Vehicle shopping

Starting Monday, my husband and I will be vehicle shopping. We've been talking about this for over 18 months now, and little things have started happening to remind us that it's really time. Our van has been very, very good to us, but it's a 2001 and has over 124,000 miles. Little things have started happening to remind us that it's time to vehicle shop. About a month ago, I was at church and the van didn't want to start when I was leaving. The battery is less than 2 years old, but it was the first really cold morning of the year and I think that had something to do with it. It ended up starting on its own after a few minutes. Just over a week ago, the horn stopped beeping when we lock the doors. Again, not a terribly big deal, but I do like the "warm fuzzy" of the horn beeping so that I know that the van is locked. And Tuesday when my husband and I were going to meet up with some friends, the power steering stopped working, just for a couple of minutes. Oh, and the passenger window goes down now, at least most of the time. I've been keeping my eye open for used vehicles, and frankly, it's just discouraging. We bought our current van used in 2005. It had less than 30,000 miles on it and we paid $11,000. Now, used vehicle prices have absolutely soared. I'm not crazy about the thought of another mini-van, but because of having three kids and taking frequent trips, we need to have a vehicle where I don't have to have a carrier for the top...it's just not a practical option. I'm finding that larger SUV's that fit the bill are way, way out of our price range. My husband and I both agree that a car payment is not an option for our budget. We will pay cash and that will be what we can afford. So, we are in the market for a low mileage mini-van. We should be able to find one with less than 40,000 miles on it for less than $20,000. I'll be honest though, it's hard to get excited about going out and looking, and especially about spending that amount of money, for a vehicle that I don't really want!

Not exactly relaxing

It's been a very nice break, but not at all relaxing. And I am not one bit pleased that the kids have to go back to school on the 2nd. I can't believe the district isn't waiting until Tuesday! My husband's district was supposed to be moving into their new high school over this break, but that isn't happening. He doesn't see his students again until the 17th...hard to believe! I'm sure we'll enjoy our time together, but that's going to be a lot of time together without the kids.

Anyway, I think partly because it's been rather short, the break hasn't been relaxing. Not stressful necessarily, just very, very busy. The kids first day off I attended a funeral for a friend's mother. I hadn't planned to spend the day not being able to clean my house and get things ready for the holiday, but of course there was no where else I would have been. And I also got to visit with one of my best friends who came down from Chicago to be there. The next day my husband was also off, and we continued cleaning the house, but most importantly we went to the grocery to prepare for our big feast. My mother had used a gift card to purchase the turkey breast we were having, and I also had to drive the 40 minutes to get it from her. Christmas Eve we managed to sleep in and attended mass at 7:00 in the evening. Unfortunately Father wasn't even there at 7:00 in order to get started. It was nearly 9:00 by the time we were home, and our Christmas Eve tradition is to give the kids new jammies as their gift from us. We also read "Twas the Night Before Christmas" and it was 9:30 before everyone was in bed. My husband and I were up until Midnight doing some more cleaning and of course being Santa. The kids were up and at 'em at 7:30 Christmas morning, and everyone was very, very pleased with their gifts. We enjoyed some cinnamon rolls for breakfast and then I began the process of organizing our gifts and continuing to clean the house while my husband began cooking our dinner. We had a wonderful Christmas evening with my parents, sister, grandmother and aunt. My father's favorite gift was a photo book I'd made for him of him and the kids fishing the very last time we were all able to spend the day at the lake. It was nearly 8:00 before everyone left that evening, and I still had to get everyone packed and things ready to hit the road for my in-laws the next day. We were able to do lots of visiting with friends while we were there as well, and hit the road for home just in time to meet up back here with our friends who had moved west 18 months ago before they left the next day. Yesterday I spent the day cleaning and organizing (not to mention unpacking) because we were supposed to host our local friends for New Year's eve eve. I was fine until late afternoon, when my body just began screaming "yuck!", and that's pretty much where my body stayed for the rest of the evening. We had to cancel our plans and I spent the evening medicated and in bed. I feel better this morning, although I have some concerns about our plans for the evening. I guess we'll just see what the day brings. Through it all, the kids have been enjoying late bedtimes, and of course have been enjoying all of the wonderful gifts (and lots and lots of attention) from all of their loved ones. It's so hard to believe how quickly they are growing...in just six years JR will be finishing up high school. It just doesn't seem possible!

