Wowsers. Three months...as much as I love to write, it surprises me that I have taken a three month break from blogging.
My break started soon after I was laid off. I just did not seem to have much gumption to write. I am not sure, since being laid off was actually a positive thing, it isn't like I was devastated or such.
Anyway, I am still alive and kicking. We have had a spectacular summer. I have so enjoyed being home with them, hanging out. Since I haven't been tied down with a job, we had the opportunity to do a lot of fun, cool things.
We had a annual family vacation at the beach in June. My sister-in-law and niece joined us as they always do. We had great weather, which was really nice, of course. It was a great week.
We went to the lake a few afternoons to go tubing. The kids absolutely love riding on the tube. Granddaddy John absolutely loves taking them.
Another highlight was the Great Wolf Lodge mini-vacation. Boy the kids really had a blast there. It was such a relaxing trip for Sheldon and I since the kids could just go and we were able to just sit and have real adult conversation! We enjoyed the water activities too, but there was a lot of time that we were able to just chill.
Sheldon did some traveling alone this summer, once for business and once for fun. He went to a Homicide Convention...sounds like fun, huh? Most recently he went to the beach for four days on a guy weekend. He takes this trip every August, it is his recharge time.
Our highlight of the summer was the weekend of August 8. Our VERY dear friend got married at the beach. The wedding was spectacular. The weekend was so memorable. We had SUCH a good time. The ceremony was perfect. The kids and I were in the wedding, and boy did the kids look amazing. I just cannot express wow wonderful everything was. I have some great pictures. (They are posted on facebook.)
Well, now that I have gotten caught up on our summer, perhaps the next post will not be so scattered.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Busy Time of the Year
Once again...writer's block. Haven't been here in awhile...thought about writing a lot, but haven't for some reason or another.
Life is getting busy here at the Perkins' house. The end of the school year is very busy it seems. I will personally be really glad when school is out. We, well, the kids, had end of grade testing last week, which I think is the most stupidest thing out there, but I will spare you the extreme details of my hatred toward the test.
After end of grade testing, Mackenzie jumped right into dance company auditions. These were pretty stressful for her...and me. Thankfully they are over too. It will be after recital before she knows anything. UGGG.
Speaking of recital that brings me to next week. Wednesday night Mac has dress rehearsal. On Sunday afternoon she has the recital. I am, and she is looking forward to this performance. Sheldon is pretending to be excited, as much as he hates it, he is very supportive of Mac and her dancing. As for Chase, we will drag him there kicking and screaming the whole way.
Saturday is going to be a real busy day. Chase has a swim meet in the morning then that afternoon/evening, he is having his party for his birthday, which is Thursday.
The week after this one will be a little better. They will both have field days, class parties, award ceremonies, then at last, the last day of school. I cannot believe that I will soon have a forth grader and a seventh grader.
Chase brought his yearbook home yesterday. As I was looking through it, I got right sick to my stomach. The seventh graders look like young men and women. My Chase still looks like a boy to me. As I looked at these kids, I realized that by fall Chase will, or possibly could have changed so much. I cannot believe how quickly these kids are growing up. It honestly seems like a few weeks ago when they were slumped over in their car seats sleeping and drooling everywhere. (Okay, they still drool, but you get the picture.)
On a different note, the pool has opened. This seems to mark the summer season for me. I could sit by the pool all day...if the kids would not start with the whole, "I am bored." or "I am hungry, what's for lunch?" I love sitting in the sun. I am not much on getting in the pool, unless I am so hot I cannot stand it any longer. In that case I wait until adult swim and jump in since if I don't I seem to be a magnet to my children, who seem to do nothing but hang on me and/or splash me. Don't like to be splashed, even if I am wet...is that so hard to understand?
Guess I have rambled on enough about nothing at all. I promise I will try to update a little more often. Maybe life will become a little more interesting once the urchins are released from school. ( I have a feeling once they are out, I will wish they were back in.)
Have a good one, chat soon.
Life is getting busy here at the Perkins' house. The end of the school year is very busy it seems. I will personally be really glad when school is out. We, well, the kids, had end of grade testing last week, which I think is the most stupidest thing out there, but I will spare you the extreme details of my hatred toward the test.
After end of grade testing, Mackenzie jumped right into dance company auditions. These were pretty stressful for her...and me. Thankfully they are over too. It will be after recital before she knows anything. UGGG.
Speaking of recital that brings me to next week. Wednesday night Mac has dress rehearsal. On Sunday afternoon she has the recital. I am, and she is looking forward to this performance. Sheldon is pretending to be excited, as much as he hates it, he is very supportive of Mac and her dancing. As for Chase, we will drag him there kicking and screaming the whole way.
Saturday is going to be a real busy day. Chase has a swim meet in the morning then that afternoon/evening, he is having his party for his birthday, which is Thursday.
The week after this one will be a little better. They will both have field days, class parties, award ceremonies, then at last, the last day of school. I cannot believe that I will soon have a forth grader and a seventh grader.
Chase brought his yearbook home yesterday. As I was looking through it, I got right sick to my stomach. The seventh graders look like young men and women. My Chase still looks like a boy to me. As I looked at these kids, I realized that by fall Chase will, or possibly could have changed so much. I cannot believe how quickly these kids are growing up. It honestly seems like a few weeks ago when they were slumped over in their car seats sleeping and drooling everywhere. (Okay, they still drool, but you get the picture.)
On a different note, the pool has opened. This seems to mark the summer season for me. I could sit by the pool all day...if the kids would not start with the whole, "I am bored." or "I am hungry, what's for lunch?" I love sitting in the sun. I am not much on getting in the pool, unless I am so hot I cannot stand it any longer. In that case I wait until adult swim and jump in since if I don't I seem to be a magnet to my children, who seem to do nothing but hang on me and/or splash me. Don't like to be splashed, even if I am wet...is that so hard to understand?
Guess I have rambled on enough about nothing at all. I promise I will try to update a little more often. Maybe life will become a little more interesting once the urchins are released from school. ( I have a feeling once they are out, I will wish they were back in.)
Have a good one, chat soon.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Preparing for J's Big Day
Once again, it has been awhile since I was here. I don’t know what it is but I just have not wanted to be on the computer very much.
Mackenzie and I just got back from our seamstress’ house. Mackenzie and I are in a wedding in August. Mackenzie’s dress is a wee bit too big, like maybe she is a size 8 in a girls and the dress is a size 2 in a ladies. Wee bit big. I thought Sheila (the seamstress) was going to have a coronary when I told her what we needed. She used about 50 pins to make it fit her. She was relieved to know she had a couple of months to work on it.
I am so honored to be a part of this wedding. The bride is a very close friend, actually she is more like family. I have known J, the bride, since she was 3-4 years old. Her parents owned a skating rink, in which all teens at the time hung out. Sheldon and I was a couple of the teens that hung out there. J, was always running all around there winning the hearts of anyone she came in contact with. You couldn’t not fall for her and her chubby cheeks.
Over a few months Sheldon and I became very close to her parents. Her mom sort of took all of us teens under her wing and watched out for us. Her dad was a huge, okay, the reason Sheldon is what he is today. B, the dad, was the first person that believed in him.
As you can see this family became our family. We were with them all the time. In fact we all went to the beach together for my graduation, which is where Sheldon and I officially became a couple. (Before this we were just friends that flirted way too much and denied that we were anything more than friends.)
A fond memory that I have of J on that trip to the beach was one morning she came in and jumped up on my bed and leaned in close to wake me, my first words to her was “You smell like Doritos.” That child lived off Cool Ranch Doritos. Every other food she ate was dipped into ranch dressing.
