Quick Update

Wow. It has been almost three months since I have posted. The non-posting is due to a combination of business and laziness. I think that is most summers can be described as a combination of being busy and being lazy. Haha! Anyhoo, here is a quick update on things we did this summer.

• Hubby took Joe and Cakes to Father and Sons. Camping, fires, throwing things, and general male goofiness was had by all.
• I studied for and took two AEPA: Elementary Education Subject Knowledge and Professional Knowledge-Elementary Education. I passed them both. (Thank Heavens!!)
• Our family recertified to do foster care.
• Miss A participated in a dance concert. She performed a hip-hop number with schoolmates. It rocked! 
• Miss J & Miss L participated in a dance concert. Miss J performed in two group numbers and Miss L performed in one. They were fantastic! 
• Miss L graduated from high school. It was a crazy day. Miss L went from being super-happy about graduating to freaking out about what she was supposed to do know. The roller coaster of emotions continued throughout the summer. Poor girl!
• Rose participated in a band concert. She has played trombone this year. She sounds good...which is saying a lot!
• Rose attended band camp. There were four classes each day: Theory, Intermediate First instrument (trombone), Beginning Second instrument (flute), and Choir. They had a concert at the end of camp. It was wonderful.
• Miss Q has shown back up in our lives. We are quite relieved by this. She has been wandering for a while. She was able to graduate from high school. We are helping her get started in college (hopefully) and get on her feet. It will be slow work...
• Rose, Anne, and Joe won awards for their Top Readers Group at school. They rocked the competition, each receiving awards and prizes for their reading amounts. They were so happy.
• 4-H had their year end banquet. It was an interesting night. Rose and Anne ended up being elected as Junior Officers for this next 4-H year. Rose will be Junior Vice President and Anne will be Junior Secretary. This will be a good chance for them to experience responsibility in a new way and to develop leadership skills. It will also be a good chance for me to perfect my driving skills as I chaufer them here and there. ;)
• I had a birthday. I spent it driving to the San Diego Temple with a friend. It was an excellent way to spend my birthday.
• Our whole family plus the Sisters Three attended Hubby's family reunion in Strawberry. We went to Fossil Creek to swim twice, took a hike to Clover Springs, attended a Fourth of July breakfast, played tons of games, and laughed uproarously as my teenage nephew blatantly (and poorly) attempted to flirt with Miss J and Miss L. Good times, people. Good time!
• Saw Harry Potter 7, part 2. As expected, the screen writer completely changed the story in disappointing ways. But I am so happy that I saw it because now it is done!!!  I never have to watch the wretched movies again. I can stick with the glorious stories that J.K. first wove.
• Miss A turned 14. She usually celebrates with her Mom, but was stuck with us due to the circumstances. The goose had quite the list for her birthday. We took her to Chuck E. Cheese, had a chocolate Hannah Montana cake and vanilla ice cream, sang Happy Birthday about fifty million times (each time she blushed and beamed), ate her favorite breakfast of cheesy eggs and her favorite dinner or burritos, had a pinata filled with candy, and watched shows that she wanted to watch. Miss A is quite young at heart. She had a wonderful, wonderful day.
• Our family (minus the Sisters Three who were visiting their Mom) drove to San Diego with another family. It was great. Hubby and I attended a Temple Session while the Mom and Dad watched our kids at a park.Then they went to the Temple while Hubby and I took all the kids to the beach. Afterwards we split up. The other family went to Sea World. We took our kids to see the San Diego Temple then went to the Morman Battalion Historical Site. It was a lovely, lovely day.
• Physical and Legal custody of the Sisters Three was granted to their dear Mother. I cannot tell you how thrilled I am by that!! Their Mother was so happy she came right over after court, packed up all their things, rented a trailer, gave me a hug, and drove off into (literally) the sunset. The Sisters Three are all doing well and are happy to be with their Mom.
• The very next day a sibling set was brought to our home. The girl (Miss Nita) is 4 and the boy (Professor X) is 6. They are cuties!
• And the very next week a teenage girl (Miss S) came to live with us too. So we have a full house again. We are in the process of rearranging our home to best accomodate everyone.
• I completed four Master classes. That is twelve more credits out of the way. Hooray! Only a year left. :)
• Everyone went to the Dentist. It was pathetic. Our teeth are all super clean, but we still got cavities. Only Rose had no cavitities. Hubby has one near an old filling. I have TWO! One near an old filling and one in between my very back teeth...the teeth that are too close together for me to fit a piece of floss through. It is very depressing.
• School started again. Joe, Rose, Anne, and Prof. X are in elementary. Miss S is in high school. It is going to be a great school year.
• Hubby built me a compost pile. It is 8 foot long, 32 inches deep, and 36 inches tall. It is beautiful.

