office. Jason assembled most of the new furniture. It looks good. That's a great feeling.
5. I've given my first tour to a prospective parent. Always good to get the first administrative task under your belt. I'm feeling more like a Director now.
6. I have an official work email AND an extension of my very own. I'll get to set up voicemail tomorrow. Exciting stuff!
7. School supplies are on their way to the elementary school as we speak. I'm relieved to know they've arrived. All I need to do is put them ALL away and figure out which students ordered supplies and who didn't. But at least my order came in. I feel better knowing that we have supplies in our possession.
8. I got all the restaurants for Spirit Nights squared away. I'm glad that this year is my last year to have to worry about all of that. I will gladly hand over the PTA position next year. (And I will EXCITEDLY hand over my School Supplies position the following year. It's been a lot of work.)
9. My kids' toys and clothing have been sorted and bagged and cleaned out. I love clean closets!
10. I have ordered all school supplies and spirit wear for my own kids for the upcoming year. Check that off the list.
...............
I've got a little R&R scheduled for this weekend. And I can't wait!!!
Next week I gear up for LOADS of training for my new job. The following week I have LOADS of PTA stuff to do. Then school starts for the big kids, and in-service starts for my staff. Somewhere in there grad school will start up again.
But for now... NOW... August 5th... It FINALLY feels like summer! :)
1. I took the kids to a friend's house last week to swim. It was the first time we've ever gone anywhere without floaties or a kickboard or a noodle or something.
They were able to jump in and swim around like "normal" kids. :) It was so much fun!!
And we had friends over to our house to swim as well. What a difference it makes when kids can swim! Summer is WAY better!
2. Hasta la vista to my first 9 hours of grad school and first 4 textbooks!
Out with the old...
In with the new... :(
But my Fall semester doesn't start for another couple of weeks so I'm not thinking about school right now.
3. The parent handbook and employee handbook are FINISHED. I've typed them up, handed them off for editing, will revise, and then print and bind. But the "thinking part" of putting handbooks together is over. Hallelujah!
4. My office was gutted, but we have put it back together. It now looks like an office. Jason assembled most of the new furniture. It looks good. That's a great feeling.
5. I've given my first tour to a prospective parent. Always good to get the first administrative task under your belt. I'm feeling more like a Director now.
6. I have an official work email AND an extension of my very own. I'll get to set up voicemail tomorrow. Exciting stuff!
7. School supplies are on their way to the elementary school as we speak. I'm relieved to know they've arrived. All I need to do is put them ALL away and figure out which students ordered supplies and who didn't. But at least my order came in. I feel better knowing that we have supplies in our possession.
8. I got all the restaurants for Spirit Nights squared away. I'm glad that this year is my last year to have to worry about all of that. I will gladly hand over the PTA position next year. (And I will EXCITEDLY hand over my School Supplies position the following year. It's been a lot of work.)
9. My kids' toys and clothing have been sorted and bagged and cleaned out. I love clean closets!
10. I have ordered all school supplies and spirit wear for my own kids for the upcoming year. Check that off the list.
...............
I've got a little R&R scheduled for this weekend. And I can't wait!!!
Next week I gear up for LOADS of training for my new job. The following week I have LOADS of PTA stuff to do. Then school starts for the big kids, and in-service starts for my staff. Somewhere in there grad school will start up again.
But for now... NOW... August 5th... It FINALLY feels like summer! :)
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