Happy New Year everyone...may you all be blessed with much happiness and good health!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all! It's been a very nice morning in our house. Santa was good to the kids, and there were even gifts that they hadn't realized they wanted. We are trying to organize and get ready for the next "wave", which will arrive sometime after lunch. My parents, sister, and grandmother will arrive for Christmas dinner this evening. Tomorrow we are headed to PA for our Christmas there. But this morning, we are just enjoying the magic of Santa, and are grateful for the REAL reason of the season!

Santa is not happy

I can pretty much guarantee that Santa Claus is not pleased with the behavior that has been happening in this house. HT has decided that rules don't apply to him. In fact, if you ask him, "Do rules apply to you?" his answer will be no. He has been smuggling toys to school when he has been explicitly told that he isn't allowed to take them to school. If I don't inspect his back pack right before he walks out the door, he'll manage to smuggle them along. We are at our wits end with this, as is his teacher. He's also become quite good at back talking to me and yelling at me. AGH!!!! JC has also been difficult. Yesterday she decided to spit on her brother, basically because she felt like it, and of course he decided to spit back at her and then arms/hands began flailing in attempts to hit each other, and it's just ridiculous. We also learned yesterday that JC attempted to cheat on her science test. She said that she didn't understand the question and was looking over her notes to see if she could relate it to anything. We believe this, because she is having a great deal of difficulty in school understanding questions and concepts that aren't stated EXACTLY the way that she first learned it. For instance, she can give me a correct answer orally, but is unable to write an answer that makes any sense. She is also unable to choose a correct multiple choice answer because it isn't worded EXACTLY how she is looking for it to be. She's frustrated, and we are hoping that something can be worked into her IEP to help her with test taking. Her science teacher was extremely generous and allowed her to start over on the test after the notes had been confiscated. My husband is tired of coming home to tears and an angry mom over the behavior of (mostly) the youngest two. And the fact that Santa is supposed to be coming this weekend doesn't seem to be making any difference at all. Hopefully they'll get back on the nice list in the next three days!

A long short week

I can already tell it's going to be a fairly long week, even though it's only a three day school week. JC and HT both fell asleep in the van on the way home from my Grandmother's last evening, and they aren't exactly getting along this morning. It really drives me crazy when we have a morning like this one, and I don't frankly see the next two getting any better. The kids are ready to be done, but it just isn't quite time yet.

On the upside, we had a wonderful Christmas celebration with my dad's family yesterday. Everyone was able to be there, and that really meant a lot. We took a picture of all seven great-grandkids who used to fit so easily on the couch, but not so anymore. The oldest is driving, and my youngest, the "baby" is almost 8. I love that we all got to be together!

It's beginning today

Today is our very first Christmas celebration of the year. The kids have been looking forward to this ever since my grandmother mentioned at Thanksgiving that we'd all be together again in just over three weeks. The kids are definitely excited, and we are all looking forward to seeing cousins we haven't seen since July (and in some cases, since last January)! There is a chance that one cousin has a hockey game today. It was going to to depend upon whether they won or lost yesterday and I don't know how they did. Even if they do play, they'll be there later in the day. I'm so grateful, so very grateful, that we get together like this and that my kids get to know family. I hope we always have this!

It's going quickly

It's really hard to believe how quickly the time is going. We are already half way through December, and there are only just a little over 2 weeks left in 2011. Honestly, it feels like it was just a month ago that it was starting to feel like spring and baseball practices were beginning. JR is starting to realize the quick passage of time as well. It's one of the many indications that he is growing up. The kids are getting excited about counting down to Santa Claus. JR still plays along, and although we've never had a discussion about it, I very much doubt that he still believes. JC asked me about it while we were out shopping Saturday. She said that EVERYONE in her class says it's their parents and there is no Santa. She said to me that she was SURE it wasn't us, because Santa gives toys and we only buy them what they need, not fun things like toys. I had to chuckle to myself...it's not all bad that she has that perspective! HT is certainly not behaving as though he believes in Santa. In fact, on Tuesday I had contact regarding inappropriate behavior from a teacher of each child. I was NOT pleased. Some privileges have been lost and bedtimes are a little earlier in an attempt to help each one make better decisions. Overall though, things are moving along smoothly (and quickly!) in these last few days of the year.

End of the week

We've made it through another week. Monday and Wednesday each had a child home sick, and I worked the other three days. My wonderful husband had another over night conference last night. On the up side, we are in really good shape as far as our Christmas shopping and prep. We are hosting again this year, and I'm really torn between turning our house into a Christmas showcase, and being practical with both our finances and our time. Tomorrow evening we are headed to a Christmas party, and then my wonderful husband leaves again on Sunday morning for another conference until Tuesday evening. We are having a very pleasant family evening tonight. We've made frozen pizza for the kids for dinner, and salads for us. We've lit candles, and we'll be watching Frosty the Snowman on CBS shortly. I'm so grateful for wonderful evenings like this!!!

