Determined - Update

How do you react when someone tells you that you’re probably not going to finish what you set out to do?

They doubt your ability.

Yet they want you to succeed but you might be racing against time. They just don’t want you to fail.

Well, our daughter is on a mission. She's out to prove her teacher wrong. My bet is on her. The end of the marking period is this Friday, January 20. Last Friday, Olivia turned in her book, took her test and checked-out another book. It has 400+ pages and the teacher, more out of concern, suggested she check out another book so she would be able to read it and take the test before Friday. Before the end of the marking period so it would show on her report. Well, Olivia said NO. And then the challenge was heard, as the teacher said, “You won’t be able to finish that book before Friday”.

Our scholar did nothing almost all weekend. She sat around. She read. And read. It was quiet. Her brother was at a birthday party Saturday afternoon. I was gone as well. Elliott would be gone until Sunday as he was invited (by the same family) to spend the night again, with the birthday boy, and some other friends. I planned some girl time. Just Olivia and I. John would be on his own. Only, it didn’t happen. I was asked to read with her.

She was seen lying in her bed.

Sitting in her chair.

Sitting on the couch.

Sitting in front of the fire.

Reclining with the dog draped over her.


All this with her book open and reading.

When she spoke, we heard,” What chapter do you think I am on?"

or "What page do you think I am on?”

Hour after hour, page after page, she read. She did go on a shopping trip with her dad but I think she would have stayed home to read, if I had been home.

Yesterday they did not have school in recognition of Martin Luther King, Jr. I packed their snow clothes, a few DVD’s and their DS games. She packed her book! She did read some but other activities kept her from her book. She had a good day. She read last night.

My bet is she’ll probably ask me tonight “what did I do today?” And I’ll have to answer – finish your book! We’ll see. We’ll see.

She finished the book WEDNESDAY and is already reading another book!

Snow Fun

It snowed!
The kids were so excited they couldn't get dressed fast enough! John helped them get the sleds out of the shed and they practically ran up the hill...all the way to the top!


Ready, set, go... Wait, it looks like they are aiming for me...







After the first outing, and having to fight the dog (he just wants to play), I gave Ruddie an old glove. It worked, he let the kids sled while he ran around. Everyone was happy!


Cold nose and toes. Time to head inside for hot cocoa and marshmallows!





Snow fun - we love it!

Sleepovers & Strings

Saturday we had a busy day! Olivia and I ran errands in the morning and made it home just before noon. We ate lunch and then headed to the middle school to watch Elliott’s friends play basketball. The games were running late so we watched the end of the girls’ 10-11 year olds basketball game. Olivia’s friends! Then the boys started their game. I was surprised that the kids wanted to watch the whole game. It was very good. Those boys can hustle and they played a great game (and they won)! After the game, Elliott went to talk to his two friends. He was asked to go to one of their homes. We went home so he could get his football and DS game and before we left our house, they called to see if he would want to stay overnight. Elliott was excited as I packed his bag. His first sleepover!

I dropped him off and visited with the family for about 45 minutes. They had a great night planned. They had to go to a party store and then planned to go out to dinner. Then they’d head home to enjoy the hot tub, followed by play time. I received a call at 9:00 p.m. and was told everything was fine. Mrs. C just wanted me to know that Elliott ate really well and was having a great time. All was going well. That was so thoughtful of her. Of course, Elliott was too busy to speak with me! Heart-ache for momma.

I’ll confess. I did not sleep well. I tossed and turned from 4:00 to 6:00 a.m. until I finally got up. I knew he was fine; however, I am a mother and I worry about my children. No use wasting time in bed, wide awake. Was Elliott sleeping okay? Would he wake up and not remember where he was? Would he talk or walk in his sleep?

I called to check on him at 10:30 a.m. I would have called earlier but I didn’t want to bother them. I was told they had a great night. A late night. They had already been in the hot tub, ate breakfast and were playing. No need to worry. They’d bring him home around 12:30 p.m.

He arrived home, tired, at 1:10 p.m. He was so tired he could not talk about the fun he had. I suggested he take a nap but he said he wasn’t tired. Olivia and I left to go grocery shopping. I could have gone in the morning but I wanted to be home when Elliott arrived. I could now resume my day knowing he was home – safe and sound. When we arrived home, he was sound asleep in his bed. John said he fell asleep sitting at the kitchen counter. Poor little guy was played out. I woke him around 4:00 p.m. and then moved him to the couch to watch a football game. I had to make him sit up so he would stay awake. Finally, he woke up, ate dinner and then we heard about his exciting sleepover. He had a ball!

