Snow Queen 2010

R will be a Village Miss and S will be a Village Maiden. I'm so proud of my girls for getting a part! (:

Weekend

The weekend started out fun. S and I went to my niece's high school football game where she is on the Auxiliary Team. She did great, but I, of course had no doubt that she wouldn't :) Such a klutz that I am, I fell leaving the stands and I'm sporting a nice size bruise on the inside of my left knee. We left the game a little early because S had a youth group activity, It was at a place called Jump Street which houses floor to wall trampolines. She had a great time until it was time to leave and her cell phone which she had hidden behind her shoes was gone. She came home very upset, and I was already upset because I had just tried starting the dryer for the last load of laundry before I went to bed and it wouldn't start. I woke J up to help me, nothing doing the dryer wouldn't start. Laying out clothes all over the place and trying to help S calm down and report her phone stolen was not so fun at 12:30 A. M. Saturday I didn't do much of anything other than cough :( P and J got a new dryer for me at Lowe's. Trying out today, not sure on the settings, I'm waiting on the first load to see what happened. Yesterday the girls auditioned for parts in The Snow Queen. Praying they both make it.

Hopefully I'll get rid of this cough

I am still coughing a lot. I haven't slept for the past 3 nights coughing so much. I've been trying to sleep on extra pillow, humidifier, night time has been horrible. Yesterday I tried going to The Little Clinic. Was told they couldn't do anything for me. I cried. Pat who was at work took me into the manager's office to help me calm down. S had an orthodontist appointment this morning, P had to work so I was going to have to go in late, but P convinced me to take the day off. I called my doctor's office first thing this morning when they opened and got an appointment, I didn't see who I normally see in the office, I saw my cousin's wife. That was awesome because I didn't have to go through any medical history with her, and she's one of my friend's on Facebook, so she knows how lousy I have been feeling. I left armed with a much stronger antibiotic, cough medicine with codeine and some for the yeast infection I developed from the last antibiotic, I think I feel better already. I can't believe I've used half of my personal/sick days already this school year and we're only starting week 7.

Sickness go away

You are so not fun. I think it's ridiculous to be this sick when it's only September. And today's high is supposed to be 105. That's just too hot to have a achy, runny, stuffy nose, plugged ears, cough that won't stop, feverish body. I'm dizzy from the medication I got yesterday, have no energy, don't feel like doing anything and therefore am a little bored. But yeah, I haven't gone to work this week. Hoping Thursday I'll make it. Using 3 sick days this early in the school year worries me.

More Car Drama

Different car this time. Our 1999 Saturn L-series. Recently the oil light started appearing on the dashboard. When I first noticed it P said "no problem, we've got plenty of time" and was planning on taking it for an oil change the next time he was off. Yesterday afternoon driving home from work, I heard rattling for a about a mile then POP, I smelled burning rubber and the car was losing power rapidly. I was on the freeway with no where to stop. I got off at the Happy Valley exit, and lets just say cars behind me were not happy with me. I pulled off to the side of the road where the old landfill is. Called AAA for a tow. First I thought it was a tire, then after looking at all of them, and seeing stream coming up from the engine I thought must be a belt that broke. (OK, I really don't know much about cars, but one time before I was married I had a belt break so I thought that must be what happened). AAA tow truck driver amazingly was across the street. I wasn't waiting alone for long. He towed the car to a shop at Cave creek and Bell, so the towing cost me $25. The mechanic and the owner of the shop confirmed the problem, a hole in the engine. Which means a whole new engine. I call P at Fry's to come and pick me up to take me home. I cried all the way home and for a long time after he left and went back to work. I was exhausted with a bad cold on top of all this unease. I was coughing so much last night I was vomiting. While I did laundry today, P looked up cars online. He found a 2005 Dodge Caravan in a price range we have to stretch our budget into adding monthly payments. P decided it would be better to get a newer car than replace the engine of an older one, we would need a loan either way. Off we went this afternoon and got it. P is thinking of getting the Saturn to our house to park out front to possibly add to security of our house, hopefully robbers will think someone is home. Now that we have a car payment I'm not sure how I'm going to be able to work part-time. Working full-time is very hard on me.