I adored J so much. J adored us too, if I say so myself. She would get my name and Sheldon’s name mixed up all the time, so she just decided to call both of us “Mesheldon”.
We saw J go from a toddler, to a little girl, to a teenager, and now to a young lady. I have a picture of Sheldon standing with her at her preschool graduation and then again at her college graduation. She is now a first year teacher, teaching kindergarten, at a local school. I know that she is probably the most awesome teacher, with her kindness and love for children.
J was a junior bridesmaid at my wedding. (Her brother was a junior groomsman, and her father was the best man.) I remember just how adorable she looked. It almost makes me cry to think that in August my daughter will serve as a junior bridesmaid in J’s wedding. What an honor. If that isn’t enough, I will also be standing there as a bridesmaid too.
The wedding will be just gorgeous. J is getting married on the beach. The bridesmaid dresses are beautiful. J’s dress is more than perfect. It is absolutely gorgeous. Chase will be wearing white linen. I cannot wait to see all of this come together. I know it will be just as perfect as J.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Nomal, or Not
It has been awhile…again. It seems that I have had a bit of “writer’s block.”
Everybody is doing well. Things have changed since my last blog. I am no longer working. It has been a very relaxing couple of weeks. I was very stressed at my job, not to mention the hour long drive that I did each way. I am trying to learn what normal is. The kids seem to enjoy my being home. It is nice to be in the car rider line to pick up Mac, and wow, what a feeling to be at home watching Chase get off the bus.
I realized the other day that it had been years since I had helped the kids do their homework. I mean I had helped each kid study on occasion, but beyond that someone else had helped them at afterschool, and I was just thankful that I did not have to after a long day at work. I feel like I really am more of a part of their school day now.
I had a call from Mac’s teacher on yesterday, she and I had been trying to get a conference scheduled for some time, but with my work schedule I had not been able to get off to go. I was able to finally schedule that, and while I was on the phone with her she told me that Mac would be getting an award on Monday. Guess what…I can go even, on a short notice. Wow.
On to other things, the kids got their report cards on Thursday. They both did really well. Mac is just where she is supposed to be this time of the school year. Unfortunately, the end of grade testing is approaching. She is not the strongest reader when she has to read seven to eight long passages. Her teacher is trying to build up her endurance. I am confident that she will be just fine.
Chase, is also really doing well. After five years of his teachers assuring me that he had a reading disability and that he would really have a struggle in school, Chase has made the A honor roll for the third time this year. He has made us so proud. He does work hard. It is so refreshing to have his teachers have such positive remarks about him. I cannot even stress the relief that Sheldon and I feel.
There is really not much more going on here, as I mentioned we are just trying to figure out what normal is now.
Everybody is doing well. Things have changed since my last blog. I am no longer working. It has been a very relaxing couple of weeks. I was very stressed at my job, not to mention the hour long drive that I did each way. I am trying to learn what normal is. The kids seem to enjoy my being home. It is nice to be in the car rider line to pick up Mac, and wow, what a feeling to be at home watching Chase get off the bus.
I realized the other day that it had been years since I had helped the kids do their homework. I mean I had helped each kid study on occasion, but beyond that someone else had helped them at afterschool, and I was just thankful that I did not have to after a long day at work. I feel like I really am more of a part of their school day now.
I had a call from Mac’s teacher on yesterday, she and I had been trying to get a conference scheduled for some time, but with my work schedule I had not been able to get off to go. I was able to finally schedule that, and while I was on the phone with her she told me that Mac would be getting an award on Monday. Guess what…I can go even, on a short notice. Wow.
On to other things, the kids got their report cards on Thursday. They both did really well. Mac is just where she is supposed to be this time of the school year. Unfortunately, the end of grade testing is approaching. She is not the strongest reader when she has to read seven to eight long passages. Her teacher is trying to build up her endurance. I am confident that she will be just fine.
Chase, is also really doing well. After five years of his teachers assuring me that he had a reading disability and that he would really have a struggle in school, Chase has made the A honor roll for the third time this year. He has made us so proud. He does work hard. It is so refreshing to have his teachers have such positive remarks about him. I cannot even stress the relief that Sheldon and I feel.
There is really not much more going on here, as I mentioned we are just trying to figure out what normal is now.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Way to Fast
It’s been a while. I just haven’t been in the mood to get on the computer once I have gotten home from work these days.
We have been a bit busy the past few weeks. It has been very stressful. I wrecked our van, which was devastating. Luckily no one was hurt. I had the joy of dealing with the insurance company, which they were actually very easy and helpful to work with. My van was totaled. I then had to go car shopping. Car shopping is not fun. I actually did most of my shopping on the internet. I found one that I liked. I went to see it and test drove it. I was pretty pleased. I went back the next day and bought it. It is a Saturn Vue. It is not new, it is a 2005, but only had 25,000 miles on it. It smells brand new on the inside. I really like it, as does Sheldon and the kids. The kids are so strict with each other about leaving stuff in it, or tracking grass in. Hopefully they will continue to be this way and they will help me keep it looking nice.
This past weekend Mackenzie and I were in Spartenburg, SC. Mackenzie had a dance competition. She did really well. It was just a very long two days. We left after work on Friday, getting us down there very late. Saturday morning we had to be at the competition dressed and ready to go on stage at 8:45am. Our day did not end until about 8pm, then we were in the car for 3.5 hours. Very late night. Mac and I were both really tired on Sunday. I am still tired. (Must be getting old.)
Sheldon and Chase had a guy weekend. I did not ask what all they had been up to. There are some things girls just don’t need to know about. It was more fun to imagine all the things they must have done that resulted in my house having some kind of tornado coming through. I really think we could get federal aid for the damage.
Back to work and school today. Weekends just go by way to fast.
We have been a bit busy the past few weeks. It has been very stressful. I wrecked our van, which was devastating. Luckily no one was hurt. I had the joy of dealing with the insurance company, which they were actually very easy and helpful to work with. My van was totaled. I then had to go car shopping. Car shopping is not fun. I actually did most of my shopping on the internet. I found one that I liked. I went to see it and test drove it. I was pretty pleased. I went back the next day and bought it. It is a Saturn Vue. It is not new, it is a 2005, but only had 25,000 miles on it. It smells brand new on the inside. I really like it, as does Sheldon and the kids. The kids are so strict with each other about leaving stuff in it, or tracking grass in. Hopefully they will continue to be this way and they will help me keep it looking nice.
This past weekend Mackenzie and I were in Spartenburg, SC. Mackenzie had a dance competition. She did really well. It was just a very long two days. We left after work on Friday, getting us down there very late. Saturday morning we had to be at the competition dressed and ready to go on stage at 8:45am. Our day did not end until about 8pm, then we were in the car for 3.5 hours. Very late night. Mac and I were both really tired on Sunday. I am still tired. (Must be getting old.)
Sheldon and Chase had a guy weekend. I did not ask what all they had been up to. There are some things girls just don’t need to know about. It was more fun to imagine all the things they must have done that resulted in my house having some kind of tornado coming through. I really think we could get federal aid for the damage.
Back to work and school today. Weekends just go by way to fast.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
I Have No Idea What to Write
I haven't posted in awhile...we have been really busy. It is a shame how busy our lives get that we cannot even do the little things that we enjoy. I really like blogging, a lot, but I haven't had the 5 minutes it takes to write a passage.
Now that I have the 5 minutes, I have no idea what to write.
Chase is fine, Mackenzie is fine, I am fine, Sheldon is fine...we are all fine.
