Playing catch up

So, once again, it's been a while....

Jason said, "Um, so are you not writing our family blog anymore because you're going back to work?"

Truth is-- I'm thinking of a blog post as we speak for my professional blog... (required piece to the puzzle of working here)-- I'm stuck and over-analyzing what I'm writing *shock* so I decided to take a break and go back to my first love--- my PERSONAL blog :)

What's happened since the beginning of July??

TONS.

We went to Colorado.  Post and pics to come.

I've been back at work since August 6.

Jack transferred to a new school.

Sarah started 5th grade, and she is definitely acting like it's her senior year in elementary school.

Caroline is in 1st grade.  She has the same teacher Sarah and Jack had so it's kinda like revisiting an old friend when I get an email from Mrs. Salmon.

We have a babysitter in the afternoons.  The kids call her their nanny because it sounds fancier.

And... I'm tired.

The most tired I've been since my babies were little.

But... I'm so happy!

The happiest I've been in a long time.

This is the best first week (with kids) of a new job I've ever had.  I have no idea what I'm doing most of the time.  I'm winging it, faking it til I make it, and learning as I go.  But I feel so supported by the staff that I'm not scared to ask questions or mess up.  It's incredibly freeing and empowering to work in an environment like this.

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

Huge milestones today--

I got my very first parent phone call.  So exciting :)

I even ventured into the lounge today and ate with other people. Super proud of myself :)---

The past 3 days I've eaten at my desk. Partly because I've been busy.  Partly because I didn't have anything to heat up so going to the lounge seemed unnecessary.  And partly because I still feel new and was scared to eat with everyone else.  Very "new girl in the cafeteria/ Do you mind if I sit here?" type feelings.   But I pushed myself to be brave enough to commune with others. ;)

Yay me!!

Playing on the driveway

It's always good to be home!

A post for my kids

As a middle child of 3, here's a post for my 3.  Read it when you're grown, and it will make sense. Normally this is the type of thing I would write in your journals, but I'm online... and I type faster than I write.  Forgive me. ;)


I am not oblivious to the dynamics of the three of you at this age... (9, 8, and 5)

I acknowledge that dynamics change.

I am WELL AWARE that there are things, have been things, and will be things that I don't see that will affect the way you feel about each other.

But let me go "on record" with what I do see.

First, let me confirm the "beefs" you have with each other that you think I don't see.

Sarah--- She takes over.  Jack and Caroline, you can be playing alone or together.  If you introduce her to the mix, she will make up new rules, talk louder than the two of you combined, and make it hard for either of you to contribute.  You say she's bossy.  I see where you're coming from.  You're not crazy.

Jack--- He thinks he knows EVERYTHING.  Sarah and Caroline, he will correct you.  He will ask you questions that he knows you don't know the answer to just so that he can tell you the right answer.  You say he's a know-it-all.  I see where you're coming from.  You're not crazy.

Caroline--- She acts entitled.  Sarah and Jack, I see that she cleans up slower than anyone else so she has to do less work. She will fein incompetence when she doesn't want to do something.  She has fewer expectations put on her than you older 2 do.  You say she's spoiled.  I see where you're coming from.  You're not crazy.

.........

"So why don't you step in, Mom??"  That's what you're asking, right?  If I see it happening, why don't I intervene?

First, let me say that I do interject sometimes.  But it's not my job to make every road smooth sailing for you. Your siblings give you GREAT practice at resolving conflict and standing up for yourselves.  There are times I hear the arguing and then watch and listen to what happens next.

THIS is how I know what your problems are with each other.  THIS is how I know what your strengths are and where I need to coach you on how to either back off or stand strong.  I wouldn't know your dynamics if I stepped in every time before the powder keg exploded.  Things have to bubble over sometimes.  I can't nip every conflict in the bud.

........


Now let me remind you of the sweet things you think I don't see.

Sarah--- Sarah will drop what she's doing and take you to the park, Caroline.  She is so proud of you and impressed with how smart you are, Jack.  She toasts your Pop Tarts for you and fills your bath water for you, Caroline.  She laughs harder than anyone else at your jokes, Jack, because she understands you in a way that no one else possibly can.  She would WITHOUT QUESTION go to bat for and defend either of you in a HEARTBEAT.  She loves you both!!!

