I can’t believe it has been almost a week since my last update.  I get disappointed when the blogs I read on a regular basis are not updated, and now I get it!  As I wrote in my Procrastination post, I have so many things around the house that need to be accomplished, so I almost feel guilty taking the time to write when all my chores are not complete.  Oh well!

My husband found out yesterday at the last minute that he needed to leave town for a few days for work.  That adds a whole new dimension to life…being a temporary single parent.  (I know I have no room to complain, as there are permanent single parents, and many military families dealing with spouses that are deployed for months and years at a time).  My husband had to remind me that I would need to rearrange the kids’ afterschool activities because both needed to be picked up at 5pm, and I can not be in two places at once.  It was a lot easier to cancel my son’s weekly tutoring session because his tutor is very flexible, and the lessons are not paid for in advance like my daughter’s tennis lessons.  J was very disappointed that he was not staying afterschool, and wanted to know why he and the tutor couldn’t wait until I got there.  I just don’t think it’s fair to expect someone to wait an additional 10-15 minutes.  I guess I could have asked for J’s session to end early, but with gas being over $3/gallon, I don’t think it’s practical to run back and forth.  So, I took the easy way out.

I also decided to not attend our weekly church activites.  I have guilt over that decision because my priorities should be based around those activities instead of secular activities, but, again, I took the easy way out.  I needed the time to deliver GS cookies, take out the trash and recycling, cook and clean up from dinner, run the dishwasher, fold a load of laundry from last night, help CC shower, and then head over to my neighbor’s house so she could hem my daughter’s competition dance costume.  AGAIN! (THANKS QB)!!! 

This was the second set of alterations she had to do because the instructor didn’t think the first set was enough.  I know how to put in a hem, but it’s been a long time, and I am very hesitant to mess with a $60 costume that will need to look uniform with 9 other dancers, and could possibly have a negative impact on the judging.  No thanks…I decided to leave that job to my neighbor the expert. 

It’s very ironic that the Bible study I participate in on Wednesdays is “Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World”.  It’s about the story of the sisters, Mary and Martha, and the time Jesus comes to visit their home.  Martha is very busy preparing food while Mary is not helping her, but rather sitting at the feet of Jesus.  Martha complains, but Jesus says Mary is doing what she should be doing, not Martha.  I can so relate to Martha, it’s not even funny.  I guess today is one of those “Martha days”, and I had to miss the discussion.

I guess I better try to get some sleep, since I know tomorrow will be another day like today.  It’s no wonder why the time just flies by…

This week all 6th grade parents are invited to attend and participate in one of two music classes with our child.  Since my son has music first thing on Monday morning, I decided to drive the kids to school, attend the 40 minute class, then go on to work.  The timing worked out great, since this week is also the week my son’s broadcast team was in charge of morning announcements.  I got to kill two birds with one stone since it’s rare that I am in the school during the day.  My part time work schedule is set up so I don’t go into work until I put them on the bus, and then I leave just in time to get home before they get off the bus.  I work everyday, with reduced hours, so it leaves me very few opportunities to actually visit school during regular hours of instruction.

It was neat to see J deliver the sports report, and I was surprised at how comfortable he was in front of the camera.  I guess it helps when he’s talking about a subject he really likes…sports!  Right after that, he and I headed off to his music class, which is just up the hall.  We were mingling with all of the sixth graders as they headed out in different directions…some to music, some to PE, and some to enrichment.  It was really weird for me to see how many of these kids are taller than me.  What are kids eating nowadays?  However, I am still a little bit taller than J, but I know it’s not for long!

During class, the teacher had the parents participating right along with the kids.  And don’t you know, she was teaching us how to drum (bongo style), and then on other instruments that you play with mallets (I can’t remember what these instruments are called).  She really challenged me to be a good listener.  It was a lot of fun, but I am glad that I don’t have to do that anymore.  It was hard, and I reconfirmed that I have absolutely no rhythm.  However, I did enjoy it, and my son at least acted like he was not too embarrassed that I was with him.