I could tell you that Chase started swimming again. I think he likes it, he has had a little bit of adjustment issues. He is doing really, really good considering he had not swam since July.
I could tell you that Mackenzie had a performance with dance this past weekend. She did a wonderful job. She has several biggies coming up. In a couple of weeks she will be doing her first competition for the year.
I guess I could tell you that my life is the same. I run the above said children everywhere. I have been really busy at work. I find myself really looking for Friday each week, more so than before.
I could tell you that Sheldon is doing great. He is busy with his work. He really loves his job, which is such a great thing to be able to see.
So, as I said before, I have no idea what to write about.
Now that I have the 5 minutes, I have no idea what to write.
Chase is fine, Mackenzie is fine, I am fine, Sheldon is fine...we are all fine.
I could tell you that Chase started swimming again. I think he likes it, he has had a little bit of adjustment issues. He is doing really, really good considering he had not swam since July.
I could tell you that Mackenzie had a performance with dance this past weekend. She did a wonderful job. She has several biggies coming up. In a couple of weeks she will be doing her first competition for the year.
I guess I could tell you that my life is the same. I run the above said children everywhere. I have been really busy at work. I find myself really looking for Friday each week, more so than before.
I could tell you that Sheldon is doing great. He is busy with his work. He really loves his job, which is such a great thing to be able to see.
So, as I said before, I have no idea what to write about.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Report Card Time
Report cards came out this week...Once again, I am a very proud mama. Mackenzie is on grade level for everything. She is exactly where she is suppose to be. She still loves school and seems to really have a great time when she is there.,
Chase worked really hard this semester and it paid off. He made straight A's again this nine weeks. Half way through the school year and he has had straight A's. I cannot tell you (okay, I have, but) how significant this is for Chase, since he had struggled so hard in elementary school with his reading and such.
Chase gets to attend a school dance on Friday afternoon, it is only for kids that got A or B honor roll. It is during school hours which means he gets to miss a couple of classes. This is a big deal, of course.
I was out of town this past weekend. While I was away, Mackenzie had a dance performance. Sheldon was there. He described her as very beautiful and really good. He does not see her every week at practice like I do. It amazes him when he does see her and sees her progress. I hated missing it. The dance was a lyrical performances. Lyrical seems to be her favorite class right now. (Good thing since we paid so much money for those little tiny shoes)
Exhaustion has set in...so until next time...
Chase worked really hard this semester and it paid off. He made straight A's again this nine weeks. Half way through the school year and he has had straight A's. I cannot tell you (okay, I have, but) how significant this is for Chase, since he had struggled so hard in elementary school with his reading and such.
Chase gets to attend a school dance on Friday afternoon, it is only for kids that got A or B honor roll. It is during school hours which means he gets to miss a couple of classes. This is a big deal, of course.
I was out of town this past weekend. While I was away, Mackenzie had a dance performance. Sheldon was there. He described her as very beautiful and really good. He does not see her every week at practice like I do. It amazes him when he does see her and sees her progress. I hated missing it. The dance was a lyrical performances. Lyrical seems to be her favorite class right now. (Good thing since we paid so much money for those little tiny shoes)
Exhaustion has set in...so until next time...
Thursday, January 15, 2009
What to Write About...
What to write about…
Everything here is going pretty good. It is too freaking cold. I hate cold weather. I guess I should not complain, it is certainly not as bad as some of my friends up north.
Sheldon’s new job has him really busy these days. Some days we are in the bed before he gets home. This has been hard on the kids. Funny thing is, they are use to him being gone for night shifts when he was on the street, but I guess then they knew he was working and would not be home that night, now they wait for him and he doesn’t come.
It has been an adjustment for me as well. We don’t talk much on the phone during the day, even before. But when I do call him, usually cause I need him, he almost always says, “in the middle of something, call you back later”. Later never seems to come. It is frustrating but understandable.
The kids are doing well. Mackenzie is cracking me up, her vocabulary has exploded lately. She is talking like she is a literature teacher. I can’t seem to think of an example right now, but it is the cutest thing. She has also learned all the words to Taylor Swift’s song, Love Story. There are a couple of words that are not quite what the song says, which makes it funny, but none the less, she is pretty freaking cute singing it.
Chase is doing well. He has been working hard tying up the end of this nine weeks at school. I was talking to his English teacher recently, he was telling me some things about Chase that of course I already knew, but it was great to hear. He said things like Chase was the sweetest child, he was a very hard worker, he had a big heart, he was well liked, he loved his parents very much, and his father was a hero to him, he was very proud of his dad’s profession…and on and on.
Guess my crowd is doing pretty good.
Everything here is going pretty good. It is too freaking cold. I hate cold weather. I guess I should not complain, it is certainly not as bad as some of my friends up north.
Sheldon’s new job has him really busy these days. Some days we are in the bed before he gets home. This has been hard on the kids. Funny thing is, they are use to him being gone for night shifts when he was on the street, but I guess then they knew he was working and would not be home that night, now they wait for him and he doesn’t come.
It has been an adjustment for me as well. We don’t talk much on the phone during the day, even before. But when I do call him, usually cause I need him, he almost always says, “in the middle of something, call you back later”. Later never seems to come. It is frustrating but understandable.
The kids are doing well. Mackenzie is cracking me up, her vocabulary has exploded lately. She is talking like she is a literature teacher. I can’t seem to think of an example right now, but it is the cutest thing. She has also learned all the words to Taylor Swift’s song, Love Story. There are a couple of words that are not quite what the song says, which makes it funny, but none the less, she is pretty freaking cute singing it.
Chase is doing well. He has been working hard tying up the end of this nine weeks at school. I was talking to his English teacher recently, he was telling me some things about Chase that of course I already knew, but it was great to hear. He said things like Chase was the sweetest child, he was a very hard worker, he had a big heart, he was well liked, he loved his parents very much, and his father was a hero to him, he was very proud of his dad’s profession…and on and on.
Guess my crowd is doing pretty good.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Thursday, December 25, 2008
The Christmas Story...at the Perkins' House Anyway
It went something like this:
The setting: 1:20 am, Sheldon is sitting at the desk, working hard and diligent, preparing Chase’s Ipod for the big reveal, wanting it to be all set up when the boy received it. A few curse words here, a few curse words there. A few memories of the days of putting toys together on Christmas Eve and thinking that was a pain in the arse.
Here is the way the conversations leading up to the exciting opening of Santa’s loot.
1:30am- Michelle: Sheldon, please just give up, let me wrap it and let’s go to bed.
Sheldon: Heavy sighing, little mumbling….
Michelle: We need to go to bed; it is just a matter of hours before we will be summoned by the kids.
Sheldon: Fine, but it is not ready, so I will just leave it hooked up, I will set the alarm and get up in one hour to make sure it is complete, then you can wrap it.
Michelle: Fine
{The time is now 2am}
Mackenzie: Mom, is it time?
Mom: NOO, go back to sleep.
{The time is not 2:14}
Chase: Mom is it time?
Mom: NOO, go back to sleep.
{The time is now 2:45am}
Mackenzie: Mom, is it time?
Mom: NOO, go back to sleep.
{The time is not 2:57}
Chase: Mom is it time?
Mom: NOO, go back to sleep.
At this point, I realize that there is no sleep in my future, so, get up…but wait, the Ipod is still not wrapped. I must sneak past the kid’s bedroom, retrieve it, go into kitchen and wrap it. I feel like I am a guest character on Mission Impossible as I work my way to the kitchen passing both of their rooms. I get the present wrapped, and head back to bed, thinking maybe I have at least a half hour.