Jack--- Girls, Jack notices when you look pretty, and he tells you.  Caroline, Jack will play games and teach you things and play school with you when no one else will. He lets you spend the night on his top bunk when you have a hacking cough, and it's a school night.  He'll lose sleep to make you happy. He LOVES being your big brother and takes it very seriously.  Sarah, he knows a lot... this is true... but he looks up to you! He knows that you've done more and experienced more in your 9 years than he has in his 8 years.  He may fight over pecking order with you, but ultimately he knows and respects that you're the oldest.  He would WITHOUT QUESTION go to bat for and defend either of you in a HEARTBEAT.  He loves you both!!!

Caroline---  Caroline just wants to keep up with you two.  She loves you both so much!! She knows she can count on you to walk her to class or buy a book for her at the book fair when she's unsure of herself.  She follows you both around because she's studying your every move.  I've heard her repeat jokes and talk like each of you... because she's always watching... which means you have an incredible responsibility to her.  She will likely never be able to give to you the "role model" aspect that you give to her, but she gives you a reason to be the best you can be.  And you have to know that she looks up to you both!  She would WITHOUT QUESTION go to bat for and defend either of you in a HEARTBEAT.  She loves you both!!!

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

A dynamic of three is SO complicated.  Everyone has options.  This one's mean to me so I'll go play with that one.  This one's my favorite. That one was always rude.  It's not just you and one other kid against the world.  There's always room for someone to be the odd man out.

I want to remind you, though, that whatever issues you may feel towards each other as you grow--- while likely valid and grounded in some sort of truth--- MUST be tempered with the unwavering love you show each other daily.

Conflict is normal and natural and healthy.  But you three are a TEAM.  You love each other.  You are bound together-- growing up in this family, this neighborhood, these times.  You give each other understanding and support that Dad and I could never give you.

Hold on to Truth and Love.
Know that I understand that the irritations and injustices you've experienced and will experience are real.
But LET IT GO.
Choose love and friendship, and y'all will make it through whatever life throws at you.

You're good kids, and I'm SO blessed that you're mine!! xoxoxo

Knock it out in a day

Since all 3 kids are at the same school, I've become a "See you at 2:45!" kind of mom.

I don't want to volunteer in the classroom.

I don't want to work the school store.

Need a mystery reader? Ask someone else.

If you need parents to send in more glue sticks, I'll hit up Walmart for you.

More Kleenex for allergy season?  I'm your girl.

But I've served my time holding 2 positions on the PTA Board.  I've served my time spending every waking minute with my kids. 

 Now that they're all elementary age, I'm 100% OK with giving them a hug and a kiss and not seeing them again until 2:45.

However, now that I'm not working, I signed up to help with Field Day this year.  First time ever.

I also helped last week with 2nd Grade Measurement Olympics.  

So. Much. Volunteering. I'm exhausted. ;)

Anyway, every year I promise I will eat lunch with them at school... once.  

Today was that day.  And I knocked them all out today.

.......

Jack eats at 11:00.  Sarah is 11:30. Caroline is 12:30.

I worked out this morning and laid on the ground... a sweaty mess.  I finally peeled myself off the ground, looked at the clock, saw that it was 10:08, and realized that I needed to:

~ shower

~ shave

~ get dressed

~ makeup on/hair done

~ get food 

~ and get to school

in 52 minutes.

I realize you might be thinking, "If you're in a rush, why waste time shaving?"  

Because I NEEDED to shave.  Trust me.

You might be thinking, "Well then, just put on jeans or wear a maxi skirt."

Shut up.  Stop making sense.  Hindsight logic is obnoxious.

I was frantic.  And then I started sweating from the shower, the hair dryer, and the flat iron.  There is nothing more frustrating than sweating when you're getting cleaned up.  Am I right?

Somehow I got ready, bought food at Whataburger, and pulled into the school parking lot at 10:59. 

Nothing short of miraculous.

.........

JACK

Jack's goal for 2015 is "to try new sandwiches".

Don't ask.  

But, hey, at least he's goal oriented.

He's added a Reuben and a Philly Cheesesteak to his list of new sandwiches this year.  He wanted me to buy him a Club from Potbelly, but they weren't open at 10:50.

So I got him a Patty Melt from Whataburger.

..........

SARAH

Sarah came out next and she had her Whataburger, ketchup only.  

Her 2015 goal is most definitely NOT trying new sandwiches.  

...........

CAROLINE

Then I had 30 minutes to kill before Caroline came.  So I went to get myself Chipotle, and she had requested McDonald's.

I headed back to the school and got there with time to spare.

..........

I feel accomplished. :)

But I CAN'T WAIT for them to go to school tomorrow so I can get a few things done!