Decisions for our family

I do not always make popular decisions. By that, I mean I do not always make decisions that are popular in my home (fact of life), that are popular by the students I'm teaching on a particular day (usually means I've done a good job), or even that are considered common by our culture. While I don't necessarily dislike something just for the sake of disliking it because it's popular, I also don't happen to go along with something just because it's the popular or current line of thinking. As far as I can remember, I've always been this way, and I know without a doubt, that I get this from my mother. I can remember shopping for clothes as a child, probably about the age that JC is now. In the 1980's Jordache jeans were all the rage and "everyone" was wearing them. I can vividly remember standing at Lazarus (today would be Macy's) and my mother informing me that there was absolutely no reason to pay that price for a pair of Jordache jeans when another pair could be purchased for half the price. The quality was the same, the extra $$$ was just for the label. I suspect (although I don't remember) that I was disappointed, but I do remember that it really made perfect sense to me. I don't remember asking for certain brands of anything, at least until I got to high school and "had" to have certain shoes. I also remember my mother telling me that she would pay a certain amount for shoes/clothes/etc, and I would pay the difference if I wanted a certain brand. At this point my kids are not into the "have-to-have" brands, although I'm sure it won't be long before JC and JR start to notice such things. My answer to them will probably be the same as my mother's answer to me...it really makes one decide if one really needs that brand or if there is some other preferred way to spend the money. Now as an adult, we have a wii, but no xbox or any other gaming system (we know of a family that has at least three separate gaming systems...seriously??!!) and my children do not have cell phones or email accounts, nor are they on any social sites. We might be the meanest parents ever! However, not only do I think there are better ways to spend money than purchasing expensive video systems and other electronics, but I also feel that my children get plenty of screen time with their hand held video games and the little amount of television they are allowed to watch. Do I worry that my children are missing out? ABSOLUTELY NOT! Instead they find the time to read a book or go outside, or any number of other things that require imagination, creativity, and other important things.

This lack of "popular" decisions extends beyond material things, but also to how we choose to spend our time. We have very close friends who never deprive their children of any opportunity. They could have every inch of every square full on their calendar, but if another activity was requested, they would figure out a way to work it in. I understand that is how they choose to spend their time and I respect that. That, however, is not how our family functions. For instance, our week is a little busy. I was gone Monday evening, and last evening my husband had a meeting after school, then was home long enough to change clothes before taking HT to (and coaching) basketball practice. Tomorrow he leaves for Columbus and won't be home until Friday evening. Saturday we have plans to attend a holiday party and have a sitter lined up, then he's back to Columbus Sunday morning until Tuesday evening, when he'll rush home for basketball practice again. Tonight and next Wednesday are UD games for which he has tickets, and next Thursday we have an orthodontist appointment after school before we attend HT's Christmas show in the evening. My husband decided to skip the UD tonight in order to be home with us before he leaves. This Friday, HT's scouts have their annual Christmas dinner. We've gone in past years, but my husband and I discussed it last night and decided to stay home this year. We decided that instead, we wanted to be able to spend some time as a family, just the five of us, and are planning to watch Frosty the Snowman on CBS together. We are excited about this, and so are the kids. Our friends asked if they would be seeing us at the scout dinner, and we explained that we were choosing to spend the evening as a family. Our friends were absolutely aghast! They pointed out that we would be together as a family at the dinner. We explained that we wanted to spend time with just our family, and that since all of the kids have been sick we thought it best to have a quiet, quality evening at home. They then offered, since HT had been sick last week not this week, and apparently they felt as though we were depriving him, if we wanted us to pick him up and take him with them. This happens quite a bit. I politely explained that would defeat the purpose of a quiet family evening, and thanked them for their offer. I know that my kids are far from perfect, but I also know that they are wonderful, and only young for a little while. I want them to look back and not have memories of running from activity to activity, always being in a car, or of having a stressed mom & dad who are trying to fit it all in (not to mention worrying about how to pay for it all). I have wonderful childhood memories of evenings together as a family, and that is what I want for my kids. I love watching them laugh, and I love sharing a movie together, or even better, a board game. I realize that our decisions may not be popular, and these days they aren't common, but they are what we feel is best for our family.