I too survived the pain of letting my youngest go. It was just as hard when Olivia went on her first sleepover.

Just another apron string cut and many more left to go. They grow up too fast and I am positive that I don’t want to deal with another string so soon.

From out of the shadows...

We have been blessed with two beautiful, healthy children. I hate to think that one child has been overlooked. Lost among the practice and game schedules. Although it may appear that we have been negligent, we have not. Our son had been in the spotlight for months, August through early November. Football fever took over in our household. Practice, games, fund-raising, baking for the concession stand.

Our daughter’s quiet personality was noted during this time. Ok, at times she volunteered to go to football practice only to sit and whine about how boring this was. Other times she had a friend or two to run around with and we had to call her when it was time to leave. On game days we would see her only when she needed money for the concession stand. She can tell you what school has the best concessions and yes, it is our school. We win because of the variety, the prices and I do believe, because we donated baked goods. Some of those goods baked and decorated by our daughter herself. She also made signs to hang at the concession stand advertising the baked goods. Quite the entrepreneur! That is what she wants to be.

Have you watched Cupcake Wars? She does. She gets angry when I say it’s time for bed and the show is still on. Sometimes I let her stay up to watch the end of the show. After all, she gets up in the morning without complaining. Compared to the football player who is always so tired and "No, going to bed earlier would NOT help him". I tried that line of reason!

We received an invitation from the Middle school in November. I wasn’t surprised as I opened it. Smiling. I knew what it was about. We, her parents, were invited to attend breakfast and a recognition ceremony. Olivia could be recognized for her academics, artistic abilities, community service or leadership. December 6 arrived and I went to school with her. Olivia, ever so studious and hard-working, was once again, recognized for her achievements. She was given an award for Citizen of the Month – September 2011.


The picture was taken in the gym before she rushed off to class!

Congratulations Olivia – we love you and are so proud of you!

Laundry

I am not sure why so many people complain about laundry. You put it in one machine, take it out and put it in another. Or you hang clothes to dry. Is that really so hard? I mean, we are not scrubbing our clothes in a creek on rocks. Nor are we scrubbing clothing on a wash board. Now if you are, well, then, you have a reason to complain. Otherwise, seal the lips.

Folding it. Is that your issue? If you watch television, fold it while you sit there. Multi-task! I don’t mind folding laundry.

One thing that does bother me is as soon as I am ready to celebrate – all clothes hampers are empty and all the laundry is folded and put away, well, lookee there – clothes in the hamper. I think my family hides a few items so when I think I can celebrate, I can’t. It just bursts my bubble. Just like that, any excitement is gone. It happens when I clean the kitchen too. I finish the dishes, the countertops have been wiped down, and it looks great. Clean. In order. Then someone needs a drink and there in my sink, sits a glass.

Endless circle.

One laundry complaint I do have is the cost of detergent. It is robbery like so many other expenses. Over the past year, in browsing blogs, I read a few about making your own laundry soap. I read. I considered. I continued to buy detergent. In November, I ran across another blog about making laundry soap. I printed it and decided I would buy the ingredients – all five of them – and make my own. I even splurged and bought a container to put it in.

Supplies, including the container, cost a whopping $ 21.82! This is what I purchased:

Container and lid - $5.00
1-4 lb. 12 oz. box Borax $4.59
1-4 lb. box Arm & Hammer Baking Soda $2.16
1-3 lb. 7 oz. box Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda $3.24
3 bars Fels-naptha soap ($.97 each) $2.91
2 containers Oxyclean or store brand, I found Sun Oxygen ($1.96 each) $3.92 [*Try to get about 3.5 lbs total; NOTE: this is optional, I added it into mine because the cleaner the better]


First step: Grate your Fels-naptha soap up. This did not take long but the scent was strong, in a clean sort-of-way.


Then I slowly dumped the other ingredients in the container and stirred.




I put the small scoops that were included in the Sun Oxygen in the container with the soap mixture and I use one scoop per load. You need 1 tablespoon of this soap per load. I think the scoops are a little more but I'm fine with that.

All set to wash clothes now!

I'm anxious to see how long this soap will last. I'll be sure to update you when I have to make another batch.

2012

Old…New
Same…Different

I have unfinished posts from last year (old) that I am working on and will post soon. It all boils down to time.

In the meantime, Happy New Year to you. May 2012 be a wonderful year and may happiness surround you daily.