{The time is now 3:16am}
Mackenzie: Mom, is it time?
Mom: NOO, go back to sleep.
{The time is not 3:24am}
Chase: Mom is it time?
Mom: NOO, go back to sleep.
Realizing that I will never get any sleep now, I roll over, nudge Sheldon, telling him to wake up, he grumbles loudly IN HIS SLEEP, cause he has escaped all this fun of waking every time my eyes closed. My theory was if we just got up, let the kids have their loot, perhaps I could get at least an hour of sleep before having to get up to go to D2’s at 8am.
The next time Chase entered, (3:30am) we got up. Sheldon was still grumbling as we made our way through the house to get to the living room.
The kids were way excited, the smiles and shouts of enthusiasm made it all worth it…mostly.
We laid back down for a catnap around 5am, arising again at 7am to go to our next designation to receive a few more cool presents. It is now 1:19am, now December 26th, and I am so tired, I cannot sleep…yeah me. Sheldon apparently does not have the same problem as he is snoring, sucking all the air out of our room…maybe I am not sleep deprived, maybe it is the air I am deprived of????
The setting: 1:20 am, Sheldon is sitting at the desk, working hard and diligent, preparing Chase’s Ipod for the big reveal, wanting it to be all set up when the boy received it. A few curse words here, a few curse words there. A few memories of the days of putting toys together on Christmas Eve and thinking that was a pain in the arse.
Here is the way the conversations leading up to the exciting opening of Santa’s loot.
1:30am- Michelle: Sheldon, please just give up, let me wrap it and let’s go to bed.
Sheldon: Heavy sighing, little mumbling….
Michelle: We need to go to bed; it is just a matter of hours before we will be summoned by the kids.
Sheldon: Fine, but it is not ready, so I will just leave it hooked up, I will set the alarm and get up in one hour to make sure it is complete, then you can wrap it.
Michelle: Fine
{The time is now 2am}
Mackenzie: Mom, is it time?
Mom: NOO, go back to sleep.
{The time is not 2:14}
Chase: Mom is it time?
Mom: NOO, go back to sleep.
{The time is now 2:45am}
Mackenzie: Mom, is it time?
Mom: NOO, go back to sleep.
{The time is not 2:57}
Chase: Mom is it time?
Mom: NOO, go back to sleep.
At this point, I realize that there is no sleep in my future, so, get up…but wait, the Ipod is still not wrapped. I must sneak past the kid’s bedroom, retrieve it, go into kitchen and wrap it. I feel like I am a guest character on Mission Impossible as I work my way to the kitchen passing both of their rooms. I get the present wrapped, and head back to bed, thinking maybe I have at least a half hour.
{The time is now 3:16am}
Mackenzie: Mom, is it time?
Mom: NOO, go back to sleep.
{The time is not 3:24am}
Chase: Mom is it time?
Mom: NOO, go back to sleep.
Realizing that I will never get any sleep now, I roll over, nudge Sheldon, telling him to wake up, he grumbles loudly IN HIS SLEEP, cause he has escaped all this fun of waking every time my eyes closed. My theory was if we just got up, let the kids have their loot, perhaps I could get at least an hour of sleep before having to get up to go to D2’s at 8am.
The next time Chase entered, (3:30am) we got up. Sheldon was still grumbling as we made our way through the house to get to the living room.
The kids were way excited, the smiles and shouts of enthusiasm made it all worth it…mostly.
We laid back down for a catnap around 5am, arising again at 7am to go to our next designation to receive a few more cool presents. It is now 1:19am, now December 26th, and I am so tired, I cannot sleep…yeah me. Sheldon apparently does not have the same problem as he is snoring, sucking all the air out of our room…maybe I am not sleep deprived, maybe it is the air I am deprived of????
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Christmas Memories
The day is finally here. CHRISTMAS EVE!!!!! The kids are bouncing with excitement. I am excited that they are excited.
Monday night they were talking about how tomorrow (Tuesday) they could say it was the day before Christmas Eve. So yesterday morning, they stumble out of bed, sleepy eyed, but only for a couple of minutes. Then they seemed to wake fully and start with the today is the day before Christmas Eve chant. I can hardly wait for them to wake this morning, knowing that the excitement will be 10 times more intense.
Chase and Mackenzie are planning the sleeping arrangements for the tonight. What time will they go to bed, when they will get up, who will wake who up...
In fact, Chase has set the alarm on his cell phone to wake him up at 3am. Note to self, I have to remember to sneak that away from him and cut that off.
Every Christmas I think back on two memories from my childhood, one not so good and the other is probably one of my favorite memories of my brother and I.
Not so good...My mom and my dad, when we were all together, would let us get up whenever we woke, reasonably, anytime after 3am would be a fair guess. It was always so fun for us. We would get up, open presents, then most of the time we would all curl up on the living room floor and go back to sleep. I would always curl up with my new doll, since I got one every year!!! (I loved dolls so much.)
After my mom and dad separated, our Christmas mornings were traded, one year with mom, the next with dad. The first year we were at dad's, my new step-mother was listening to me and the excitement that I was bounding with. When I got the part of getting up anytime after 3, she burst my bubble so bad. She looked at me, her smile gone, and told me, "OH NO, you will not get up until after 7." I was totally crushed. I almost could care less about Christmas that year after that moment. I am not sure what happened between mom and dad, but that was our last Christmas morning there. (I loved my step-mother very much, this was just a bump in the road.)
My favorite memory...and it is a favorite, possibly one of my favorite childhood memories. Once my mom and dad had separated, and it was just mom, Tim, and myself nothing changed about the early waking. But the waking happened like this:
Mom and I shared a room. I had a small bed on one side of the room and she had her bed on the other. My brother had his own room. Every year, I would be sleeping, dreaming of sugar plums, when someone would grab my toe. I would look up, and there would be my Tim. He would motion for me to go wake Mom. So, I would. Do you know how heavy an adults leg weighs? Well I do. I do because she would ALWAYS have me lie down beside her, and she would wrap her arm and leg over me and begin rocking back and forth, trying to get me to go back to sleep. She would doze off, but I would be trapped. All the while, Tim keeps coming to the door and making motions for me to wake her up. Every time I would try, she would say, "Shhhh, go back to sleep honey." This would go on for maybe an hour before she would give in.
When she gave in, she would tell me to go wake Tim. Now we all know he has orchestrated this whole scheme. I would go into his room, and "wake" him. EXCEPT, he would pretend to be sleeping and wake up grouchy and disrupted that I would be waking him at a God awful time of morning. He would do the big brother bashing the little sister act. EVERY YEAR we did this. He always denied it, and what proof did I have? I was the little girl who was way more (or expressed way more) excitement about Christmas than he had. UG.
This continued on year after year. The funniest one for me now is the Christmas that he had first been married. He and my sister in law spent the night at our house. Yes, he did the same thing early in the morning. When I ran around waking everyone, he pretended to be sleeping. My sister in law was in shock that we were up so early, she did not "wake" for a good 30 minutes. Do you think anyone would believe the younger sister, when Tim was a married man and all? Well, let me tell you, NO NO NO.
To this day when this comes up, Tim will grin but still will not confess. I think by the time we were grown, Mom and D2 knew but played along.
I fully expect to be up in the wee hours of the morning. My husband never really did big Christmas' as a child so this is all foreign to him. He grumbles and says crazy stuff like, "I cannot believe..." and that is where I stop him. I like getting up, it is what we do, and I will never be my step-mother and squash that for the kids. Sooner than we can imagine, Sheldon and I will be waking up alone on Christmas morning, we better savor every part of the fun now. If they want to get up at 3, we get up at 3. I mean really, they have been excited about this day for 364 days!!!