"See you at 2:45!"

Kicking the ball around

Since we drove to soccer practice and suspiciously no one was here, I decided to check email.

They canceled practice an hour ago.

Guess I'm the only dummy who didn't check messages.

I would argue that a texting system might work better to notify parents of cancellations. But oh well.

Might as well play a little since we are here.

throwback TUESDAY

Yeah, yeah I know it's not Thursday.  My dad found an old pic of Sarah from 2010 that I had to share.


I remember this day at Polished.  (I probably blogged about it.)

She was 4. Jack was 3 and Caroline's was 8 months.  I was so consumed with the 3 kids that I was making an effort to spend individual time with each one.

On my date with Sarah,  we decided to get her first manicure!

She sat so still and so quietly.  She had a Sprite... very fancy! She was watching everything intently and trying to hold her fingers just right as they painted them.

When it was time to go, she asked me to put her sunglasses on her and she flashed me this smile....

Diva :)

Gosh, I love her!!

Sarah's 4th grade performance

Sarah's grade level performed tonight in the gym.  Or is it a cafetorium?

A gymatorium?

They sang songs through the decades and played instruments.  She had the sweetest smile the entire time.  It makes my heart so happy to see this once shy girl now filled with confidence.

See for yourself...
:-/

(Trust me if you could see her through the distance and blurry haze,  you'd think, "Now there's a confident girl with a sweet smile.")

*sigh*

A good egg

I had no idea Sarah mailed sweet letters to our neighbors.

The Cox family kept it. 

In fact, when Ginger opened the letter, she was so touched that she put it back in the envelope so that the rest of her family would have the experience of opening it.

Then she put it on their bulletin board.

When she said how sweet the letter was and I told her that I had no idea what she was talking about, she sent me this picture.

To the office with Dad

Jason started taking Sarah to the office when she was 4 years old.

His building is pretty dead this week so it isn't a problem to have kids in his office.

When Jack turned 4, he started going. Then Caroline. 

They love it. Jason has a typewriter for some reason. He has a desktop computer they can use while he works on the laptop. They usually call me at least once from his work phone.  They go into the Galleria for lunch and see the giant Christmas tree and watch the ice skaters.

This is a day they look forward to all year.  A Christmas tradition.

Braces off!!

Phase one is done!!

Too bad there's not a discount for phase two.

Daddy's lap

When Sarah was 5,  she sat on Jason's lap, and with sad eyes,  he asked, "How many more years of this do you think I'll have?"

She's 9 1/2 now. 

The answer is: You'll have as many of these moments as you'll give her.

Big Hero 6 at iPic

Killing time before the movie. 

Then we are off to see The Big Guy next door.

Poop patrol

The kids have been struggling with putting their junk away.  Since they aren't cleaning up inside like they should,  they're getting to clean up after Reese outside.

Gloves, bags, down to rubber boots.... these kids are so dramatic.

No idea where they get it.

Three little monkeys...

In bed.

Watching Nickelodeon.

At 8:57.

I'm not a fan of sharing the bed with the kids. Not quite sure how I was talked into this.

Caroline's expression about taking this photo is my feeling about a slumber party in my room.

I bet I end up on the couch before the night is over. ;)

Girls' weekend

The boys are at the lease til Monday so the girls have a weekend to ourselves.

Today we went to see my niece in a production of "Annie Jr". It was very cute!!

 

 

Then we put up the Christmas tree. The girls decorated it.

We made grilled cheese and tomato soup for dinner.
Then I made hot chocolate and popped popcorn...

 

which we are enjoying while we watch Netflix. 

 

 

Let the good times roll... :) 

Chopped

Sarah had a sleepover tonight, and the girls played "Chopped".

Round one: Use donut holes, Nutella, and cheese puffs to make a dish.

The fridge and pantry were up for grabs. Blenders were out on the counter. The oven was preheated to 350°.

Lela gave us a donut hole topped with Nutella and cheese puffs mixed together.   It was surprisingly good. The salty cheese puffs mixed well with Nutella and donut.

Sarah made a cupcake filled with a cream filling of flour, cream, sugar, and cheese puffs.   She topped it with a donut hole and Nutella.

Pics of round 1....

Round 2: Basket ingredients included hot dogs, salsa, and potato chips.

Lela was inspired by Spaghettios.  She made a tomato soup with pasta,  hot dogs, salsa, and potato chips. On the side... a cucumber slice and parmesan crisp.

