After much thought and deliberation, I made the choice yesterday to step down from being an Assistant Manager. The stress of getting last minute child-care, being away from my family (mostly Chris), and spending so much on gas was really getting to me. When I spoke to my District Manager, he said he didn't want me to reach a breaking point. My response was that I had reached that point a week ago.
The plan is for me to stay at my current location, which doesn't answer the gas aspect, but I do enjoy my coworkers. I might be able to work at my old store (which is super close to home) as needed. I spoke with my store Manager last night, and she was incredibly supportive. She agrees that this is what is best for my family. She also said that she still wants to give me as many hours as I want, with the catch being that it will be within MY availability. That will be fantastic - not having to line up a different friend/sitter every day. I am hoping to still work close to full-time status, because of course we have preschool tuition, car payment, mortgage, etc., but now I will have more flexibility and a LOT less pressure to conform my schedule.
I am looking forward to having dinner with my family more often (it happens at most 2 times a week currently).
I am looking forward to going to bed with my husband, instead of coming home to a sleeping house.
I am looking forward to helping with the boys bedtime routine.
I am looking forward to being able to make plans to go out of town without guilt regarding my work schedule.
I am looking forward to averaging more than 5 hours of sleep at night.
I just got the nicest email from my friend Brittany, responding to my news. I'd like to share part of it because it made me feel very good about my decision.
"In my many years of retail and business, it was very bold of you to step down. You showed initiative and responsibility doing it. Honestly, for someone who was working just to get away from the kids for a bit and make a few dollars, I was surprised when you took the position, but I am glad it's going to work out for you in the long run. That's very important. You can't be at your best when your stressed out. Hopefully, you have found some relief in this and can relax now knowing you have things figured out. Breathe. God's watching out for you. ;)"
Friday, October 28, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
Thursday, September 1, 2011
(No) Time
Busy busy busy. That's the season I'm in. We got back from vacation a little over a week ago, and I feel like I haven't stopped once since we got home. Chris had the week off last week as part of his FL vacation time, but I went back to work a couple days after we got home.
Work is fine. I feel like I can never catch up when I'm there. Like we're always behind. I'm not used to that, and I don't like it. The way I was trained was to make the job easier on everyone by always being a couple of steps ahead so you don't get the chance to fall behind. I'm not sure when/if we'll ever achieve that at this store, but I hope so.
I feel like I don't have any real time off. I suppose that's a reality as a mom. I get 2 days off a week, but those are the times I spend with the kids and catching up on sleep and bill-paying, cleaning, etc. Just trying to find a time this week to renew my license has been stressful, but I am hopefully going to get it done today before I go to work. Again, no down time.
I keep reminding myself that I wanted this - to work full time and provide more income for our family. I also get the feeling that if I get my performance raise in the near future, then I'll be a bit happier. ;) I just get overwhelmed thinking of Cameron starting preschool in two weeks (and getting him better potty-trained in the meantime!), spending enough quality time with Ian, and also getting some time alone with Chris. There just doesn't seem to be enough time. But, I'm not a quitter, and we will all adjust and make the time.
Work is fine. I feel like I can never catch up when I'm there. Like we're always behind. I'm not used to that, and I don't like it. The way I was trained was to make the job easier on everyone by always being a couple of steps ahead so you don't get the chance to fall behind. I'm not sure when/if we'll ever achieve that at this store, but I hope so.
I feel like I don't have any real time off. I suppose that's a reality as a mom. I get 2 days off a week, but those are the times I spend with the kids and catching up on sleep and bill-paying, cleaning, etc. Just trying to find a time this week to renew my license has been stressful, but I am hopefully going to get it done today before I go to work. Again, no down time.
I keep reminding myself that I wanted this - to work full time and provide more income for our family. I also get the feeling that if I get my performance raise in the near future, then I'll be a bit happier. ;) I just get overwhelmed thinking of Cameron starting preschool in two weeks (and getting him better potty-trained in the meantime!), spending enough quality time with Ian, and also getting some time alone with Chris. There just doesn't seem to be enough time. But, I'm not a quitter, and we will all adjust and make the time.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Life Changes
So much has been going on lately. As of Monday, I became the newest Assistant Manager at the Coventry store. This is the first time I've been in a store that has more than one AM. I am working anywhere between 36-40 hours per week, with the goal being 38. The drive is a lot longer than I am used to, but as my friend Laura suggested, it can be quite enjoyable also. I am alone in the car and can choose to sing along with the radio, or just turn it off and be still in the moment. My first day at the new store I used that time to pray for my safety in driving, the well-being of my children, my nerves, and the reception from the new staff I would encounter. This week I've had to find people to watch the kids a few times, but for next weeks schedule I really only need about 4 hours of help, because I am working all evenings.