Merry Christmas to all, and I hope you too get woken up at the crack of dawn. Have fun.
Monday night they were talking about how tomorrow (Tuesday) they could say it was the day before Christmas Eve. So yesterday morning, they stumble out of bed, sleepy eyed, but only for a couple of minutes. Then they seemed to wake fully and start with the today is the day before Christmas Eve chant. I can hardly wait for them to wake this morning, knowing that the excitement will be 10 times more intense.
Chase and Mackenzie are planning the sleeping arrangements for the tonight. What time will they go to bed, when they will get up, who will wake who up...
In fact, Chase has set the alarm on his cell phone to wake him up at 3am. Note to self, I have to remember to sneak that away from him and cut that off.
Every Christmas I think back on two memories from my childhood, one not so good and the other is probably one of my favorite memories of my brother and I.
Not so good...My mom and my dad, when we were all together, would let us get up whenever we woke, reasonably, anytime after 3am would be a fair guess. It was always so fun for us. We would get up, open presents, then most of the time we would all curl up on the living room floor and go back to sleep. I would always curl up with my new doll, since I got one every year!!! (I loved dolls so much.)
After my mom and dad separated, our Christmas mornings were traded, one year with mom, the next with dad. The first year we were at dad's, my new step-mother was listening to me and the excitement that I was bounding with. When I got the part of getting up anytime after 3, she burst my bubble so bad. She looked at me, her smile gone, and told me, "OH NO, you will not get up until after 7." I was totally crushed. I almost could care less about Christmas that year after that moment. I am not sure what happened between mom and dad, but that was our last Christmas morning there. (I loved my step-mother very much, this was just a bump in the road.)
My favorite memory...and it is a favorite, possibly one of my favorite childhood memories. Once my mom and dad had separated, and it was just mom, Tim, and myself nothing changed about the early waking. But the waking happened like this:
Mom and I shared a room. I had a small bed on one side of the room and she had her bed on the other. My brother had his own room. Every year, I would be sleeping, dreaming of sugar plums, when someone would grab my toe. I would look up, and there would be my Tim. He would motion for me to go wake Mom. So, I would. Do you know how heavy an adults leg weighs? Well I do. I do because she would ALWAYS have me lie down beside her, and she would wrap her arm and leg over me and begin rocking back and forth, trying to get me to go back to sleep. She would doze off, but I would be trapped. All the while, Tim keeps coming to the door and making motions for me to wake her up. Every time I would try, she would say, "Shhhh, go back to sleep honey." This would go on for maybe an hour before she would give in.
When she gave in, she would tell me to go wake Tim. Now we all know he has orchestrated this whole scheme. I would go into his room, and "wake" him. EXCEPT, he would pretend to be sleeping and wake up grouchy and disrupted that I would be waking him at a God awful time of morning. He would do the big brother bashing the little sister act. EVERY YEAR we did this. He always denied it, and what proof did I have? I was the little girl who was way more (or expressed way more) excitement about Christmas than he had. UG.
This continued on year after year. The funniest one for me now is the Christmas that he had first been married. He and my sister in law spent the night at our house. Yes, he did the same thing early in the morning. When I ran around waking everyone, he pretended to be sleeping. My sister in law was in shock that we were up so early, she did not "wake" for a good 30 minutes. Do you think anyone would believe the younger sister, when Tim was a married man and all? Well, let me tell you, NO NO NO.
To this day when this comes up, Tim will grin but still will not confess. I think by the time we were grown, Mom and D2 knew but played along.
I fully expect to be up in the wee hours of the morning. My husband never really did big Christmas' as a child so this is all foreign to him. He grumbles and says crazy stuff like, "I cannot believe..." and that is where I stop him. I like getting up, it is what we do, and I will never be my step-mother and squash that for the kids. Sooner than we can imagine, Sheldon and I will be waking up alone on Christmas morning, we better savor every part of the fun now. If they want to get up at 3, we get up at 3. I mean really, they have been excited about this day for 364 days!!!
Merry Christmas to all, and I hope you too get woken up at the crack of dawn. Have fun.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Counting Down
The countdown is on…
Last week I counted down for Friday, which was my last day from work until Monday the 28th! Now I am off this whole week and I am ecstatic about it. It is Sunday night and oh what a feeling it is to know that I do not have to get up and go to work in the morning.
The kids are counting presents under the tree to see who has the most. I am certainly losing with only one gift under there at this time, however, I am typing on my Christmas present, as I have a brand new laptop. Yippee! (It types so smoothly, I have WiFi that picks up at my house, it has all these cool things…) There are many many gifts under there, and only a few belong to others. I am getting so excited about the gifts that I have chosen for everyone.
Chase is counting down the days before Tuesday, he is expecting a friend to come over. He is planning all the things they are going to do. I am not sure, but I am pretty confident that aggravating Mackenzie is in the plan.
Sheldon and I are counting down the days before Christmas Eve. D2 always takes the kids to see his aunt in Roanoke Rapids. Sheldon and I will have a day to ourselves. We will be busy wrapping, stashing, hiding and giggling preparing for the big night. I will probably be doing a little baking, Santa will have to the perfect snack when he comes by.
The kids are counting down the days before Christmas. I bet they have been to the calendar 10 times just today. I am guessing they think that it might miraculously change from one hour to the next.
I personally am counting down the minutes before bedtime, so these urchins that are sucking the life our of me will be safely tucked away for the evening….
Last week I counted down for Friday, which was my last day from work until Monday the 28th! Now I am off this whole week and I am ecstatic about it. It is Sunday night and oh what a feeling it is to know that I do not have to get up and go to work in the morning.
The kids are counting presents under the tree to see who has the most. I am certainly losing with only one gift under there at this time, however, I am typing on my Christmas present, as I have a brand new laptop. Yippee! (It types so smoothly, I have WiFi that picks up at my house, it has all these cool things…) There are many many gifts under there, and only a few belong to others. I am getting so excited about the gifts that I have chosen for everyone.
Chase is counting down the days before Tuesday, he is expecting a friend to come over. He is planning all the things they are going to do. I am not sure, but I am pretty confident that aggravating Mackenzie is in the plan.
Sheldon and I are counting down the days before Christmas Eve. D2 always takes the kids to see his aunt in Roanoke Rapids. Sheldon and I will have a day to ourselves. We will be busy wrapping, stashing, hiding and giggling preparing for the big night. I will probably be doing a little baking, Santa will have to the perfect snack when he comes by.
The kids are counting down the days before Christmas. I bet they have been to the calendar 10 times just today. I am guessing they think that it might miraculously change from one hour to the next.
I personally am counting down the minutes before bedtime, so these urchins that are sucking the life our of me will be safely tucked away for the evening….
Thursday, December 11, 2008
What We Have Been Up To Lately
It is amazing how fast time goes. I remember hearing my elders saying this while I was a kid. It
made absolutely no since at all. Boy has it clicked now. For example, my last post was on the first of December. It seems like it was the day before yesterday when I wrote that one.
So what's been going on in the Perkins house? It seems like we are busy all the time, so I should be able to remember right? (I also remember my elders taking about when you get old, you forget things...Hmmmmm)
Last Friday, Sheldon and I both had the day off. We took the kids to breakfast, then to school. We had some errands to run, one being at the mall. We found this awesome sale on men's clothes. Sheldon needed some new things since he was to start his new position in Investigation the following Monday. I will not go into great detail about what all we bought, but when I added the regular (not on sale) prices, it was $1140. I paid $239 for them. I was way excited, as was Sheldon. He almost got a new wardrobe, and a brand new very nice suit.