September and it's still so hot!

Last week it did cool off a little, like barely under 100. Yesterday we had indoor recess because of a heat advisory. So crazy that it was over 110 in September. Today is supposed to be hot again, looking at the forecast for the coming week I saw some in the 90's temps. You have no ides how much this pleases me. I'm so ready for cooler weather. We didn't make it to my Uncle Don's birthday party. The car overheated on the way. Well, that's my guess anyway because P had it in the shop and they couldn't find anything wrong with it. This should not be called Labor Day weekend, but birthday weekend. My youngest nephew's birthday was this past Tuesday, my sister's birthday on Sunday, my oldest niece's birthday is Sunday, My Mother-in-Law's birthday is Monday, Navy nephew's birthday is Monday. My Father-in-Law's birthday was the 24th, and my youngest niece's birthday is the 12th. Parties all weekend. National guard nephew came home from Iraq this past week, and we'll get to see him too. I had a horrible headache on Thursday. So glad the kids didn't have anything they needed me to do by the time I got home from work I thought my head would explode. P brought me my contact case for me to whip those babies out and Tylenol before he left to go with his Dad to the Cardinal pre-season game. After throwing up, I slept for 2 hours, got up and yelled at the kids, read for almost an hour and slept till it was time to get up on Friday morning. Took Tylenol all day Friday to avoid a repeat of this. I felt OK all day, but I did have a bloody nose around 1 that took a long time to stop. And since recess was inside, I wasn't outside for a long 30 minutes like I was on Thursday. So far today my only complaints are a sore throat and I'm sweating! Tuesday J had a senior meeting at 6, followed by open house at 7 (he only wanted to check in with his JROTC Major, S had dance class at 7, P was at work, J and I had to go get his car at Fry's so we had 2 cars to do all these things. Yesterday S had an after school dance till 5, then she went to the church office for First Friday Jr. High night at 7. She kept me busy, driving her around. P had the worst schedule this week. Thursday was his only day off and he was at the game. Next week so far is a little better with a few nights of him being home for dinner, and off next Saturday. He was supposed to be off today, but was asked to work, so I'm not planning anything until I see he's really here.

Back to School

First week went well for everyone. R hates having to walk home, especially since on the days she has PE last hour, which for now when it's so hot is in the multi-purpose building, which is the farthermost building from the exit she needs to use to start her walk home. P worked 6 days this week, hopefully if he gets any days off during the week, he will pick her up, so she won't be so crabby. It's a big change for her, because I've always been on campus and took her home and she's never had to walk home. J is loving being a TA in JROTC, sounds like it's his most favorite period. S is learning random things about her teachers, and randomly tells them to me, too funny. I have had sore feet every night, and am sporting one new blister on my toe. I wish I could find sandals that I could walk in and not hurt my feet. There was a near break in of our house on Tuesday, either right after J got home from school or right before he heard noise when he was in the bathroom, room into his room and got his knife and by the time him got it, they left, the French door was broken and the carport door unlocked. P and J were up very late last night installing a security system, hopefully we'll all be safe and our things from now own. Were off to Prescott soon to celebrate my Uncle Don's 100th birthday.

Shoelaces

I have been thinking about how when I was in kindergarten and we had to learn to tie our own shoes. My sister was given the task of teaching me, and I remember a very long night with her determined to teach and me so frustrated I was crying. But I learned how to tie my own shoes that night. J wasn't really ready in kindergarten to learn how to tie. I only bought him Velcro shoes, unfortunately he didn't start tying his own shoes until 4th grade, which was a good thing because it was getting hard to find shoes that Velcroed in bigger sizes. Why this rush own memory lane. I am spending most of my work day in kindergarten and 1st grade classrooms. Shoes are always untied. I'm just nervous when I see kiddos with untied shoes because falling and tripping. I think I should charge for every lace I tie I'd be a millionaire. Well, maybe not a millionaire, but richer. I could collect a lot on those shoes with the round laces, because they never stay tied even double knotted. I'm officially beyond tired, one more day of the first week, whoo, hoo!