Then, I had to go to work…

Is it just me, or does anyone else eat without being hungry?  I am involved with two different Bunco groups, each meeting once a month.  In both groups, there are three tables of four (12 people), and during the course of the game players rotate among different playing partners and travel from table to table.  Hostesses for both groups provide drinks, dessert, and snacks.  Usually, there is one sweet snack and one salty snack on each table, and then dessert is served either midway thru the game, or right at the end of the evening.  Half the fun of the game is moving to a new table for the first time to see what goodies I get to eat next.  For some reason, I can not seem to help myself when it comes to controlling what I eat during the evening.  I could have just finished a four course meal, and still be “hungry” when I get to Bunco.  Why is that???  Just tonight, my husband and I both “yelled” at my son when he claimed to be hungry about 30 minutes after finishing a nice ziti dinner (if I do say so myself) complete with bread and salad.  (Do as I say, not as I do)!!

I have tried experimenting to see if eating dinner right before going out will prevent me from snacking less than if I don’t eat dinner.  Shocker, it doesn’t!  I just feel even worse because I am already full from the meal, but I just can’t deprive myself of all the good snacks.  I usually eat dessert, too!  It’s like I justify all the eating because I only do it twice a month!  However, last night I discovered that my lack of willpower is not isolated to Bunco at other peoples’ houses.  My husband hosted an evening of poker with some of the other Bunco husbands.  Guess what?  After eating two slices of Pizza Hut Pan Pizza, I proceeded to munch on all the goodies he had out for his buddies.  It wasn’t just a handful, oh no, I continued to graze all night.  Not because I was hungry, but just because it was there!!  Then I have the nerve to wonder why some of my clothes don’t fit like they used to…DUH!

So much for the exercise I did this week…

I have admired my daughter from the minute she was born.  First of all, I’m her mother and I’m biased, but secondly, she seems to have been born with that another gene I missed out on…Confidence. 

From a very young age, I knew I was dealing with someone much different from me, even though I am often told how much she resembles me in the appearance department.  Again, being her mother, I take that as a huge compliment.  My mother has often commented that if I had been like my daughter, I would not be alive, and my mother would be on death row!   All kiding aside, it can be hard for her to know when to turn it on an off, considering she is now only 9 years old.  I know this will serve her very well in the future, and I hope it’s something she never loses.

She can talk to anyone of any age from infant up thru senior adult.  Many of my friends that only have boys love to have her around.  They like that she will talk to them as a friend.  I have offered on many occasions to rent her out to them!  

The kids have had the same bus driver (Ms R) now for three years, and my daughter (I’ll call her CC) has always liked to sit up front in order to visit with Ms. R and her young daughter.  The other day, Ms. R was not there, so there was a substitute driver.  Instead of being sad and disappointed that Ms. R was not there, CC looked to the bright side.  Instead of not sitting in her usual spot because she didn’t know the driver, she sat down and immediately began talking to him.  I just know she was thinking “here’s somone who doesn’t know me yet!!  I better sit where I usually do so I can be sure he knows exactly where to go, and where all the bus stops are along the route.”  The poor sub never saw it coming…he didn’t stand a chance!

 I hope I can learn a few things from her…

Last night was a big night for us.  My son and I attended “Curriculum Night” for rising 7th graders.  I can’t believe I am old enought to have a child that will be entering middle school.  In fact, one of the faculty mentioned that my son’s class will be the “Class of 2014″.  HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE???  Where has the time gone?  I remember his first day of day care like it was yesterday.   My friend said the next thing we’ll know, we will be attending HS graduation and sending them off to college!

 He will be attending a very large school in Northern Virginia, and from all accounts, it has a great reputation for academics and athletics.  However, it’s huge, and can be very intimidating to parents.  I have no doubt that he will be fine as far as school work goes, but is he really ready for all of the “social issues” that go along with middle school?  He’s a very genuine and sweet boy, and I don’t want to see him lose those qualities, but I know he can’t stay my baby forever!  I have to let him go sometime…right?  Why does it happen so soon?

There are at least four different elementary schools that feed into his middle school, so I was really surprised by how many kids we recognized from other schools last night.  He has met a lot of kids from different sports teams and summer camp programs.  I think if he knows at least one other kid in each one of his classes, he should be fine. 

