The other night on our way to taking Michael to wrestling practice, I heard Daniel sniffling loudly from the backseat. I turned around and asked "Do you need a tissue?". He said "No thanks, I can just do this {SNIFF SNIFF} and the boogers go back up." I then said "Wouldn't you rather have a tissue to blow the boogers into and then you don't have to worry about them anymore." His reply was priceless. "No thanks, Mom, that would be a waste of boogers."
I am so giddy right now I can hardly stand myself!!
I got a job....I got a job...I got a job...
Now granted, I wasn't really looking all that hard for something. I have been wanting to go back to work without actually having to GO to work. Finally, several months ago a friend told me about a company that is branching out into outsourcing and as luck would have it, I previously worked with one of the VP's at this company. Anyway, I sent in my resume. Waited. Called. Waited some more. Called again. The last word that I got was early last week stating that there was a position, but it was in Bowie, MD, which, with traffic, is about a 2 hour commute, one way. Ummmm....no thank you.
Two days later, I had a message from someone at the same company, different location, inquiring about doing some government loan work, from home. It's something I had never done, but could probably figure it out.
Yesterday, I got another message from someone in Upper Marlboro, MD, stating that she had a position, which is a work from home after an initial 15 hours of training in MD. My resume is a great fit for the job and if I am interested, she would like me to come up for training as early as next week. WOW. And, the best thing is that the pay is production based so I basically can set my own income. Of course, as is the case in the mortgage business, there will be certain times of the month that my work load will be less, but that's fine.
I'm psyched. A little nervous, but as long as I have all my ducks in a row, I should be able to swing this.
Wish me luck!!
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
I am now the mother of a college student, kindergartner and preschooler. Bryn started at the community college yesterday, Michael's first day of kindergarten is September 9th and Daniel's first day of preschool is September 14th.
The last 12 months or so have been full of ups and downs, and a lot of them. There are some things that have happened that I wish would not have happened, but they did and they can't be undone, so I will just pray, pray, pray and pray some more for favorable outcomes.
My best friend is returning to work this fall as well, which has surprisingly left me with mixed emotions. I mean, really, what does it matter if my friend works or not, right? I guess my emotions come from knowing that she will now be busy every day and her weekends filled with things unable to be done during the work week, and that we will no longer be able to spend lazy days drinking coffee at the kitchen table while the kids ran and played. It also kind of makes me think that perhaps I should think about doing something with my life...such as earn an income :-) Which, I am attempting to do, but when you want to work from home, it really limits your possibilities. I really think that I should be something or someone but for the life of me don't know what it should be. Maybe I need to take some type of aptitude test, and not the kind found on facebook....that would probably be a good start!!
I am hoping though that with the start of a new school season coupled with my only working at the church nursery 1 or 2 days per week will allow me to start (and hopefully finish) some or all of the projects that I would do when Michael was born and I decided to be a stay at home mom. Although, I know that I should have been able to do them AND be a stay at home mom, it just never happened that way for me.
Well, I guess that it's for now for me. I am sitting in the (what is billed as a comfortable) parent room at Kids Drop Zone while Michael & Daniel are playing, wishing that people didn't think that wicker furniture was considered comfortable.
2 bags fresh spinach 1 pint blueberries 1 pint strawberries (cut in 1/2 or 1/4) 1 bag or (1/2 bag) walnuts
Dressing -- mix & refrigerate 2 -3 hrs before serving
1 cup vegetable oil 1/4 cup red wine vinegar 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar 1 cup sugar 1/2 tsp paprika *optionals* 1 tablespoon poppy seeds* 1 tablespoon sesame seeds*
mix dry ingredients mix dressing & refrigerate pour dressing over salad just before serving
It is official....Bryn WILL graduate on June 11th. There was a period of uncertaintanty about it, but that has passed (as has he!). I am actually getting nervous, and I'm not sure why. Despite all that he has gone through this past year, he really is a fine young man (if I do say so myself). He's not rude, he's pleasant enough and all of my friends tell me that what a nice young man he is (and I think they really mean it!). I guess I am feeling a bit melancholy, a bit sappy and a lot disbelieving where the time went. It seems just yesterday I was standing outside of the elementary school with him while he was clutching "Raccoony", fearful of what was on the other side of the doors. He went in those doors a little boy and on June 11th, he will leave those doors as a young man. I love you, Bryn :-)
Michael (5) told me today that when he grows up, he wants to be a scientist. Daniel (3)then chimed in stating that he wanted to be big like me and talk on the phone. When Bryn was little (literally), he wanted to be a sportscaster. I am hoping that Daniel will change his aspirations just a little bit before he gets big!!