Then... as a bonus... she made a pizza.  A corn tortilla with tomato paste, cucumbers and hot dogs.  She made a tea drink to go with her entree.

Sarah made a soup with cream of chicken, hot dogs, water, and potato chips.

 To accompany the soup she did her take on a grilled cheese (without cheese).  It was buttered bread, salsa mixed with vanilla to sweeten it up, and hot dogs. Her drink was served in a martini glass. It was a coke with half and half and vanilla.

Yes, you read all of that correctly.   I'm sure you wish you could've judged with Jason and me.

Pics of round 2...

Jason and I gave Lela the win for taste and Sarah the win for creativity.

After losing on taste,  I heard Sarah say, "Maybe I should've heated up the hot dogs."

One Direction concert

In July, my niece Rachel turned 10 and Sarah turned 9. 

Hilary and I decided to take them to the One Direction concert as a belated birthday party.. in lieu of a party in July.

It was the night before school started.  We got in after midnight, and it was ROUGH waking up for school... can't lie!  BUT it was-- oh-- so worth it!!

Fun night...
(Even though I only knew a few of the songs and my ears were ringing for a good 15 minutes after the concert.)

 

 

Trip to Virginia for the boys' christening

Sarah and I went on a quick trip to Virginia to see my nephews' baptism/ baby dedication.

We had a great getaway together, and Brian, Abby, Luke, and Emory were so much fun!! Sarah was very excited to meet them!!

Please forgive all of the pictures, but this aunt has to gush a little.  :)

 

Luke...

 



 

Emory...

 

 

 Emory...

 

Luke....

 

 

Baptism Day...

 

 

 

 

Stole a pic of Emory during church... Irreverent?

 

 

Sweet family...

 

B is holding Em and Abby has Luke...

 



 

At brunch in their honor.

Emory... How angelic are these boys??  Love them!!

 

Luke....

 



Playing with Em...

 



 

Now it's time to play with Luke...

 

Naptime...

Luke...

 



 

Emory...

 

 

Emory and Abby...

 

Did I tell you the one about....

... Sarah and drinks?

When I was setting up for VBS,  Sarah came with me to decorate.  An hour in, we were exhausted and thirsty.

Sarah offered to get us water.

She came back with 2 Styrofoam cups of water. I guzzled mine down when I looked up at her cup and saw teeth marks in it.

Then I paused.

"Where'd you get these, baby?"

Sarah turned red. Never a good sign.

"Well I went to the place where you have coffee every Sunday.  There were no cups. So I got some cups out of the trash can. But I rinsed them out! Are you mad?"

"No, babe! Thanks. Let me show you where you can get cups."

Never had a tetanus shot.
Maybe needed one.
But the sweet girl got me water.
And dug through the trash to make me happy.

I can't be mad. ;)

But I won't ask her for anything less than bottled water again.

The restaurant is open

Sarah had this idea to open a restaurant, use our fancy china, and serve Jason and me a romantic dinner.

 

First Caroline and she set the stage.... Rearranged living room furniture.  (Please note the bread and olive oil with balsamic vinegar to dip it in.  She got the idea from California Pizza Kitchen.) :)

 

 

Fancy glasses and plates.  Waiting for us to order...

 

  

The menu....

She wrote 2 so Jason and I could have our own.

 

 

 

Sarah called Jason at work, and said, "Is this Mr. McGlamery?  I understand that you have reservations at our restaurant tonight.  What time will you be arriving?"

 

He came home right at 6:30.  I met him on the driveway so we could walk into the restaurant together.

Caroline sat us immediately. 

 

 

We had a lovely salad with our bread.  Sure, it was a bagged salad, but Sarah did it herself. :)

 

 

She also made homemade lasagna....

 

 

(Our waiter, Jack, graciously agreed to take our picture while we ate....)

 

 

And our desserts were homemade cake with homemade icing and homemade snickerdoodles.

 

I emphasize "homemade" because Sarah cooked ALL DAY.  It was precious how hard she worked to make this special.

 

 

Jack and Caroline did everything that they could to serve and make us happy.  Whatever role Sarah assigned, they performed without any arguing.  They whispered while Jason and I talked and ate and waited for us to be finished before they had dinner.

 

So... of course, I offered to give them the same fine dining experience with fancy plates and glasses.  :)

 

 

It was a fun night.

 

A lot of work.

 

A lot of dirty dishes.

 

But this kind of thought into giving us a special dinner melts my heart. :)