I have been working hard to win over the staff. I think some of them are a little suspicious about having a "new" person around. They don't realize that I've been with the company longer than anyone at their store! I think a lot of that is because they would rather have someone promoted from within their own store, rather than someone driving out from another store. So far I feel like everything is going to be fine. My biggest goal now is to try to get to know the other assistant manager, and hopefully she will accept me. The first day I met her, she seemed nice and said she was happy I was there, yet the second day I saw her, in my opinion she completely closed herself off and was "unavailable" to talk. I had even stayed an extra hour than I was scheduled, just so I would have the opportunity to work/connect with her. Oh well. I am really trying hard not to come on too strong, because that is easy for me to do. I'm also trying to remind myself that there are some definite maturity issues in that situation. They have a lot of training issues in that staff, and so far I've trained 3 people to do different tasks that they really should have known how to do in their first month or two on the job. It helps me to understand why my District Manager placed me there. He really has a knack for getting the right people into the right stores, so I'm trying to trust his judgment. All of the hours I am working this week are classified as training hours, even though I'm not actually training. The beauty of that is that my hours do not count against their payroll, so it gives me the opportunity to work morning and evening hours to get to know both my manager and the part-timers.
Another big thing that has happened this week is the purchase of our first minivan! Chris and I have been talking about getting a larger vehicle since we found out we were pregnant with Ian. Our original plan was to buy one before he was born, but then the stinker showed up so early (and expensively), so that was put on the back burner. We knew we needed to get a larger vehicle before our August trip to Florida to visit Chris' grandparents, so I started looking the past couple of weeks at several dealerships. Chris went with me this past weekend, and we found one that met all of my must-haves and was a price he could be happy with. All I really cared about were power locks, power doors, stow and go, and power lift-gate. We found a blue 2007 Chrysler Town & Country touring edition. It is older than I was originally considering, but I actually preferred the drive to any others I had test-driven. It had some nicks, scratches and a front bumper that needed replaced, so we bought it Monday evening, but will actually drive away with it tonight. (Well, Chris will - I'll be at work.) We are trading in our blue Saturn in just the nick of time, because the registration needed to be renewed next month. :) I was very impressed with Chris' ability to talk the salesman down over and over again, and his power of silence. He would just not say anything, and the salesman would automatically start going lower!
So now I am running around the house, doing laundry and dishes and keeping as caught up as I can. We have friends from Iowa coming to visit for a long weekend, so I have my work cut out for me, but so far, I am enjoying everything, even if I'm a bit busier than I'm used to. :)
I have been working hard to win over the staff. I think some of them are a little suspicious about having a "new" person around. They don't realize that I've been with the company longer than anyone at their store! I think a lot of that is because they would rather have someone promoted from within their own store, rather than someone driving out from another store. So far I feel like everything is going to be fine. My biggest goal now is to try to get to know the other assistant manager, and hopefully she will accept me. The first day I met her, she seemed nice and said she was happy I was there, yet the second day I saw her, in my opinion she completely closed herself off and was "unavailable" to talk. I had even stayed an extra hour than I was scheduled, just so I would have the opportunity to work/connect with her. Oh well. I am really trying hard not to come on too strong, because that is easy for me to do. I'm also trying to remind myself that there are some definite maturity issues in that situation. They have a lot of training issues in that staff, and so far I've trained 3 people to do different tasks that they really should have known how to do in their first month or two on the job. It helps me to understand why my District Manager placed me there. He really has a knack for getting the right people into the right stores, so I'm trying to trust his judgment. All of the hours I am working this week are classified as training hours, even though I'm not actually training. The beauty of that is that my hours do not count against their payroll, so it gives me the opportunity to work morning and evening hours to get to know both my manager and the part-timers.
Another big thing that has happened this week is the purchase of our first minivan! Chris and I have been talking about getting a larger vehicle since we found out we were pregnant with Ian. Our original plan was to buy one before he was born, but then the stinker showed up so early (and expensively), so that was put on the back burner. We knew we needed to get a larger vehicle before our August trip to Florida to visit Chris' grandparents, so I started looking the past couple of weeks at several dealerships. Chris went with me this past weekend, and we found one that met all of my must-haves and was a price he could be happy with. All I really cared about were power locks, power doors, stow and go, and power lift-gate. We found a blue 2007 Chrysler Town & Country touring edition. It is older than I was originally considering, but I actually preferred the drive to any others I had test-driven. It had some nicks, scratches and a front bumper that needed replaced, so we bought it Monday evening, but will actually drive away with it tonight. (Well, Chris will - I'll be at work.) We are trading in our blue Saturn in just the nick of time, because the registration needed to be renewed next month. :) I was very impressed with Chris' ability to talk the salesman down over and over again, and his power of silence. He would just not say anything, and the salesman would automatically start going lower!