Last Day Of Summer

As I sat here sweating typing that title, it seems a rather a crazy thought. Yet today is my last day of summer break. Which hasn't seemed long enough, maybe it would have if I didn't work 5 of the weeks. If only it was below 100 degreesit would be better. I'm still looking for a part-time job, but in the mean time I'll start the school year off at Sunset Ridge. Tomorrow I won't have to drive all the way there as the all day meeting is close by. Thursday I start out close by at a high school, but finish at the campus. Friday all day at the campus. I am so nervous about this whole thing. Working at a school where I don't know anyone. No students, no parents, no staff, where anything on the campus is located. I haven't even met the principal in person. I do know where the school is since I took a test drive, but I can't get there without my Mapquest directions. I should be cleaning or washing but really I am just too hot and don't feel like it. I know I'll regret not doing anything today, but I just don't want too. Partly that has to do I was up late last night reading. In the book the main character's Mom is dying and I had to get through that part and end on something happier before going to sleep. I was crying so bad there for awhile. Yesterday I took S to get her schedule, then did the dreaded taking the girls to Justice, so they could pick out their first day of school tops. They could be there all day. J still needs some binders, but then we are done ready for school until it starts and they tell me the things I've forgotten. Right now J only has 4 classes, TA in JROTC, JROTC, L.A., and economics. He met with his counselor at the end of last year and they did his schedule. Not sure what happened. I have a call in to the counseling office and hopefully they can get him a full schedule with classes he will be happy with. He just won't have a ride home everyday if they don't give him more classes. R had an orthrodontist at a dreaded 4:20 appointment time. Traffic was horrible. I didn't make this appointment P did, but lucky him he was at work so I had to drive. I made J cook dinner, or there would not have been time to eat before dance classes started yesterday at 6.

Interviewing

is so stressful. Monday I had an interview for a kinder extended day para professional. Someone else got that job who had more kinder experience. Today I interviewed for an accounting clerk. Which I would love, I had to test before the interview. I'll find out tomorrow or Monday if I got it. The school is very close by. Which really pleases me, I hate driving. The principal at this school wasn't there for the interview but she listened in to the interview on speaker phone. That was different. She did apologize for not being there in person. It was just strange.

My Birthday in Review

Celebrated yesterday morning with breakfast in Bed that S made for me. Yummy caramel rolls. P and the kids gave me my present. A laptop! I am very excited to play with my own own computer. After breakfast I took R and 2 of her friends to Pump It Up the only summer activity she was able to do with the church kids, other than camp that is. While the kids played I sat and talked with my friend Kim whom I barely ever get to talk with, so that was fun for me! On the way home we stopped for ice cream. The day just flew by,after a lovely summer rain shower it time to go to Red Lobster for dinner. Yummy snow crab legs. I played with computer when we got home until very late. All in all a pretty great birthday. J spent the night at Aunt Jul's house, while they went up north for a few days. S went to The Salt River tubing with the youth group from church, P went hiking it was just R and I and home all day, which was good because I've been dragging.

The very next day...

After I took the para professional job 2 things happened. R was going to her friend's hour who lives in Anthem, so I decided to stop by the school I took which was on the way, from home with no traffic it took 20 minutes to get to the school. Which for me is a long drive, since I'm used to a 2 minute drive. When I got home I saw a 4 hour a day position posted for a school a few miles away from J's high school and S's middle school. I have an interview set up next Monday with the principal. I would prefer the 4 hour a day job. But I'm going to trust God on this, he knows where he wants me to work, and who knows what still might come up. Friday afternoon, the kids and checked in to a local hotel, we swam for a few hours and had a fun time. They left to get pizza and go home. P met me at the hotel when he got off work. We went to the restaurant in the hotel and had a fabulous dinner, we tried things we wouldn't normally try, it was fun, I had champagne which was awesome, the server refilled it a few times and before we left, she refilled it again had me take the glass to the room. It's been a long time since I've drank so much I had no problems with it, and even my blood levels were fine the next day. P and I had a fun time celebrating our anniversary alone. Saturday back to reality and laundry. Monday I took R out to start school supply shopping, and for her to pick out a pair of shoes for school. Today P and I took the kids to Amazing Jake's. It was very fun, but it would have been better if we had several more hours to stay and do more things. Tomorrow is S's day for school supplies, maybe a hair cut, and Vans.