We went to pick up his take home car over the weekend. It is pretty awesome. It is an Impiala, solid black, with black tint. It looks really sharp. He looked and has looked really handsome everyday as he has left in his dress clothes and tie. He is hot.
Tuesday night Mackenzie had a school performance of a Christmas Play. She did not have a part in the play, but she was one of the singers. I looked at all the kids up there with her. Mackenzie seemed to shine to me, because she is so animated. When she is performing she looks so happy. She seems to thrive on the performing arts.
Chase got his interim reports this week, all A's again. I am so proud of his hard work. Tomorrow night there is another school dance. He is excited.
I have been buried in Christmas cards. I think tomorrow I will be able to put them in the mail. That will be such a relief.
We are all on the count down, the kids get out of school on the 19th and that is my last day at work until the week after Christmas. I am so looking forward to the time off. I take a vacation every Summer but we are out of town. I love this vacation time because I am home, with the kids, slow pace, sleep until I wake, no schedule, no rush rush!!! Did I mention we were counting the days down? Well we are!!
made absolutely no since at all. Boy has it clicked now. For example, my last post was on the first of December. It seems like it was the day before yesterday when I wrote that one.
So what's been going on in the Perkins house? It seems like we are busy all the time, so I should be able to remember right? (I also remember my elders taking about when you get old, you forget things...Hmmmmm)
Last Friday, Sheldon and I both had the day off. We took the kids to breakfast, then to school. We had some errands to run, one being at the mall. We found this awesome sale on men's clothes. Sheldon needed some new things since he was to start his new position in Investigation the following Monday. I will not go into great detail about what all we bought, but when I added the regular (not on sale) prices, it was $1140. I paid $239 for them. I was way excited, as was Sheldon. He almost got a new wardrobe, and a brand new very nice suit.
We went to pick up his take home car over the weekend. It is pretty awesome. It is an Impiala, solid black, with black tint. It looks really sharp. He looked and has looked really handsome everyday as he has left in his dress clothes and tie. He is hot.
Tuesday night Mackenzie had a school performance of a Christmas Play. She did not have a part in the play, but she was one of the singers. I looked at all the kids up there with her. Mackenzie seemed to shine to me, because she is so animated. When she is performing she looks so happy. She seems to thrive on the performing arts.
Chase got his interim reports this week, all A's again. I am so proud of his hard work. Tomorrow night there is another school dance. He is excited.
I have been buried in Christmas cards. I think tomorrow I will be able to put them in the mail. That will be such a relief.
We are all on the count down, the kids get out of school on the 19th and that is my last day at work until the week after Christmas. I am so looking forward to the time off. I take a vacation every Summer but we are out of town. I love this vacation time because I am home, with the kids, slow pace, sleep until I wake, no schedule, no rush rush!!! Did I mention we were counting the days down? Well we are!!
Monday, December 1, 2008
Excitement Starts to Build
Thanksgiving was great here in the Perkins house. We had lots and lots of food. And then lots more. The menu began with a few items, then somehow I cooked this and that, and a little bit of this...it really was out of hand.
We had: Turkey, Ham, Deviled Eggs, Potato Salad, Macaroni and Cheese, Lima Beans, Corn, Turnip Greens, Sweet Potato Casserole, Dressing, Gravy, Squash, Rolls, Peanut Butter Pie, Chocolate Pie, Pumpkin Mousse Pie, and Rice Crispy Treats for the kids.
All this food for...ready? It was for 5 adults, 3 kids. Sheldon was at work, but I did take some food to him and his guys at the Police Department. Can I just say...left overs for days. I am tired of left overs. We had Spaghetti yesterday at D2's for supper. That was the best spaghetti ever, what a different taste than 3 day old turkey.
I shopped all day on Friday. When I say all day, I mean that I left home at 3am, and I returned home at 4pm. I loved it. I love the crowds, I love the fight of the last one, I love getting up and standing in a line at a store that I don't even need anything from, I love spending the day with my sister in law and my niece. I just love it.
I put my tree up on Saturday. This has to be the earliest I have done this in many years. My kids are driving me crazy. I think I liked it better when they could not read the names on the gifts. I put 4 gifts under the tree that have their names on them, Lord Jesus, they have begged and begged to open them now.
I do like the fact that now that we are decorated, it has sparked the excitement of Christmas with them. They are planning where they will sleep Christmas night, they cannot seem to understand why I will not let them sleep on the couch by the tree...(it is hard enough sneaking the gifts in as it is) They are asking what I told Santa to get them, they are revising their list, it is just fun. I like being the mommy and hearing all these excited questions, and remember asking the same things.
I am pretty certain that Chase knows there is no Santa, but he is doing a really good job of playing along. Mac still whole heatedly believes, however, as smart as she is, I would guess this could be our last Christmas with her believing. This makes me sad, but I guess that is just the way it works.
The joy in the kids eyes has to be my favorite part of Christmas!!!
We had: Turkey, Ham, Deviled Eggs, Potato Salad, Macaroni and Cheese, Lima Beans, Corn, Turnip Greens, Sweet Potato Casserole, Dressing, Gravy, Squash, Rolls, Peanut Butter Pie, Chocolate Pie, Pumpkin Mousse Pie, and Rice Crispy Treats for the kids.
All this food for...ready? It was for 5 adults, 3 kids. Sheldon was at work, but I did take some food to him and his guys at the Police Department. Can I just say...left overs for days. I am tired of left overs. We had Spaghetti yesterday at D2's for supper. That was the best spaghetti ever, what a different taste than 3 day old turkey.
I shopped all day on Friday. When I say all day, I mean that I left home at 3am, and I returned home at 4pm. I loved it. I love the crowds, I love the fight of the last one, I love getting up and standing in a line at a store that I don't even need anything from, I love spending the day with my sister in law and my niece. I just love it.
I put my tree up on Saturday. This has to be the earliest I have done this in many years. My kids are driving me crazy. I think I liked it better when they could not read the names on the gifts. I put 4 gifts under the tree that have their names on them, Lord Jesus, they have begged and begged to open them now.
I do like the fact that now that we are decorated, it has sparked the excitement of Christmas with them. They are planning where they will sleep Christmas night, they cannot seem to understand why I will not let them sleep on the couch by the tree...(it is hard enough sneaking the gifts in as it is) They are asking what I told Santa to get them, they are revising their list, it is just fun. I like being the mommy and hearing all these excited questions, and remember asking the same things.
I am pretty certain that Chase knows there is no Santa, but he is doing a really good job of playing along. Mac still whole heatedly believes, however, as smart as she is, I would guess this could be our last Christmas with her believing. This makes me sad, but I guess that is just the way it works.
The joy in the kids eyes has to be my favorite part of Christmas!!!
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Is it Time Yet, Is It, Huh, Huh...Is It
Mac and I are going with some dear friends to see Annie tomorrow...I mean today...why am I awake at this time?? Jeez. (I am actually waiting on Sheldon to come home from work)
Mac has never seen a play like this. She has been to our local high school for plays, but that is the extent to it. Annie on Broadway is going to be so cool for her. I hope she likes it as much as I think she is going to.
Annie...many many many years ago, I remember watching this movie with my mom. I absolutely loved it. I am probably more excited to see it than she is, just because I know how big it will be. She has no concept.