So now I am running around the house, doing laundry and dishes and keeping as caught up as I can. We have friends from Iowa coming to visit for a long weekend, so I have my work cut out for me, but so far, I am enjoying everything, even if I'm a bit busier than I'm used to. :)
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Thank You For Bacon
Chris: Cameron, it's time to pray.
Cameron: I don't wanna.
Chris: Well, if you want bacon...
Cameron: Dear God, Thank you for food, thank you for pancakes, thank you for bacon. Amen!
Cameron: I don't wanna.
Chris: Well, if you want bacon...
Cameron: Dear God, Thank you for food, thank you for pancakes, thank you for bacon. Amen!
Friday, July 8, 2011
On My Mind
guilt
work
child-care
potty training
date night
finances
loyalty
cleaning
new vehicle
laundry
reading
love
compassion
patience
work
child-care
potty training
date night
finances
loyalty
cleaning
new vehicle
laundry
reading
love
compassion
patience
Trash Enthusiast?
All week I have been looking forward to Friday morning. Why, you ask? Because the trash will be picked up!
Yay!
The people rejoice!
...
Wait, what?
Yeah, I have been waiting ALL week for the trash and recycling to be picked up. You see, we had a yard sale last week, which helped us to clear out all of the old clutter in our storage area and garage. There was some pretty gross stuff lurking in our garage.
At the conclusion of the sale, my very well-meaning husband chose to dispose of these items.
In went the moldy baby bath.
In went the old computer tower (that I argued should be donated for parts, but it was his computer and therefore his choice).
In went other various odds and ends.
In went the trash... wait. No, there was no room for the trash! The trash can, which is the only one acceptable for pick-up in our city, was filled within minutes.
On Saturday.
Not to be picked up until Friday morning.
We have diapers.
Dirty, stinky, poopy diapers.
With nowhere to go.
Sitting in a bag.
On our front porch.
In the heat.
We had out-of-town visitors, which equals more trash. We have had the same trash bag in our kitchen trash since last week and it is 100% full. All morning I have been listening for the trash truck, which will signal my opportunity to fill it back up and put in a new trash liner in the kitchen. Oh, it's the little things. ;)
Yay!
The people rejoice!
...
Wait, what?
Yeah, I have been waiting ALL week for the trash and recycling to be picked up. You see, we had a yard sale last week, which helped us to clear out all of the old clutter in our storage area and garage. There was some pretty gross stuff lurking in our garage.
At the conclusion of the sale, my very well-meaning husband chose to dispose of these items.
In went the moldy baby bath.
In went the old computer tower (that I argued should be donated for parts, but it was his computer and therefore his choice).
In went other various odds and ends.
In went the trash... wait. No, there was no room for the trash! The trash can, which is the only one acceptable for pick-up in our city, was filled within minutes.
On Saturday.
Not to be picked up until Friday morning.
We have diapers.
Dirty, stinky, poopy diapers.
With nowhere to go.
Sitting in a bag.
On our front porch.
In the heat.
We had out-of-town visitors, which equals more trash. We have had the same trash bag in our kitchen trash since last week and it is 100% full. All morning I have been listening for the trash truck, which will signal my opportunity to fill it back up and put in a new trash liner in the kitchen. Oh, it's the little things. ;)
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Busy Update
Busy busy times. We celebrated Cameron's 3rd birthday with a trip to the "big" zoo - the Cleveland Zoo - last week. He had fun, but I really think I'd like to go back sometime withOUT the kids, because I like to take my time and read about the animals and NOT push a double stroller. (Thank goodness for Chris pushing up the hills!) I did get to ride a camel, so that was fun. :) We also spent a LONG time at Toys 'r' Us this weekend, letting Cameron pick out a toy for his birthday. Well, we ended up picking out toys FOR him because he just wanted to play with the display toys that were WAY out of our price range! (Train table, anyone?) I had a coupon and we found a medium sized train mat and a small Lego set for him. I think he had a good weekend. :)
On the laundry front, things seem to be going well. I have not felt stressed about laundry at all, and I *think* we have less of it. The one hurdle I did run into was m-o-l-d. SO disgusting. So now I am keeping a better eye on what goes into the boys' laundry (bibs matted with food, wet washcloths, etc.) and washing it as needed.
This week I am trying to get control over my house (again), and this weekend we are hopefully focusing on improving the outside/front of our home, and the basement. We are planning a yard sale for the end of the month, so we have a lot to go through! This will be our first one since we were engaged, and even that one was held elsewhere. We're looking forward to selling our junk, I mean, treasures, and getting some money to go towards a new vehicle and vacation. :)
Fun stuff! And now it's time to clean the kitchen cabinets.