Today, Michael's friend from school had a birthday party a place called "Kids Drop Zone". Now, I know from other moms that this facility is designed as a drop off play place (complete with babysitters) with a built in parent room where you can have all the free coffee and/or soda you want, or you may LEAVE. Knowing that was how this place was designed, I decided to be the "bad" mom and leave (of course, I had my friend Brenda in tow!!). I did, however, check with the birthday girls mom to make sure it was cool (Me: Donna....can we leave? Her: Sure...be back by noon). And so we were off, for 2 whole hours, by ourselves. WOO HOO. What to do, what to do. We went a quaint little consignment/antique store in the oh so quaint little town of Haymarket, and then up to a cutesy little store filled to the brim with Vera Bradley, Brighton, Pandora and the likes, then off to a cupcake/coffee house. No cupcakes, just some coffee, but oh so nice. The weather was awesome, although a tad bit windy, but without kids, somehow things just seem calmer. Evidently, a parent or two noticed our hasty departure, but that's okay....they were just jealous they didn't think to do it first :-)
That's how I am describing my husband tonight! I was trying to tell him about my conversation with a very dear, very old friend today, concerning the health of her parent, who are basically like parents to me. I'm very upset by the news that I am trying to tell him and while I am in the middle of talking, he says "why is she (referring to the dog) pacing around.....CYBIL....GO LAY DOWN". Silence. No apology, no so you were saying. NOTHING. Not a fucking thing. And this is not the first time that this has happened when I am trying to tell him something and/or talk to him about something important (hell, just talk to him). He either totally ignores, or has this look of "will you hurry up and quit talking so I can start talking....preferably about myself" look. Most times I just blow it off, but tonight it just really rubbed me the wrong way!!
Well, now I feel better (just a wee bit) after having vented. Thank you for listening to anyone who reads this...hopefully it was uninterrupted :-)
I complain about this kid probably more than any of them, so I wanted to write down some things that he does that amaze me. I will do it for the other two as well, but wanted to start with him.
From about six months old, when he would sit in his high chair, I would repeatedly point to my eyes, ears, nose and mouth, stating what each part was in hopes that he would do the same. Day after day, I did this, with not an even an ounce of feigned interested from him. Then one day, he did it. Out of the blue. Months later. At about 11 months old, I started teaching him, to put up one finger (not THAT one) in response to the question "how old are you". That took considerably less time....only a few days.
Over time, he has been extremely quick to pick things up. He loves, absolutely loves, puzzles. By the time he was 2, he had moved on from wooden puzzles to the real deal. Most of the time he didn't want, but would sit quietly for long periods of time doing puzzles. And drawing "happy faces". That was his first thing that he learned to draw. And color. He loved to color and was pretty proficient at it by the time he was 3, coloring mostly inside the lines and using all of the colors. He is by most accounts a very active (hyper?) child, but put a puzzle or some paper and writing utensils in front of him, and he is quiet as a mouse, until the job is done. I have hundreds of pieces of "arting" done by him, some he has named, and some we have framed and display as artwork on our walls.
I could go on and on about this kid, like how he learned within a week, all of the states, their nicknames and capitals from an interactive puzzle he got for Christmas, how he remembers things from when he was one, the way he makes (and has always made) "sets", carefully separating cars, movie cars, animals, dinosaurs, anything out and carefully arranging them just so, in his particular order, how he just wants to know what everything says and has basically taught himself to read and has read 2 books to us, with no minimal to no help at all, his fascination with numbers.........it goes on and on. I hope that his zest for learning is not squelched when he goes to school because he gets bogged down in a class with non-English speaking students. I will just have to make sure that doesn't happen!
Okay, so this was the weekend that Brian and I had our 24+ hours of reckless (childless) abandon. What did we do you ask, and don't forget the details. Well, here ya go.
Went to McD's for 4 Happy Meals....delivered said Happy Meals and 2 little boys to friends house, where her 2 little girls anxiously awaited (I think more for the Happy Meals ☺)
Came home and lounged around for a bit, showered, dressed and then delivered big boy to fathers house....sadly, he didn't get a Happy Meal.