Currently, I am studying for another AEPA: Middle Schools Social Studies. I think I am going to fail. History is such a broad topic and there are so many interpretations of events, I'm not sure that I will have the "correct" interpretation that the test requires.

I'm also getting ready to teach preschool to Cakes, Miss Nita, and a couple of boys from the neighborhood. It should be fun.

Is it Fair?

My grades posted today. I earned A's all around. To celebrate, Hubby is taking me on a date. One of my all-time favorite activities is eating. Knowing this, Hubby is planning on taking me out for dinner. Hooray! I like going out to eat. However, it gets expensive, so we don't do it often. Luckily, we have a gift card and the restaurant we're going to is having a cheap 2 entree deal.

The problem is, I still have eight kids that need to eat dinner since they are not invited on the date. I was wracking my brains this morning trying to think of a meal that would require the least amount of effort on my part, but that the kids would still like. After thinking and thinking, it dawned on me...

Ramen Noodle Soup!

My kids all love Ramen Noodle. They beg for it constantly. I usually refuse to make it for them. Personally, I dislike the flavor. And I don't want to make a dinner that I can't/won't eat.

This is their chance to have as much Ramen as they want! And they can even make it themselves, so I don't have to do any extra work at all! Hooray!

But then I started to think..Having my kids make their own dinner and subjecting them to (yucky) Ramen just didn't seem fair. I felt like I was being a lazy Mom going that route.

So then I decided, I better look at this from my kids perspective.

And do you know what my kids would say:

"We get to make our own dinner?  YESSSS!!!" (followed by cheers)

"We get to eat Ramen Noodle? Any flavor we want? YESSSS!!!" (followed by cheers)

They are going to be thrilled.

And me, well, I am going to order a dinner with mushrooms. Does that sound fair?? Again, I looked at it from my kids perspective. And my kids would say:

"Mom, are you sure you don't want some Ramen? We can save you a bowl! You don't have to eat mushrooms."

They'll think they are the ones getting the better deal.

Aaah. The joys of youth and undeveloped palates. ;)

ROCK! ON!

My first semester of graduate classes is officially over.

Final grades are starting to trickle in.

I have the final results from three classes

And guess what!

I ROCK!!!

I earned an "A" in two classes and a "P" in the third.

In the two "A" classes, I scored 100% on all assignments. Holy Smokes Batman! I think all my Mom's mean and ridiculously thorough editing of any paper I ever wrote as a kid has finally paid off! Hahaha!  Thanks Mom!

In the "P" class, that was a Pass or Fail only class. A pass only required a 76% or higher. I scored a 99.5%!  Mwhahaha!

I like college so much more than I ever liked high school!  My grades fare so much better when my grades on based on the actual work I produce and when I only have to attend classes once a week.

High school was tough!

I had to go to class everyday, ALL day!

That might not seem like a big thing, since everyone in America has the same requirement.

However, for this sicky asthmatic kid, getting to school everyday was not an easy thing.  And my grades suffered greatly.

So I am thrilled that in college, I am doing well.

Hooray for me!

And Hooray for classes that only meet once a week! :)

Whadda Ya Know!

Wow! A new post only one day later. Whadda ya know! My sister will be so pleased.

Our family attended one of the "fun" activities last night. It was put on by my licensing agency.

It was a rejuvenating experience.

I've been really debating the whole foster parent thing as of late. It is a hard job. It is time for our family to relicense. Relicensing is an involved and time-consuming process. And since I wasn't sure if I even wanted to be a foster parent anymore, I was considering just not filling out any of the paperwork. Just letting my license run out. (That's the avoidance technique in full swing.)

But after last night, I am recommitted to being a foster parent.

It was wonderful being surrounded by other foster parents, just talking, laughing, and enjoying life. They are such an amazing group of people. And I am grateful for their association.

So anyhoo, YES! I have a ton to do.

But I LOVE IT!

I just have to keep plugging along.