On the laundry front, things seem to be going well. I have not felt stressed about laundry at all, and I *think* we have less of it. The one hurdle I did run into was m-o-l-d. SO disgusting. So now I am keeping a better eye on what goes into the boys' laundry (bibs matted with food, wet washcloths, etc.) and washing it as needed.
This week I am trying to get control over my house (again), and this weekend we are hopefully focusing on improving the outside/front of our home, and the basement. We are planning a yard sale for the end of the month, so we have a lot to go through! This will be our first one since we were engaged, and even that one was held elsewhere. We're looking forward to selling our junk, I mean, treasures, and getting some money to go towards a new vehicle and vacation. :)
Fun stuff! And now it's time to clean the kitchen cabinets.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Ephesians 3:17-19 (NLT)
And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Memorial Weekend Through Cameron's Eyes
Friday - Extra playtime with Daddy because Mommy was at work.
Saturday - Early nap and then Surprise! Pop Pop took me to see Thomas! Thomas scared me when he made his choo-choo sounds, so I hid between Pop Pop's legs. I colored a picture of Thomas and got my picture taken. Then, when I got home, surprise! Mimio and Mimi-Mimi were there for a short visit! Fun evening at home with Daddy while Mommy visited with a friend from out of state.
Sunday - Church! Mommy stayed in Baby Blvd. with me because my teacher hurt her back. I played so well and Mommy was so proud. I learned about how God created man, so I colored a picture of a man and glued him to a Popsicle stick. I got to help tear everything down and sat at the teacher's desk like a big man. I didn't want to leave church! After a short nap, Mommy and Daddy took me to meet Baby Bambi! He wasn't scared of me at all and I played and snuggled with him (Mommy and Daddy said I'd have to take a bath when I got home). I also got to play with Ms. Nancy and a big dollhouse with all sorts of fun stuff - a grill, tv, animals, baby, etc. We had to leave early so Mommy could go to work, but when we got home people brought over a play set for our backyard! I got to play with some big boys and it was so much fun!
Monday - I woke up early and went to a parade with Mimio and Uncle Zac. It was hot, but Mimio sprayed me with lots of water and made sure I had plenty of sunscreen. When I got home we packed up to spend the day with Kandice and Kip! They have a huge bucket of toys for me to play with, and I love it. I also played with their cat toys. :) I ate so much watermelon - I was in heaven! They also let me watch Finding Nemo so they could play some game about Apples.
This was a fun weekend and I am so excited for my birthday and summer!
Saturday - Early nap and then Surprise! Pop Pop took me to see Thomas! Thomas scared me when he made his choo-choo sounds, so I hid between Pop Pop's legs. I colored a picture of Thomas and got my picture taken. Then, when I got home, surprise! Mimio and Mimi-Mimi were there for a short visit! Fun evening at home with Daddy while Mommy visited with a friend from out of state.
Sunday - Church! Mommy stayed in Baby Blvd. with me because my teacher hurt her back. I played so well and Mommy was so proud. I learned about how God created man, so I colored a picture of a man and glued him to a Popsicle stick. I got to help tear everything down and sat at the teacher's desk like a big man. I didn't want to leave church! After a short nap, Mommy and Daddy took me to meet Baby Bambi! He wasn't scared of me at all and I played and snuggled with him (Mommy and Daddy said I'd have to take a bath when I got home). I also got to play with Ms. Nancy and a big dollhouse with all sorts of fun stuff - a grill, tv, animals, baby, etc. We had to leave early so Mommy could go to work, but when we got home people brought over a play set for our backyard! I got to play with some big boys and it was so much fun!
Monday - I woke up early and went to a parade with Mimio and Uncle Zac. It was hot, but Mimio sprayed me with lots of water and made sure I had plenty of sunscreen. When I got home we packed up to spend the day with Kandice and Kip! They have a huge bucket of toys for me to play with, and I love it. I also played with their cat toys. :) I ate so much watermelon - I was in heaven! They also let me watch Finding Nemo so they could play some game about Apples.
This was a fun weekend and I am so excited for my birthday and summer!
Friday, May 27, 2011
Acts 20:24
However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Hebrews 12:1-3
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Cameron Says
This morning, I woke up hearing Cameron yelling at the front door. "Kiss and a hug! I want a kiss and a hug!" Over and over. He was yelling at Chris. :) Fortunately, I was able to call Chris quickly and after I told him how Cameron was carrying on, he came back in and gave Cameron another kiss and a hug. That made for one happy little boy and one heart-warmed mommy/wife.
"I like saying Jesus and God." (Can't remember why he was saying this. I think it's because I told him that I was going to spend some time reading the Bible and I told him the Bible talks about Jesus and God.)
"I want to read a-votional with you!" (I explained I was reading my devotional.)