"Be Still"

On April 21st, the last professional day of the 2009-2010 school year, the meeting started out with "some of you won't have jobs next school year". I knew right away I would be one of those hearing the news personally, since I only had 2 years full-time with the district. The meeting was held in the same auditorium as our church meets. Every week since then sitting in service was a reminder of being surplussed. Not that I could forget it on the other days of the week. Then July 1st came and I was put on the reduced in force category. I started applying to other districts. I actually had an interview for Friday that I canceled. As I have been praying about working it seemed like I was hearing God tell me to "be still". Today I was offered a job (really there are 2 campus openings in my job category and I had my choice of which campus). I chose the one closer to home, about 15 minutes away, and the school has been excelling for the past 3 years. I barely got off the phone with HR and the principal called to welcome me. She sounded really nice. The job is 35 hours per week, which is more than I want, but now that I am a district employee again I can post for jobs that are in the same job class but fewer hours, I don't know when something will come up, but I feel better about at least having a position to start the school year with and to work with. Please keep praying for us!

It's my party...

And I'll cry if I want too. Summer is just flying by. Only 1 more week of summer school, then 2 weeks till my birthday, then 2 weeks till school starts. It's making me depressed for lots of different reasons, the top 2 my baby will be a senior, and I don't have a job yet. I just filled out an online application for Washington School District. They have (3) 18-20 hour a week jobs posted that I'm qualified for and aren't in the kitchen or crossing guards, which I really can't do physically even if I was interested. 4th of July found the kids and I at church and out for lunch as usual, P worked till 7:30 PM, therefore no fireworks, which I think the kids are getting to be OK with, since it's been several years, I hate the heat, which is usually my excuse. We played outside after it got dark, R made a cake all by herself as a special treat. On Monday P was off and we took the kids to see Toy Story 3, it was a relaxing 4 day weekend.

It's so strange to only have 1 kid at home

Sunday night was so quite. Yesterday afternoon we picked up my youngest niece and spent the afternoon at a public pool, after lunch at Subway that is. We came home and did some crafts. The girls started on the shrinky dinkys first. I suggested they read the directions first. They were so funny, they freaked out when they curled up, not knowing that happens first then they strink, but had they read the directions, they would have :) Then they moved on to a wind chime craft, and wouldn't you know it, I leaned over the table and got paint all over my dress. UGH. We had dinner and watched "Because of Winn-Dixie". One of R's favorite movies. I think she wishes she was Opal and could rescue a dog to come live with us. This afternoon I took R bowling just the 2 of us, it was fun, without competing brother, sister, or friend. When we got home she let me have an hour to myself, and I used it wisely, I took a nap! She kept coming down to my room "checking" on me. Yes, I'm still here, no, I haven't left you, yes, I am still trying to fall asleep. I didn't have to check on her at all, since she was checking in on me! Tomorrow afternoon P and I are going to take her to see "The Karate Kid". I just need to plan something for Thursday, because S will be home on Friday and we'll have lots of laundry to do, before J gets home on Saturday, and he'll need the washer to do his stinky boy clothes.

It's been awhile

Last weekend was busy with dance recitals and getting R off to camp on Sunday. We even managed to take P to one of his favorite restaurants for Father's Day lunch. Someday soon we'll get to celebrate our 18th anniversary which was also last Sunday. The girls did wonderfully on stage, I am so very proud of them. Fast forward to Thursday, I got a call from the church children's director that R is sick and I need to come pick her up. P was out hiking, I tried to call him to go with me, after 20 minutes of no return call I sent J to get gas in the car. When J got back and P still hadn't called or come home J and I drove to Prescott to get R. She looked OK, but she hadn't eaten all day, on the way home she laid down in the back seat the whole way. Friday she complained of a headache, she was head stuffy, and dragging quite a bit. But she was eating! This morning I took J to the drop off point for scout camp, he'll be home next Saturday. S had friends over, and R and I hung out in my room watching movies. Tomorrow S leaves for church camp. She is very excited. R will be the only kid all week, she's worried that she's going to be so bored. I'm worried I'm going to be exhausted keeping her from being bored! Monday we have plans to hang out with her cousin, which will be fun and she has to go to her Aunt Jul's house a couple of mornings when P and I both have to be at work at 8. It's been a long time since I've had to ask someone to watch one of my kids, that seemed weird.