Lucky and I got haircuts today. (Lucky is our toy poodle) Is it strange to anyone but me that I paid more for his haircut than I did my own??? I guess I did not get my nails clipped, a bath, and a cut...okay, I will stop complaining now that I think of it that way. Poor dog. He had gotten pretty fuzzy. Now that he is cut, he is cold. He has buried himself under the fleece pj's at the bottom of my bed. And he is less that half the size he was when I took him there. For the first few days, he sort of looks like a rat. I am sure he is cussing me out every time he has to go outside. It doesn't help that our temps here are way below normal. Today was only in the 30's. I don't think we really see this until December or January. It is down right cold.
Since I got about 2-3 inches cut off my hair, I imagine my neck will feel the cold as well. But I really like the cut, so it is worth it.
He has also been sleeping since he got home. There was a man there that I have never seen before, he told me he had whined all day. He said he had to hold him. So, yes, he is spoiled rotten, thanks to Mackenzie. He is sort of like a baby. She holds him so much, carries him around on her hip like he is a baby, she is constantly patting him and making over him. Now I guess he expects that from others now.
I started the whole cleaning up for company today. I will be cooking Thanksgiving dinner again this year. I really enjoy it. My whole family will be coming. I will do all but the ham, D2 does the ham. Sheldon has to work, which is a bummer, but I cannot complain since he worked it out to be off so that I can go shopping on Black Friday. He knows how important that is for me. Get out of my way, here I come!!! I love it. The crowds, the grouchy women, getting up in the wee hours of the morning and driving to my first destination...I absolutely love it.
I want to put my tree up early this year too. I am always late getting it up, but I would love to do that the Saturday after Thanksgiving, which means I have to get up in the attic at D2's and drag it all out. That is the worst part.
Okay, so I have went on and on about really nothing at all, so I will stop here. Sheldon text'd me about 30 minutes ago, so he should be pulling in the driveway soon. I should pretend to be sleeping so he does not fuss with me about not getting sleep. He worries when I don't sleep, or maybe he is just scared of the sleep deprived Michelle....either way, gotta go.
Mac has never seen a play like this. She has been to our local high school for plays, but that is the extent to it. Annie on Broadway is going to be so cool for her. I hope she likes it as much as I think she is going to.
Annie...many many many years ago, I remember watching this movie with my mom. I absolutely loved it. I am probably more excited to see it than she is, just because I know how big it will be. She has no concept.
Lucky and I got haircuts today. (Lucky is our toy poodle) Is it strange to anyone but me that I paid more for his haircut than I did my own??? I guess I did not get my nails clipped, a bath, and a cut...okay, I will stop complaining now that I think of it that way. Poor dog. He had gotten pretty fuzzy. Now that he is cut, he is cold. He has buried himself under the fleece pj's at the bottom of my bed. And he is less that half the size he was when I took him there. For the first few days, he sort of looks like a rat. I am sure he is cussing me out every time he has to go outside. It doesn't help that our temps here are way below normal. Today was only in the 30's. I don't think we really see this until December or January. It is down right cold.
Since I got about 2-3 inches cut off my hair, I imagine my neck will feel the cold as well. But I really like the cut, so it is worth it.
He has also been sleeping since he got home. There was a man there that I have never seen before, he told me he had whined all day. He said he had to hold him. So, yes, he is spoiled rotten, thanks to Mackenzie. He is sort of like a baby. She holds him so much, carries him around on her hip like he is a baby, she is constantly patting him and making over him. Now I guess he expects that from others now.
I started the whole cleaning up for company today. I will be cooking Thanksgiving dinner again this year. I really enjoy it. My whole family will be coming. I will do all but the ham, D2 does the ham. Sheldon has to work, which is a bummer, but I cannot complain since he worked it out to be off so that I can go shopping on Black Friday. He knows how important that is for me. Get out of my way, here I come!!! I love it. The crowds, the grouchy women, getting up in the wee hours of the morning and driving to my first destination...I absolutely love it.
I want to put my tree up early this year too. I am always late getting it up, but I would love to do that the Saturday after Thanksgiving, which means I have to get up in the attic at D2's and drag it all out. That is the worst part.
Okay, so I have went on and on about really nothing at all, so I will stop here. Sheldon text'd me about 30 minutes ago, so he should be pulling in the driveway soon. I should pretend to be sleeping so he does not fuss with me about not getting sleep. He worries when I don't sleep, or maybe he is just scared of the sleep deprived Michelle....either way, gotta go.
Friday, November 21, 2008
News at the Perkins House
Hi Readers!!! It has been a busy week. Well, now that I think about it, not so busy, just a little stressed.
My work has been a bit busy this week, probably because I had to be at a meeting on Monday morning, preventing me to getting to my office until close to 11:00am. Then on Wednesday we had training for our new computer system. I will not even get on that subject, I have enough praying to do for all the ugly words I said Wednesday afternoon and yesterday morning, trying to work with it.
Sheldon and I have had a lot of heart to heart talks this week. I life is about to change once again...(and for all of you that are on the edge of your seat wondering if that means we are going to have another baby...HA HA). Sheldon was approached and asked to consider a new job. He was asked on Tuesday mid-day, and was asked to give his decision on Wednesday. We did not sleep any on Tuesday night.
Sheldon accepted the job. He will now be over the Juvenile Crime Investigations at the DPD. It will be a tough job and has some pretty hard jobs he will have to carry out. I have no doubt he can handle it, but I, and he knows that there will be times that it will be very emotional days.
Everyday he makes me proud. He has really worked his way up in the police department. It is a big deal when you are approached for a job as big as this.
The job has its perks as well. He will stop the rotation schedule, and go back to the 9-5 (even though it is more like 9-6/7pm, for a while at least. He should be home every weekend, unless there is a case that evolves that he would need to be there. The other perk is he will have a take home car, which will certainly help with our gas expenses. He will not have to be in uniform everyday, instead he will be all dressed up, looking very handsome if I say so myself.
Well, that is a quick catch up, I am sure I will think of more and will be back here this weekend.
Happy Friday.
My work has been a bit busy this week, probably because I had to be at a meeting on Monday morning, preventing me to getting to my office until close to 11:00am. Then on Wednesday we had training for our new computer system. I will not even get on that subject, I have enough praying to do for all the ugly words I said Wednesday afternoon and yesterday morning, trying to work with it.
Sheldon and I have had a lot of heart to heart talks this week. I life is about to change once again...(and for all of you that are on the edge of your seat wondering if that means we are going to have another baby...HA HA). Sheldon was approached and asked to consider a new job. He was asked on Tuesday mid-day, and was asked to give his decision on Wednesday. We did not sleep any on Tuesday night.
Sheldon accepted the job. He will now be over the Juvenile Crime Investigations at the DPD. It will be a tough job and has some pretty hard jobs he will have to carry out. I have no doubt he can handle it, but I, and he knows that there will be times that it will be very emotional days.
Everyday he makes me proud. He has really worked his way up in the police department. It is a big deal when you are approached for a job as big as this.
The job has its perks as well. He will stop the rotation schedule, and go back to the 9-5 (even though it is more like 9-6/7pm, for a while at least. He should be home every weekend, unless there is a case that evolves that he would need to be there. The other perk is he will have a take home car, which will certainly help with our gas expenses. He will not have to be in uniform everyday, instead he will be all dressed up, looking very handsome if I say so myself.
Well, that is a quick catch up, I am sure I will think of more and will be back here this weekend.