"I want to see the coffee - I just want to sniff it." I liked the way he specified that he wanted to sniff it. And he did. ;)
"I like saying Jesus and God." (Can't remember why he was saying this. I think it's because I told him that I was going to spend some time reading the Bible and I told him the Bible talks about Jesus and God.)
"I want to read a-votional with you!" (I explained I was reading my devotional.)
"I want to see the coffee - I just want to sniff it." I liked the way he specified that he wanted to sniff it. And he did. ;)
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Proud Moment
This morning we took Cameron to tour his preschool for the fall. I was almost 100% I wanted to send him to this school, but I wanted to see how it runs for myself. Chris took the day off of work (which was great for all of us) so he could come and help with Ian.
When we arrived, the doors were locked. We loved that. It was reassuring, that even though this school is located inside a church in a safe neighborhood, they are taking no chances. They were able to see us by video, and then a secretary let us in. She took us to meet Ms. Lance, the preschool director. We then got a tour of every classroom (they have three for 3 year olds, two or three for 4 year olds, and one for 5 year olds), the large muscle room area, the library, and the office. We were very impressed by the amount of different options for the kids, and that all of children there seemed to really be enjoying themselves. We met all of the teachers, and saw that there is always a parent-aide in each classroom every day. This is a cooperative preschool, so part of the way they are able to keep costs down is to have every parent commit to spending 6 days in the classroom per school year. Definitely fine with me. :)
Cameron seemed to like it there a lot (so many toys!), and I really appreciated how well Ms. Lance interacted with him. The average amount of years the teachers have been at that preschool is 14 years, so they must enjoy their work. :) We decided to sign Cameron up on the spot (to snag one of the last remaining morning openings), and I filled out the paperwork. As I was doing that, Ms. Lance asked when Cameron's birthday is. I told her it's next month, and she looked really confused. I told her he'd be turning 3 in a few weeks. Her response was that she had assumed he was at least 3-1/2 based on his independence, verbal communication, and cooperation! As a mom, that was one of the best things I could have heard! It's hard to know exactly how your child measures up when they are your oldest. I don't much to compare with. Of course I think he's very bright, but it's wonderful to hear that from a seasoned professional. :)
Cameron starts in September, and he has already told us a few times that he wants to go back to school. I'm very excited for him. :)
Side note - I know preschool is not for every child. I believe that I could have definitely gone straight from being at home to kindergarten, but I was also a very verbal, social child. I know that Cameron is a very smart little boy, but I think right now for him the most important thing is for him to learn social skills among other children. He doesn't have a lot of opportunities to play with kids his age outside of his church class on Sundays. It will be great for him to learn to listen better, and to follow directions.
When we arrived, the doors were locked. We loved that. It was reassuring, that even though this school is located inside a church in a safe neighborhood, they are taking no chances. They were able to see us by video, and then a secretary let us in. She took us to meet Ms. Lance, the preschool director. We then got a tour of every classroom (they have three for 3 year olds, two or three for 4 year olds, and one for 5 year olds), the large muscle room area, the library, and the office. We were very impressed by the amount of different options for the kids, and that all of children there seemed to really be enjoying themselves. We met all of the teachers, and saw that there is always a parent-aide in each classroom every day. This is a cooperative preschool, so part of the way they are able to keep costs down is to have every parent commit to spending 6 days in the classroom per school year. Definitely fine with me. :)
Cameron seemed to like it there a lot (so many toys!), and I really appreciated how well Ms. Lance interacted with him. The average amount of years the teachers have been at that preschool is 14 years, so they must enjoy their work. :) We decided to sign Cameron up on the spot (to snag one of the last remaining morning openings), and I filled out the paperwork. As I was doing that, Ms. Lance asked when Cameron's birthday is. I told her it's next month, and she looked really confused. I told her he'd be turning 3 in a few weeks. Her response was that she had assumed he was at least 3-1/2 based on his independence, verbal communication, and cooperation! As a mom, that was one of the best things I could have heard! It's hard to know exactly how your child measures up when they are your oldest. I don't much to compare with. Of course I think he's very bright, but it's wonderful to hear that from a seasoned professional. :)
Cameron starts in September, and he has already told us a few times that he wants to go back to school. I'm very excited for him. :)
Side note - I know preschool is not for every child. I believe that I could have definitely gone straight from being at home to kindergarten, but I was also a very verbal, social child. I know that Cameron is a very smart little boy, but I think right now for him the most important thing is for him to learn social skills among other children. He doesn't have a lot of opportunities to play with kids his age outside of his church class on Sundays. It will be great for him to learn to listen better, and to follow directions.