Avoidance

People ask me all the time how I do everything that I do. Usually, I just laugh about that, because it doesn't seem to me that I do anything at all.

But today, I am feeling it.

All the projects I took on...well, they are all being very demanding this month. This week and next are, in particular, going to be rough.

And how will I deal with it?

Avoidance.

Avoidance is my friend. You see, if I ignore a problem long enough, it magically disappears.

True story.

So today, when the world seems to be crashing down on me...I am ignoring it all and instead writing to YOU on this lovely little blog of mine.

Isn't it wonderful? :)

And just for my own sanity, that is the sanity that I hope to regain sometime soon, I need to list a few of the things I've got going so that I will remember better next time and hopefully, not take on so many projects at once.

Things I've got Going on:

1) Mom to five kids

2) Volunteering for Anne's field trip: something about making dinner for the entire third-grade class and their families...

3) Trying to keep Baby Jim from killing himself. He has learned how to walk and climb and open front doors and be super quiet as he moves faster than light. (I think he might be part weeping angel. Seriously people!! I blink and things get scary!!!)

4) Teaching piano to Rose, Anne, and Joe. Trying to get them to practice and doing my best not to cuss them out after hearing chopsticks and heart and soul for the millionth time. Again, seriously people! I almost cussed at my kids! :(

5) Supporting Hubby as he transitions to a new position while still working the old position.

6) Dealing with a professor who does not know how to properly put together an assignment.

7) Finals week!!!  With two finals from the prof. who doesn't know how to give a proper assignment.

By the way, a proper assignment clearly outlines what the teacher wants to see and is perfectly aligned with the way it will be graded. And it should be based on something that was actually covered in YOUR class!

8) Foster appointments out the wazoo. Can I just tell you that NO ONE should get into foster care unless they are ready to commit to it as a full-time job. I am on the phone for hours a day, trying to arrange appointments, contacting this person or that. There are medical appointments, dental appointments, counseling appointments, independent living appointments, CFT meetings, DDD meetings, IEP meetings, and then there are the "fun" activities we are supposed to attend to show our foster kids a good time, except that my foster kids are teenagers and think most of these activities are completely lame, but we still have to go.

9) Dealing with Foster kids, who are lovely girls, but still teenagers. And teenagers, at their best, are still teenagers. And I don't feel that needs any further explanation. ;)

10) Rose has band concerts and competitions, and a class field trip coming up.

11) Driving to Phoenix next week for Foster medical appointment.  Drove to Tucson last week. That was a killer day.

There is more going on, except I think I have avoided my homework long enough.

I had better get back to it...before the Babe wakes up from his mid-day nap.

Wish me luck.

I will try to get back to posting regularly at some point.

Key word there: Try.

Church Happenings

I just got home from church five minutes ago. I had a wonderful time at church. The services were uplifting, the music beautiful. I spoke to many people that I haven't had a chance to talk to in several months. I led the music in Primary and spoke to the children and the leaders there. When the meetings ended, I took my time exiting, stopping to talk with a few more people.

This is all wonderful because an hour before church began, my head was KILLING! Allergies had attacked Hubby and I. Our sinuses ached, our heads throbbed. So we both took a couple Excedrin an hour before church, praying that the medicine would kick in soon. Hubby's started working after only thirty minutes. Mine took a little longer. In the meantime, I could feel my blood sugar dropping. Not wanting to add that mess of symptoms to my already pounding head, I grabbed a cookie...a Pecan Sandie to be exact. To be safe, I ate a second. My blood sugar stabilized just as the Excedrin kicked in. I felt great all through the block of church. I had been blessed and I was grateful.

And then I got home. And I went to the bathroom. Then I washed my hands. And as I washed my hands, I happened to look up into the mirror. And do you know what I saw??? A little piece of pecan stuck at the gum line in between my two top front teeth. Do you hear what I am saying?!?!?!  There was a piece of food in my teeth during the entire church block. A dark brown piece of food. A very OBVIOUS piece of food. And no one said anything to me!!!

Aaaaah!!  I am so ticked. I am so embarrassed!

I don't know if people just didn't see it? But I don't see how they couldn't! So did they see it and just felt too embarrassed themselves to say anything to me? Or maybe they just didn't really look at me when we were talking? I just don't know.

Aaack!