Went to Target so husband could use the facilities; ran into our insurance agent there and spent next hour catching up with him.
Left Target to head out to our destination, The Melting Pot. Arrive at The Melting Pot (which is oddly located in the center of a what looked like a mostly vacant office building complex). Went inside, found out that you need reservations for a freaking fondue joint, but were told that the bar is full service so we can eat there. Go to the bar and are (not) greeted by middle aged, pony tail wearing, spare tire sporting bartender, who apparently can only do one drink order at a time. Get menu, look at menu, look around "bar", listen to blaring SUCK ASS music, decide that a pot of melted cheese is not worth it and leave, but not before finishing my $10 Mojito, that tasted nothing like a Mojito and the mint was CRUSHED...what the hell??? Oh, and no, I didn't tip the bartender.
Arrive at next destination, Reston Towne Center, and decide to just walk around to find someplace good (mind you, it's raining, not hard, but steady and it's COLD). Walk by Uno's, think to myself, why not just go in here, but continue to walk because I know husband wants this night to be "special", start towards Morton's, and then voice out loud "let's just go to Uno's right now because we both know we are going to end up there anyway".
Go in, get seated right away, move our seat because we don't like the first choice, order drinks and nachos and the pizza. Waiter is young,but he kicks ass. Drink my mighty tasty Mojito, all but lick the nacho plate clean, and eat all but 2 pieces of our Numero Uno. Would love dessert, but really want some cheesecake so we decide to head to The Cheesecake Factory.
Arrive at Fair Oaks Mall and The Cheesecake Factory. The place is INSANE. There is a 65 - 80 minute wait; but the high tables in the bar (all 2 of them) are full service, first come first served basis. Yeah, that's gonna happen.
Decide to see if we can find something else in the mall. Found something, just not to eat. Went into Brighton's and bought some more charms and spacers for my bracelet.
Go back to Cheesecake Factory to "try one more time" but since the mob has now spilled out into the mall entrance, decide to go to Don Pablo's for some ooey gooey volcano cake.
Arrive at Don Pablo's, sit in the "lounge" area and order our chocolate decadence. It's a little chilly in there, being that I'm beside the window and all, but not to worry. The cake comes out and I am able to warm my hands from the heat coming off it.
Eat cake, pay bill, leave.
Get in van, drive home. Slip into something a little more "comfortable".....my flannel pj's and slippers.
Arrive home at 9:30pm. YES, 9:30. We are freaking rebels!!! I start crocheting, Brian falls asleep on the couch.
We go to bed at 11pm.....and sleep oh so soundly all night long. No kids coming in at 5am, no fighting at 6am, nothing but blissful, quiet sleep.
It is now 3pm.....we have approximately 3.5 hours left of childlessness.
I've not posted in a while. Things have been relatively calm here. It is getting down to the last days of high school for Bryn. Graduation has been set for June 11th. I am actually in a form of denial about it all. Why do our kids have to grow up? And why do they have to go through so much crap in the process of growing up? My prayer for him is that he will find his way, but that his way will not take him too awfully far from me.
On another front, I am starting (and it's early for this) to feel melancholy about Michael starting kindergarten. Brian and I were talking last night about him riding the bus or me driving him to school, and I got teary eyed about that. I know all of my kids are special, but I feel that he is really "special"....I can't really describe it though. And I'm not saying that I love one more than the other, because I don't think I do. I guess each one of them are special to me for different reasons, and I don't want to let that "specialness" go.
Daniel is still wearing diapers. I am thinking of trying again over spring break on the potty training thing. As much as I hate changing diapers, there is probably a part of me that thinks I still have my "baby" if he is in diapers.
Perhaps I need some sort of counseling or coaching on "letting go".
And on a completely different note, one of my cousins has suffered a terrible loss. She lost the baby girl that she was carrying during her second trimester. I don't even know what I am feeling about that....I just know that I am sad and sad for her.