Airing my Dirty Laundry
A recent discussion about laundry came up on an online Mom's group I participate in. One mom asked for tips on how to cut back on the amount of weekly laundry she has for her family. The first response came from a mother of 5 - she said that she gets away with only 2-3 loads of laundry per week! That's for 7 people!! Now, I find that hard to believe (although I have no reason not to trust that she's telling the truth). With our family of 4, I can easily do 2-3 loads of laundry per day, and still not be caught up! Now, of course, I am usually behind, playing catch-up. All it takes is two days in a row of not doing laundry, and all of a sudden there's Mt. Washmore. But to keep up with it all, at the very least I would need to do one load a day, and I'm not sure if that would cut it. And that still brings me to 7 loads per week!
In an effort to cut down on laundry (because really, it's a lot of work for me, and that time could be spent doing something I enjoy, such as reading for myself or reading to my kids - not to mention the price of water and electricity!), I read some follow-up comments and did some brainstorming with Chris. When I stopped and thought about what the bulk of the loads are, it comes down to kid stuff: clothes, bedding, towels, bibs, etc. I wash everything, often. Chris will wear something to the point of it smelling (which takes a while, because he has no odor), and I will re-wear outer clothing (sweatshirts and pants) as long as they don't have any stains or odors. But, with the kids clothes, I wash everything, every time. For some reason I feel like I have to, regardless of the appearance, for them to be clean. So that's where I'm going to start first: re-using bibs until they are actually dirty/gross (which may be only 1 time, or maybe it will be good for a few uses); having Cameron wear his pants and sweatshirts more than once, as long as they aren't stained (which may or may not happen, haha); having both boys wear their pajamas more than just one night, as long as it's not sweaty when they wake up. Simple things that should cut down on at least one load per week. I think we do pretty well with towels, but I got the idea from the posting, that after a few uses (which is typical for us), then to use the towel to wipe down the tub or bathroom floor before laundering. I like that idea.
I already caught myself once today, almost throwing something that for all intents and purposes, was clean. Ian wore his footy pajamas last night and was changed first thing in the morning. I almost threw them in with the laundry, but thought about it, and instead hung it up on his closet to air out (even though it didn't smell or anything). Then, tonight, I was about to change him into those pjs, when I realized that he was wearing comfy clothes and that they would be fine and warm enough to sleep in. So that's another outfit getting used twice before washing. So, baby steps, quite literally. :)
Side note: I also hope to dry more laundry outside this summer. I always try to dry blankets, comforters, bath mats, etc. on the deck if the weather is favorable. I would love to figure out how to rig a clothing line on our back deck (we don't have any trees), so I could also hang clothes. :)
In an effort to cut down on laundry (because really, it's a lot of work for me, and that time could be spent doing something I enjoy, such as reading for myself or reading to my kids - not to mention the price of water and electricity!), I read some follow-up comments and did some brainstorming with Chris. When I stopped and thought about what the bulk of the loads are, it comes down to kid stuff: clothes, bedding, towels, bibs, etc. I wash everything, often. Chris will wear something to the point of it smelling (which takes a while, because he has no odor), and I will re-wear outer clothing (sweatshirts and pants) as long as they don't have any stains or odors. But, with the kids clothes, I wash everything, every time. For some reason I feel like I have to, regardless of the appearance, for them to be clean. So that's where I'm going to start first: re-using bibs until they are actually dirty/gross (which may be only 1 time, or maybe it will be good for a few uses); having Cameron wear his pants and sweatshirts more than once, as long as they aren't stained (which may or may not happen, haha); having both boys wear their pajamas more than just one night, as long as it's not sweaty when they wake up. Simple things that should cut down on at least one load per week. I think we do pretty well with towels, but I got the idea from the posting, that after a few uses (which is typical for us), then to use the towel to wipe down the tub or bathroom floor before laundering. I like that idea.
I already caught myself once today, almost throwing something that for all intents and purposes, was clean. Ian wore his footy pajamas last night and was changed first thing in the morning. I almost threw them in with the laundry, but thought about it, and instead hung it up on his closet to air out (even though it didn't smell or anything). Then, tonight, I was about to change him into those pjs, when I realized that he was wearing comfy clothes and that they would be fine and warm enough to sleep in. So that's another outfit getting used twice before washing. So, baby steps, quite literally. :)
Side note: I also hope to dry more laundry outside this summer. I always try to dry blankets, comforters, bath mats, etc. on the deck if the weather is favorable. I would love to figure out how to rig a clothing line on our back deck (we don't have any trees), so I could also hang clothes. :)
Monday, May 16, 2011
Ian's Dedication
Biddy Baby Ian was dedicated yesterday at our church. We felt so blessed to have our family and a close friend stand up for Ian and for us, in choosing to partner with us to raise him to know Jesus. While I do have to wonder if some of the people really understand what that means, I am thankful for the opportunity to show them what that looks like, while doing the best we can to raise our boys.