Dance Rehearsal part 2

The battery in the video camera lasted halfway through R's jazz dance (her class was first this afternoon). I called P and asked him to bring me his camera. Then as I am taking pictures my camera batteries die, not problem I brought spares. Only they must have lost their charge because they didn't work. I had S call P, who brought me some new batteries. What a nightmare. I'm glad he was home to help me. The girls dance beautifully. Tomorrow night is the dress rehearsal at the high school they will be preforming at on Saturday and Sunday. It's so sad the dance year is almost over till August.

This week went by fast

Monday I took the girls to get their dance costume pictures done. We went to Costco to get a few things and ate lunch. Not sure what happened the rest of the day, but before I knew it was Tuesday, morning and I was helping 4 girls make homemade cinnamon rolls, which turned out amazing! The girls and I went to McDonald's for lunch and then swimming at our friend's house. J did not want to go swimming with 2 moms and 4 girls. His loss. Wednesday morning S and I did child care for the woman's bible study. Those little ones whipped me out, I had to take a nap before taking the girls to their dance classes. Thursday morning I worked at Sunrise for 4 hours, came home collect J to go to Arrowhead to meet his Air Force recruiter. J needs to decide what he wants to do soon, so there's no waiting period for basic training after he graduates. He spend a lot of time online when we got home looking at the Air Force and Military websites. Now that the girls are older they don't need as much help with their hair and make up for dance. Part of me is sad that they don't need me, but another part says yea! They had dress rehearsal at the studio for R's tap and ballet and S's jazz. The Wednesday coming up it will be S's ballet and tap and R's jazz. Then on Thursday the BIG dress rehearsal at the high school they are preforming at over the weekend. Yesterday I took J to get a physical he needed for camp, and did a little grocery shopping, and took J to Kohl's to get a dress shirt and jeans for his senior pictures (those will be taken next Friday). I was feeling so tired I took a long nap, and still went to bed at 9. I had had a sinus headache all day and the meds must have really knocked me out. I found out earlier in the week R's camp date is wrong she really leaves for camp on the 20th and will be home on the 25th. I'm pretty disappointment in this change, but I really believe she needs to go and stretch her wings so to speak, going to camp without S or me.

Clean! Well Almost

Yesterday afternoon I decided I wanted to start helping my girls clean their room. I had 3 large totes and they pulled stuff in them that was on the floor, closets, in corners, etc. Several times over, as I would go through the totes as they were filled and separated the trash from the possessions. I sat on my bed and did this while watching a movie, with the fan on me. First time ever I cleaned their room and didn't sweat. We weren't done last night, it all carried over to today. There's still more to do, but from were it began, the room looks amazing! They did the closet themselves and when I saw how organized the clothes were I wanted to cry because I am so impressed. P cleaned up the back patio some, so that looks good. Unfortunately the vacuum is not working and the carpets really need vacuumed. P thinks it is just the bag and after he gets a new one (why is it, when ever you really need the carpet vacuumed you don't have any bags for it?)

Lazy Week

We haven't done much of anything all week. It's been grand! R went to a birthday party at Foothills Aquatics on Monday, she loved it. I went to Bath and Body Works and Jo Ann's and saved 50% at both places. Great holiday savings! And we have lots of yummy smelling stuff, and I have a few projects to work on. Other than dance classes and S went to a movie with a friend we haven't left the house. Even though there's lots of things I want to do around the house, I found playing on the computer and reading way more appealing. J and I are off to met a Marine Sergent in a few minutes. He's not really looking into joining the Marine's but wants to get information on all branches of the military. We got the results from the knee doctor and is ACL is completely closed! No surgery!