Happy Friday.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
My Kids Rock
I will start this blog out saying that Sheldon passed the state exam for Instructor School on Friday. Not only did he pass, he had the highest score in the class. I am so proud of him. It was two weeks of intense studying, preparing lesson plans, and presentations. It was quite exhausting for all of us, but mostly him.
Next, I had the honor of attending award ceremonies for both kids. Thursday morning, Mackenzie had the Character Trait awards. Her ceremony wasn’t until 9:30, so she talked me into coming in and sitting in her class for about a half hour. Her teacher is amazing, I knew this before, but watching her interact and teach the children was pretty outstanding. She has so much patience.
I moved on to the gym close to 9:30 to find my seat. Eventually the kids started to file in class by class. Mackenzie seemed to be beaming. She looked so cute wearing her To the Pointe (dance) polo shirt and her little khakis. Mac received the “Responsibility Award.”
Each nine weeks there is a ceremony where certain kids get a character award, such as Responsibility, Courage, Preservation, Self Control, etc. The kids get a nice metal that is on a ribbon necklace. They look sort of like the awards that Olympian’s get upon winning. I was proud, and I took bunches of pictures, as I always do.
Friday morning, at 7:30am, Chase was invited to an A Honor Roll breakfast. It was really nice. I got to eat school sausage…been awhile since I had that, and little cartons of slushy juice. (The juice should not have ice in it, but for some reason it always had.)
We sat at a table with his best friend and his parents, shortly after we sat down, one more of Chase’s friends joined us. The principal called each child’s name out and gave them a very nice certificate. Of course these kids are getting to the “I am too cool” stage. They walked up, took the certificate, walked back to their seats and basically dropped it on the table in front of their parent. Chase was no different. Nonetheless, It was an honor to be there. I also noticed how many/few kids were in there, realizing that it was a lot, but not really when you think of the amount of students there. I was even more proud to know that Chase had earned his way to this very special breakfast.
You know, I don’t care what anyone says, my kids rock!
Next, I had the honor of attending award ceremonies for both kids. Thursday morning, Mackenzie had the Character Trait awards. Her ceremony wasn’t until 9:30, so she talked me into coming in and sitting in her class for about a half hour. Her teacher is amazing, I knew this before, but watching her interact and teach the children was pretty outstanding. She has so much patience.
I moved on to the gym close to 9:30 to find my seat. Eventually the kids started to file in class by class. Mackenzie seemed to be beaming. She looked so cute wearing her To the Pointe (dance) polo shirt and her little khakis. Mac received the “Responsibility Award.”
Each nine weeks there is a ceremony where certain kids get a character award, such as Responsibility, Courage, Preservation, Self Control, etc. The kids get a nice metal that is on a ribbon necklace. They look sort of like the awards that Olympian’s get upon winning. I was proud, and I took bunches of pictures, as I always do.
Friday morning, at 7:30am, Chase was invited to an A Honor Roll breakfast. It was really nice. I got to eat school sausage…been awhile since I had that, and little cartons of slushy juice. (The juice should not have ice in it, but for some reason it always had.)
We sat at a table with his best friend and his parents, shortly after we sat down, one more of Chase’s friends joined us. The principal called each child’s name out and gave them a very nice certificate. Of course these kids are getting to the “I am too cool” stage. They walked up, took the certificate, walked back to their seats and basically dropped it on the table in front of their parent. Chase was no different. Nonetheless, It was an honor to be there. I also noticed how many/few kids were in there, realizing that it was a lot, but not really when you think of the amount of students there. I was even more proud to know that Chase had earned his way to this very special breakfast.
You know, I don’t care what anyone says, my kids rock!
Friday, November 7, 2008
Report Card Time
The kids got their report cards this past week. They are both doing really good. Mac's teacher told me that she was a little teacher in the classroom. I wasn't sure if this was a good thing or a bad thing. She assured me that Mac was a big helper and she loved her being in the class. Mac's academics are right on track. She had a few areas that were a little week, however her teacher said that most of the kids were weak in these areas, since 2nd grade reading and writing are SO different than 3rd grade. Very good Mac. We are proud of her.
I got Chase's report card this morning. Not that his was any better than hers, it is just with all the issues we had at the beginning and the previous concerns we have had with his reading, seeing his report card filled with grades starting at 93 and going up...I was reduced to tears. He has been working so hard, and it paid off for him. I feel like this will be a huge boost in his confidence. He is proud of himself.
His grades: Literature Arts--98, Math--96, Science--94, Social Studies--96.
Wow is all I can say.
I got Chase's report card this morning. Not that his was any better than hers, it is just with all the issues we had at the beginning and the previous concerns we have had with his reading, seeing his report card filled with grades starting at 93 and going up...I was reduced to tears. He has been working so hard, and it paid off for him. I feel like this will be a huge boost in his confidence. He is proud of himself.
His grades: Literature Arts--98, Math--96, Science--94, Social Studies--96.
Wow is all I can say.
Monday, November 3, 2008
A Very Special Moment
This weekend was pretty good. The kids had a great time trick or treating. Later I will have to blog about Chase’s adventure. It is quite comical.
The purpose of this blog is to share a very special moment I had this weekend. You see, my Mother was a master at cleaning, (wish I would have gotten that gene). I decided that I was going to do one of those cleanings in my office area that consist of making a bigger mess than it was originally, then getting everything organized. After about 4 hours of “this” cleaning, things were starting to look much better, I had a very strong thought of my Mom. I remembered how she would come help me do cleanings like this, and how in the beginning of these projects I would get so overwhelmed. I mean, really? I had asked her to come help me because is was such a mess and she was making a bigger mess. But in the end, my house would be so organized and beautiful. So, here I was, everything everywhere. Everywhere. So when things started falling in place, I felt such a sense of pride, and also, I knew that Mom would be proud of me.
An hour or so later, I had one last thing to put away. I said to myself, put that folder in that cabinet, and you are done.
There is a picture of my mom that I took before she was sick. It is my favorite picture, there isn’t another picture that I like any better. I like this picture so much, I have one in my living room on a table, I have one on another wall somewhere else in our house, and I have one in my room on a dresser mirror. I also have one at my office that I look at numerous times a day. This picture was also the picture that sat on top of my Mom’s closed casket. So many people commented on it. Half of those people ask for copies of it. Which, selfishly, no one got a copy. This was my happy memory, just mine. Selfishly mine.
Sometime shortly after her death, I lost the negative. This was extremely traumatic for me. I looked everywhere, many, many, many times. I never found it. I found some other negatives that were taken on the same day, but not “the” negative. I looked in every envelope with no luck.
Back to my story, my last task, I am about 1 inch away from the trash bag with an envelope that was in my hand. I opened the envelope, put my hand in it. There was a negative. I put it up to the light, it wasn’t it. It was the one that I had found so many other times, and found it lonely in its envelope. This negative had pictures taken the same day...but...once again, for some reason, I checked the already checked 137th time envelope, and yes, the negative was there. I cried.
I could not think of anything else to do but look up toward heaven and thank my Mom. She gave me a prize cause I was a good little girl and I had cleaned up like she would have.
***By the way, that is my Mom with my daughter, Mac was about 18 months to 2 years old.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Awww...Oh Well, Never Mind
Conversation with Chase this afternoon:
Chase: Hey Mom
Me: Hey Buddy
Chase: How was your day Mommy?
Me: Ok…Yours?
Chase: Good…Mommy, What’s for supper?
I knew the sweetness was a trap!
Chase: Hey Mom
Me: Hey Buddy
Chase: How was your day Mommy?
Me: Ok…Yours?
Chase: Good…Mommy, What’s for supper?
I knew the sweetness was a trap!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)