All I do know is that it is a good thing I am not a teenager anymore. If I was, I would probably die right now from embarrassment and never attend church again.

As it is, I am mature enough to not die AND to still go to church again next week. I'm even mature enough to keep talking to the people who didn't tell me that there was gunk in my teeth without wishing them bodily harm. Haha!  I am so glad I'm not a teenager anymore.

Lesson from today, Triple-check your teeth before leaving the safety of your home. ;)

February in Review

For such a little month, February was sure jam-packed with adventures, projects, and excitement! From start to finish, all 28 days, our family was busy, busy, busy. So what did we do?? Too much to record here!

But here are some of the highlights:

• Hubby and I became the proud pseudo-parents to three gorgeous sisters. Miss L is 17, Miss J is 15, and Miss A is 13. This is a long-term placement. I couldn't have asked for nicer girls to join my family. I think I'll call them the "Sisters Three".
• Elementary School Pictures for Joe, Anne, and Rose.
• Doctor appointments, counselling appointments, court hearings, etc. for the Sisters Three.
• Awards Banquet for Miss A. Hubby took her. They both got all dressed up and Hubby treated it like a Daddy-Daughter Date. Miss A beamed the whole time. She was so happy.
• 4-H Meetings and Projects. Fair is just around the corner!
• Favorite Foods Contest for Joe, Anne, and Rose.
• Hubby completed the TV Bookcase that I designed.
• Trimming trees, digging water holes, planting a garden.
• 5K Fun Walk! All Blue family members participated.
• New church calling for Hubby.
• My Masters of Education program hits full swing. I've spent countless hours reading about methods, techniques, theories. And countless hours writing up lesson plans according to this instructor's criteria or that instructor's. It will be nice when I only have to use one format.
• Teaching loads of songs to the Primary kids. I'm still loving this calling.
• New Glasses for Rose, Miss A, and Miss J.
• Dentist appointments for all Blue family members. Rose and Joe both earned $10 for having no cavities. Poor Anne and Cakes were tortured as punishment for having cavities. Hopefully, everyone involved has learned their lessons and will respond to the negative/positive reinforcers in the future.
• Rose attends Masters Class for Trombone. Very informative class.
• More court hearings for the Sisters Three.
• Hubby, Rose, Anne, and Joe got to Disneyland and California Adventure! Remember back in September that I won a four-pack of 2-day passes? Well, they have officially been put to good use. Hubby thought we all should go. I absolutely did not want to though! Fortunately, I had common sense and frugality on my side and got to stay home. Just so we're clear on this, I am not a ride kind of person. I am a great person to take to Disneyland with you if you are planning on taking your kids. I will be happy to stay by the strollers or hold babies while you go on crazy, vomit-inducing rides. I will wave and smile. It really made more sense for me to just stay home. And I had a lovely time. :)  Cakes, Jim, and I took the Sisters Three out for dinner and then to see "I am Number Four". FUN!!
• Allergy Shots begun and Caveman Diet concluded. The results of the Diet:
• I am not allergic to Oats. Hooray!
• I am not allergic to Eggs.
• I am allergic to Milk in large quantities. One glass is alright. Or one bowl of creamy soup. But no more.
• I am allergic to Cheese. My allergist thinks it's the mold of the cheese that is the problem. I'm okay with a teeny, weeny, little bit.
• I am not allergic to Corn. But am allergic to Popcorn. How does that even work???
• I am not allergic to Wheat...kind of. I'm alright in low quantities, but my body doesn't like to process to much at a time. Weird!
• I am allergic to Yeast. A lot. So I'm pretty much avoiding that. Except that I love bread.  :(
• I am not allergic to Soy.
• I am allergic to Walnuts and Pecans. But I already knew that. Still, it was nice to test those out again. I haven't eaten either of those in years! My kids were excited to watch me test the nuts...Until my throat started itching and my eyes started watering, then it wasn't so fun to watch me.
• I am allergic to Apples, but only certain kinds. I can pretty much tell just by sniffing them if I'll be alright eating them.
• I am allergic to Carrots. But I already knew that too! Carrots are one of those weird things that I am allergic to in Raw form, but can eat when cooked.

And that's about it. Factor in parental visits for the Sisters Three, chauffeuring kiddos to and from various appointments & school activities, and rocking the Baby Jim to sleep in the afternoons and you can see why I haven't posted in a while. :)