Another surprise I had last night was a big hug my son got from one of his “girl” friends.  I had heard him talk about this girl before, but never thought it a big deal because she’s been in school with him since kindergarten.  He really is starting to grow up, whether I want him to or not.  One of my friends mentioned that she had seen the hug, and asked what was that all about with a big grin on her face!  I have always encouraged him to be nice to everyone, including girls, because you can never have too many friends.  Maybe I’ll cut back on that now…

 I know I am glad I’m out of the baby stages, and can never go back to that, but I also know I am not ready to move forward.  Has anyone discovered a way to freeze time yet?  It would really come in handy about now!!!

Why do I procrastinate?  I have been this way my entire life, and it’s one of those New Years’ Resolutions that I swear every year I will keep.  I look around my house all the time at the things I know I need or should do but just don’t.  The problem is, I then beat myself up over not doing them.  I have this little voice in the back of my head that keeps saying “Just do it”!!!  But I don’t…

Earlier today, my son told me that he has already figured out what his voice message will say when he gets a cell phone…he’s only 11.  However, he is going to middle school in the fall, and that does seem to be the rite of passage when kids in Northern Virginia get their phones.  Obviously, he didn’t inheirit the procrastination gene from me! 

That is one of my husband’s qualities that I truly admire, to the point of envy.  He has a job to do, and he gets it done.  What a concept.  He doesn’t stew about it for days, he doesn’t need to have a huge block of time, and he doesn’t need to be alone in the house in order for him to accomplish whatever task is at hand.  He volunteers for the board of my son’s baseball league, and his job requires a tremendous amount of work…and lots of it requires time in front of the computer.  If that were my job, I would be up in the middle of the night because I would wait until that last possible minute before it had to be finished, and then stress like a maniac about it.  He just does it all in stride, and on time.   

I do that with my business taxes every year.  My husband handles our personal taxes and then waits for me to complete the work necessary for Schedule C.  Every year he is waiting on me to finally finish everything.  I always say I’m not going to let that happen next year, but here it is the last weekend in February, and I still haven’t counted my year-end inventory.  Scarry.  Looks like I will say that again this year.  

I always manage to get things done, and usually within the deadline, but I wait until the last minute.  Do I secretly need the rush and panic in order to help me finish what I need to do?  Do I like that feeling?  NO…it’s horrible!  I guess it’s just not horrible enough to get me to change.  Maybe I forget from year to year…like childbirth.   

I have thinking about starting a blog for some time now.  I have been inspired by two of my friends (Mamma Loves, and AshleyandAudrey) that I enjoy reading their blogs on Blogspot, and thought it would be neat to have my own.  Mamma Loves recommended Word Press even though her blog is on Blogger, so here I am.  If anyone out there ever reads this, you will know in an instant that I am not a writer, nor do I have one ounce of creativity in my body.  I thought this would be a good way for me to possibly develop that skill.  I also thought it would help me to record things that I will “never forget” even though I can hardly remember what I did yesterday.  (I used to have a great memory, but after having two children, I have completely given up on sanity)!!

School was cancelled for today, so I am not going in to work.  I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to finally set this up.  In addition to keeping my kids, I am also supervising my other two “kids”.  It’s a pair of sister kittens that we adopted about four months ago.  I just love them, and they are so sweet.  However, they can also be extremely “busy”.  My husband and I have discovered that we have to baby proof the house, and we can not leave any food out on the counters.  As soon as we go to bed, they are on the prowl.  For as little as they are, it’s amazing how much these two eat.  We call them “PIGS”!!  It’s a very good thing they are cute because I have a difficult time staying mad at them.  In fact they are both curled up in my office with me right now as I type up this post.  It is a nice feeling knowing they want to be with us.  At night, they sleep on the bed right up at the pillows.  It is so cozy and comforting.  I don’t think my husband would agree, but he really does like them.  He also likes the fact that they are more like pets than our cat that died two years ago.  We got him before we had kids, and once my son came along, he never got over that, and never forgave us. 

Maybe once I understandhow to upload pictures I will  show them off.  I guess I need to figure out how to navigate in the blogging world, so I catch up to all the pros.

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