I started a new diet/exercise program the 2nd week of January and I am really diggin' it! Well, I say diet and exercise, but my diet sucks....the exercise portion, however, ROCKS. I am doing work out program called ChaLean Extreme from the family of the Beachbody exercise programs (they have given us Turbo Jam and P90x to name a couple). I was turned on to this workout by my new, very cool friend, Sarah. The cost for the program was not cheap (it was $120), but it is FAR CHEAPER than a gym membership, and so much easier. You can schedule work out times online with your workout buddies and "meet up", so you have that accountability going on. I have dropped almost 7 pounds, and would probably be able to do more if I would drink my water and eat the way I should all the time, but I do the best I can with my eating and make my workouts every day. If any of my readers (all 2 of you ☺) are interested at all in checking out Sarah's other programs/products, go on and visit her at her website: http://www.turbosarah.blogspot.com/ You'll be glad you did ☺
So, I returned about an hour ago from seeing Marley & Me, and boy do I have a headache....you know, from crying AND sobbing. I think the girl sitting next to me was made of stone...not one single tear, sniffle, sob...NOTHING. I'm not sure she was even human. Anyway, when I dressed this morning I totally forgot that I was going to the movies because I put on mascara (non waterproof) and eyeliner. I had black streaks down my cheeks and black rings around my red eyes. I did, however, give Cybil (my 12 year old dog for those who may not know), A LOT of extra attention. She really is the greatest dog ever born and my children (especially the youngest) love her dearly. Daniel's words are "I love you Cybil the whole wide world"....said to her while he is laying his head on her. Even before seeing this movie, that made me tear up, but NOW.....oh boy.
I am going with my friend this afternoon to see Marley & Me. I have heard all the reviews and I know how it ends, and I have been known to tear up at a commercial, my dog is 12 years old AND I know the pain of watching your beloved animal being put to (eternal) sleep, so why am I going? I certainly can't be THAT desperate to get out of the house, can I? I don't know, but I'm going anyway. Popcornless with a smuggled bottle of water in my bag. At least the tickets are free.
that if it's going to be 20 degrees outside, why won't it just freakin' snow???? I HATE, HATE, HATE the cold, but at least if it snows, then there's a reason for the coldness. C'mon, Old Man Winter, quit being such a wuss and snow on us already, while it is still WINTER. I am sick of this snowing in April crap!
and that little shithead Michael is ALWAYS on it! Does that mean it's time to go back to work? Or do I just need to get away from him more often. aaaarrrrrggggghhhhh
And I eat a piece of monkey bread. WTF????? I didn't even really want it, but it was there. I had just gotten done eating an omelet, a very filling omelet, filled with 1 cup of diced tomatoes, 1 cup of spinach and 1/4 cup of mozzerella cheese, made with 3 egg whites and half of a whole wheat english muffin. Hungry I wasn't. I feel like sh*t in the mornings and don't want to get out of bed, I have no energy and just feel BLAH. I know part of that is because I am stressing....stressing about Bryn, about his grades, about him graduating (or not), stressing about money, about the cleanliness of the house (or lack thereof), stressing, stressing, stressing. Not good for trying to change old unhealthy habits into new healthy habits.
Enough whining.....I need to go tackle the laundry room. I did the puzzle cabinet, the movie cabinet and the downstairs closet last week. Baby, baby, baby steps. I also cleaned and organized the play room, got rid of a lot of toys, and the the tent that my husband put in their to keep the kids quiet and occupied kind of back fired and they ended up dumping EVERY SINGLE TOY that they own inside the tent. I have been avoiding that room and just closing the door. I will deal with it when I have tackled something new. I really hate going back to the same room/area over and over and over again.
I thought since I would change the look of my blog as I start what will (hopefully) be the start of a fitter, healthier lifestyle. My weight has long since (being in the last 5 years) been a battle. I never thought that I would have a weight problem, but as I have aged, it has become increasingly more difficult to take it off, and on the few occasions that I have gotten it off, keeping it off was not successful. At this point in my life, my weight loss goes far beyond aesthetics; it is much more about my health and doing my healthy best to make sure that I am around to mother (or smother) my children.
So here's hoping that I am able to do it this time. I have put a lot of thought and time into my plan of attack and have plotted my course, so I am hoping that will help make the path a little less rocky.
A little has changed since I started this blog....I am now the mother of 4 children. 3 boys and 1 girl, ranging in age from 20 years to 20 months. I am still technically a stay at home mom, but only in the sense that I stay at home (and work) and I am a mom. I went back to work almost 2.5 years ago, but luckily I did not have to actually GO to work. I was lucky enough to find a job that is almost exclusively outsourced so I am able to be at home and basically set my own hours, while doing a job that I actually really enjoy (mortgage underwriting).