Some pics from the dedication:
Monday, May 9, 2011
Dear God
Cameron told me during bath time tonight that he wanted to "Dear God."
"Dear God,
Thank you for Ian.
Thank you for froggy.
Thank you for truck.
Amen."
(The frog and truck are bath toys.)
I prompted him a little. "How about thank you for Mommy?"
"Thank you for Mommy. Amen."
"How about thank you for Daddy?"
"Thank you for Daddy.
Thank you for Mimi-o (Grandma).
Thank you for Mimi-Mimi (Great-Grandma).
Thank you for Uncle Zac.
Amen!"
"Dear God,
Thank you for Ian.
Thank you for froggy.
Thank you for truck.
Amen."
(The frog and truck are bath toys.)
I prompted him a little. "How about thank you for Mommy?"
"Thank you for Mommy. Amen."
"How about thank you for Daddy?"
"Thank you for Daddy.
Thank you for Mimi-o (Grandma).
Thank you for Mimi-Mimi (Great-Grandma).
Thank you for Uncle Zac.
Amen!"
Friday, May 6, 2011
Random Thoughts
- My hat goes off to single mothers. Not that I am even trying to compare myself to a single mother, but seriously, it's hard work.
- Potty training is frustrating. Re-potty training is even more frustrating.
- Friends who fairly spontaneously bring over home-cooked supper and drinks are awesome. Friends who leave the leftovers are even more awesome. :)
- Running out of diapers because you thought your toddler was more or less potty trained is awesome when you realize they still need them. /sarcasm
- Having a 9 month old that basically wears the same size diaper as your almost 3 year old comes in handy.
- "..." annoys me. Not calling out any one person in particular, but almost every time I see this, it bugs me. (That's cool...)
Philippians 4: 4-9
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Sunday afternoon
Both kids fell asleep in the car on the way home from church.
Cameron woke up when Chris got him out of the car and randomly started yelling about wanting to see the duck in the water. Mmhmm.
Chris got him up into bed, but he had a hard time settling down and wanted a pink balloon (that blew away today...oops) and his "blue water" (really big blue water bottle).
He finally settled down, and I took Ian upstairs to get his diaper changed before his nap. Everything was silent as we walked upstairs, and then I heard a crackling sound.
I looked into Cameron's room and all I saw was that he was on the floor, completely covered by his blanket. (He sleeps on the floor more often than not.)
I asked him if he was awake, and he removed the cover from his face, and gave me a huge, chocolate covered grin.
Little boy found a candy bar and smuggled it into his room and was covered. I think his chocolate-loving daddy was proud.
Cameron woke up when Chris got him out of the car and randomly started yelling about wanting to see the duck in the water. Mmhmm.
Chris got him up into bed, but he had a hard time settling down and wanted a pink balloon (that blew away today...oops) and his "blue water" (really big blue water bottle).
He finally settled down, and I took Ian upstairs to get his diaper changed before his nap. Everything was silent as we walked upstairs, and then I heard a crackling sound.
I looked into Cameron's room and all I saw was that he was on the floor, completely covered by his blanket. (He sleeps on the floor more often than not.)
I asked him if he was awake, and he removed the cover from his face, and gave me a huge, chocolate covered grin.
Little boy found a candy bar and smuggled it into his room and was covered. I think his chocolate-loving daddy was proud.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Friday, April 15, 2011
Dinner with the Durfees
Tonight Chris coerced me to go out and get some food. We're at the point grocery-wise that unless we wanted pasta and sauce for the third time this week or breakfast for dinner (knowing full well that I'll be making pancakes in the morning), I either had to go to the grocery store or just grab some food from a fast food establishment. I opted for Chipotle and got burritos for both of us (steak and barbacoa, if you were curious) and a chicken quesadilla for C-man. (Side note: their kids meals are awesome - for around $3.50 he got a chicken and cheese quesadilla, sides of rice and beans, a small bag of tortilla chips, and organic chocolate milk!)
When we were sitting down to eat, Ian started acting up. Baby boy likes to eat. I've read that babies will stop eating when they're full, but somehow I doubt Ian would fit into that category. I grabbed him some teething biscuits and om nom nom, he went to town. (Kandice, you might not want to read this next part.) Kid was drooling frothy white biscuit all over the place, with this look of wild intensity. We were laughing about it and for whatever reason, Chris said, "That's what he'll look like when he's 7. Only he'll be eating squirrel." Yeah. Random, right? Except at this point, my weak constitution started making me feel sick. With every bite Ian took, I was imagining squirrel. And of course Chris was making comments about what part of the squirrel Ian was eating. Nasty.
Somewhere around this point I realized we had forgotten to say grace. That's actually pretty normal, unfortunately. I usually remember about halfway through the meal. So at that point, I said, "Cameron, would you like to pray?" And we all know what he said: "Shut your eyes!"