Another classic

Last evening I was sitting on my computer doing something (probably nothing important, to be honest) and right behind me sitting at a table were my husband, JC, and HT. My husband had brought home a couple of bags of apples from the FFA sale at his school, and HT was excited. My husband was happy to cut him an apple, and then they were all just sitting around the table chatting happily. The following (soon to be a classic!) conversation occurred:

JC: An apple a day keeps the doctor away!

HT: That's what Benjamin Franklin said right after he was shot.

Before I could jump in to correct this, JC added: All the presidents except Barack Oboomba (yep, that's how she pronounced it) are dead.

At this point, I could sit still no longer, and jumped off the couch, hands waving, exclaiming, "Stop! Stop!" The kids stared at me while I added, "First of all, our President's name is Barack Obama, not Oboomba. Secondly, not all of the former Presidents are dead, and lastly, Benjamin Franklin was never a President nor was he shot to death."

Where do they come up with these things? They do provide us so much entertainment! My husband and I still wondering about JC's fascination with famous dead people...she's really too much!

And now it's complete

I noticed it Sunday afternoon...JR seemed to have a bit of a cough. He also mentioned that his chest hurt a bit when he breathed. I was pretty sure that meant he was going to be the third victim of bronchitis in our house, and it now seems as though I'm right. After school today he mentioned that he was really cold. That is exactly what JC told me Friday night. I took his temp and it was 99.6. Not enough to be overly worried, but enough to know where we were going with this. He ate his dinner, and then took a hot shower. He had a warm cup of tea and then sat wrapped up in a blanket. I gave him some nighttime cough medicine, and he went back to being wrapped up in the blanket. I was just getting ready to send him off to bed, and he was burning up. Took his temp, and it had spiked to 102. Yuck, yuck, and yuck! Back to the doctor we'll go again tomorrow! Although the timing isn't the best, I would much prefer it now as opposed to a few weeks from now!

Christmas cards

I have my cards ready to send out, and some have already gone out. I've received a few in the mail, and it's one of the best parts of my day! I especially enjoy seeing pictures of friends and family I may not get to see very often. I'm almost amused though, by the effort (or not so much) that goes into Christmas cards. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate receiving them no matter what kind of card they are. However, mine are all hand signed and hand addressed. I still send pictures of the kids to family, but I still send an actual hand signed card, and I still address the envelope by hand. In a few I might even write a short note if it's someone I haven't seen in a few years. It takes a while, but it's something I enjoy, and I like the fact that as I sign each card and, especially as I address it, I specifically think of each person or family. Most of the ones that I've received are photo cards, and I do love them. But the person who sent them didn't have to take the time to sign them, and about 75% of the envelopes have labels. As I said, I truly, truly appreciate receiving them, but it will be a long time before I let go of my rather old fashioned, handwritten ways!

Now it's her turn

I'm home with JC today. She has been running a fever in the evenings. It's been odd...it's only a few hours each evening, and ibuprofin does wonders! Each morning she wakes up feeling pretty good, but having very little energy. The doctor decided that since she has a cold and HT just got over bronchitis, combined with the time of year and everything going around, he wanted to go ahead and put her on antibiotics. I was hesitant because I don't like to over medicate, but I do know it's probably for the best. I think having sick kids, even kids who are truly HEALTHY but just aren't feeling well, is one of the worst feelings in the world. As a parent, I know how I feel and I know it's going to be better. With my kids, I always worry that it's something worse, something serious, and that is the most terrifying feeling in the world. Hopefully another day of rest and another good night sleep, and she'll be fever free and back to school tomorrow!

Home Alone

HT has finally gone back to school today. He missed four consecutive days, all the way back to last Tuesday. Last Monday I didn't work but we were out the door before school started to get JR to an orthodontist appointment. The week before that I worked every day, so the last day I had a relaxing morning at home was November 10 (I worked the 11th as well). I'll be honest, I am so enjoying the peace and quiet, and knowing that I have almost 7 full hours all to myself! At the same time, I really enjoyed having HT around the last couple of days. It absolutely broke my heart to leave him Tuesday morning to go to school, even though I know he was in good hands with my husband. But "Dad" isn't "Mom", and since he was still pretty sick that morning I really hated leaving him. The good news is that the 15+ hours that he slept Monday night helped him to have a pretty good day Tuesday, and yesterday was even better. I regret that I had to turn down a sub job yesterday, but I don't regret one bit that it was to stay home with my little guy. And although I would've been happy to go in today, I'm also not complaining that I'm home alone!