"Dear God, Thank you for rice. Thank you for rice. Thank you for rice. Amen!" (Any guesses on what the last thing was that he had looked at?)
Chris got up to get Ian some "real" food (baby oatmeal mixed with bananas), and I preceded to quietly mash up some of Cameron's black beans, sans skin, and feed it to Ian. He wasn't super thrilled, but I think that had more to do with the plastic fork I was using to feed him. The best part was when Chris sat down to feed Ian, and freaked out about the black goo coming out of Ian's mouth. Priceless.
Until he brought up the squirrel again.
When we were sitting down to eat, Ian started acting up. Baby boy likes to eat. I've read that babies will stop eating when they're full, but somehow I doubt Ian would fit into that category. I grabbed him some teething biscuits and om nom nom, he went to town. (Kandice, you might not want to read this next part.) Kid was drooling frothy white biscuit all over the place, with this look of wild intensity. We were laughing about it and for whatever reason, Chris said, "That's what he'll look like when he's 7. Only he'll be eating squirrel." Yeah. Random, right? Except at this point, my weak constitution started making me feel sick. With every bite Ian took, I was imagining squirrel. And of course Chris was making comments about what part of the squirrel Ian was eating. Nasty.
Somewhere around this point I realized we had forgotten to say grace. That's actually pretty normal, unfortunately. I usually remember about halfway through the meal. So at that point, I said, "Cameron, would you like to pray?" And we all know what he said: "Shut your eyes!"
"Dear God, Thank you for rice. Thank you for rice. Thank you for rice. Amen!" (Any guesses on what the last thing was that he had looked at?)
Chris got up to get Ian some "real" food (baby oatmeal mixed with bananas), and I preceded to quietly mash up some of Cameron's black beans, sans skin, and feed it to Ian. He wasn't super thrilled, but I think that had more to do with the plastic fork I was using to feed him. The best part was when Chris sat down to feed Ian, and freaked out about the black goo coming out of Ian's mouth. Priceless.
Until he brought up the squirrel again.
My Biddy Boy
I call Ian my Biddy Baby. It must have started out as Itty Bitty, but somewhere down the line it became Biddy. I just love my littlest man. He makes my face light up every time I see him. These are my most recent shots of my almost-crawler.
Nap time
This cracked me up. As I was about to propose to Cameron that he take a nap, I said, "So, do you wanna...?" And before I could continue, he said, "Yeah!" I don't know why I found it so funny, but he must trust his mommy that if I'm asking something it must be good. ;)
Nap time!
Nap time!
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Did I Say That?
I find myself speaking before thinking a lot. Especially with Cameron. Yesterday I said, "Get your penis off my leg." Gross statement in retrospect, but at least it got my point across.
Today, while emptying out Cameron's little potty into the toilet for the umpteenth time, I remarked, "you pee as much as a racehorse!" To which a little voice answered me back, "Like a racehorse?!"
You just never know when they're actually paying attention. :)
Today, while emptying out Cameron's little potty into the toilet for the umpteenth time, I remarked, "you pee as much as a racehorse!" To which a little voice answered me back, "Like a racehorse?!"
You just never know when they're actually paying attention. :)
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
"Dear God"
My little man loves to pray. He'll start by telling whoever is around to shut their eyes. Once he is satisfied that no one is peeking, he'll say a big drawn out, "Dear God." I wish I could adequately describe the way he says it, but believe me when I say it makes me laugh every time. :)
Then comes the "thank you for"s. Sometimes there is only one item, and then a quick "Amen." Other times there are ten people or things he wants to thank God for.
I intend to share some of his daily prayers here. You just never know what you might hear coming out of this kid's mouth.
Then comes the "thank you for"s. Sometimes there is only one item, and then a quick "Amen." Other times there are ten people or things he wants to thank God for.
I intend to share some of his daily prayers here. You just never know what you might hear coming out of this kid's mouth.
Four Heart Questions
(from Just Like Jesus Devotional by Max Lucado)
By answering four simple questions, we can be more like Jesus; we can stay on course with our lives.
AM I FITTING INTO GOD'S PLAN?
WHAT ARE MY LONGINGS?
WHAT ARE MY ABILITIES?
AM I SERVING GOD NOW?
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters." -Colossians 3:23 (NIV)
By answering four simple questions, we can be more like Jesus; we can stay on course with our lives.
AM I FITTING INTO GOD'S PLAN?
WHAT ARE MY LONGINGS?
WHAT ARE MY ABILITIES?
AM I SERVING GOD NOW?
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters." -Colossians 3:23 (NIV)
Intro
I've tried the blog thing. I've given up in the past. I'm trying again.
Welcome to My Two Dollars.
Welcome to My Two Dollars.
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