Manic Monday... try to keep up.

So I have a LOT of stuff going through my brain right now. I think I'll put some of it out there for you to digest as you will... Warning... this is random and not meant to start any arguments or even discussions. I am just rambling in my own personal forum. Read if you want. Comment if you want. Do not think that I am judging anyone except my husband. I do judge him and I find him to be pretty AWESOME (most days)!

Today I had a To Do list made up with included some domestic tasks such as a little laundry, cleaning the master bathroom and making Nic's bed with the sheets that have been clean since Saturday. Other items on that list included doing a blog post and researching ordering ants for the ant farm that Will received as a Christmas gift. Additionally I needed to defrost chicken for a couple of dinners I planned to cook this week and a couple of other items like reading, scrapbooking and getting some envelopes to a friend who needed pink envelopes that I have and will never use.

So, that list of things to do was written in pen on a scrap piece of paper and was a guide to my day. When AESOP called this morning with an automated request for me to substitute in kindergarten I passed. I had that choice and I chose to say, "Not today thanks." When my friend called while I was watching some very low quality programming on MTV saying that she could use a ride to CVS to get some VERY important medicine I had a choice and I said "Yes, I'll take you but can I shower first?"

Once I returned from my trip to CVS, that included a stop at Bed, Bath and Beyond, 1/2 Price Books and a quick lunch at Panera I got to my laundry and bathroom cleaning and I even read the info about ordering ants. (I will write myself a note to do that in March when the shipment is guaranteed for 30 days. If I order from Nov-Feb my luck with the ants is my own.)

I tell you all of this to make a point about my life right now. IT IS GOOD! I am so blessed to have a husband who works very hard and provides so wonderfully for his family. I am blessed to have healthy children who no longer begrudge going to school, as they have in years past. I have a working car at my disposal that can take me and my peeps where we need to go when we need to go. Be it lunch or a medicine run or the necessary Sonic Happy Hour trip.

I have taken in a little discussion about SAHP not getting a tax credit available to parents of children in day car and it has just caused me to reminisce about my own ability to raise my boys at home and not rely on a day care to wipe their noses and change their diapers, although there were certainly days that that reality may have been welcomed.

I remember when we lived in MI and Fred was working in France for two weeks at a time I appreciated the day care at the gym to which I belonged way back when. I know that on more than one occasion, but certainly not daily, I did drop off the boys and went straight to the locker room and sat and read a magazine. I could have done this at home after all of their needs were met but it was nice to have them happy and well cared for while I got myself recentered. It may not have been the work-out that I needed but it was the respite that I required at the time.

I also recall, as recently as last summer, when my kids have begged me to put them in day care. They had friends who went and had a great time. A better time perhaps than my kids were having at that given moment. Of course I explained it away as not an option and in the back of my mind thanked God that it was not required.

I understand the need for day care in its many many forms. I applaud awesome day care workers and wish they were all awesome (for the sake if the kids involved). I respect a parent's right to choose day care as a necessary means of childcare when working prohibits a parent from caring for their own kids. I guess I do wish however that parents who choose do not work, to not partake in daycare get a little pat on the back, or cash in their pocket. No, I did not contribute to the economic standards of my family for many years but then again, had I chosen work outside the home, it would have changed soooooo much more. It is confusing for sure. But ultimately what I really want to say is that I am grateful that my husband and I made it possible for me to be a SAHM and I would not trade those nose wipings and diaper changes for ANYTHING!

As I get back to the rest of the items on my To Do list I think I will add one more, Thank Fred for putting us first and for supporting his family with his time and talents and love!

Tulsa Roadtrip!

So the whole time we have lived in TX we haven't really been anywhere. We have headed home to Indiana a few times but haven't really explored our new region. I would have expected to check out a bit of Texas first but this opportunity to go to Tulsa came up so we started there.

The premise of the Tulsa trip was taking my pal Sabrina and her kids to Tulsa, where she is from, to see her grandmother and some other family members. The kids had a four day weekend so we opted to eat up three day on this little adventure.

We got off to a good start only about 30 minutes behind schedule on Friday morning and I think I made up the time so nothing lost there. Our first stop was at a hole in the wall restaurant called Robertson's Ham. At this little shack we all enjoyed homemade ham and turkey sandwiches and bought some famous Robertson's Ham Beef Jerky for Fred!

After lunch we kept on heading North and got to Tulsa around 3. We checked into our VERY nice hotel and took a few minutes to rest and refresh before we met up with the first bunch of lucky Oklahomans that had the chance to enjoy our company. We had a YUMMO dinner at Carabbas and everyone left VERY full and happy. We headed back to our hotel for some swimming and some sauna time for the kids. Our effort to wear them out so they would sleep well.

It worked! Saturday we got moving around 9 or 9:30 and started our day out right at the all you can eat breakfast buffet that was included FREE with our room rate! Will looked like he was on the Atkin's diet with his plate full of BACON but hey, he's young and he doesn't like too many breakfast foods so he had to fill up on what he could.

After breakfast we headed out to meet Granny-Wanny. Yes, that is her proper name! Sabrina's grandmother was a beautiful woman who lives in a wonderful Franciscan facility outside of Tulsa. We could have gone to mass but we needed to visit for a few so we skipped. It was Saturday anyway. The kids were a little freaked out by the St. Francis statue in the lobby. He had his foot up on a skull. I couldn't explain it but am open to any info anyone can share. It reminded me of the serpent often seen at Mary's foot but the skull was new to me.

We stayed for just a bit with Granny then I cut out with the kids and left Sabrina to visit for a bit longer. The kids, all 4 of them, and I headed to the Oklahoma Aquarium. It was a fun trip that included touch tanks, that I was able to avoid due to full hands, and a walk through a glass tunnel while being surrounded by SHARKS! The kids had fun and dare I say... may have learned something! Not sure though, no test at the end.

After the aquarium we hooked up with Sabrina again and headed north to The Scrapbook Store where I of course found a few treats. The kids ate lunch in the car while we shopped quickly and no one even complained!

Once our purchases were safely tucked away we headed to see Sabrina's dad Bill and his wife Donna. I hooked up the DVD player that Sabrina bought her dad for his birthday and the kids and grandpa bonded over a movie while the ladies visited. After the movie a ROUSING game of Farkle was played by many and won by only one person. Sad thing is I can not remember who won. I do know who lost though!

After the Farkle Fest we headed back to the hotel for another night of swimming and once again the kids slept well. We got up and out at a reasonable time on Sunday and started our trip at Krispy Kream! The HOT sign was on so we all got a free donut to go along with our first picks. We headed south by 11 or so with our sights set on a sunnier Texas!

The trip home seemed to fly for some. Not so much for others. The seating arrangement had WB in the way way back and that did not set well with his tummy so we had a near miss with some motion sickness. We shuffled the kids and set off again. He seemed to recover quickly once he got a seat closer to the front. (I'm guessing he may use that to try to fly first class from now on.)

We pulled into the hood around 3:45 no worse for the wear. I think that we all had a fun time, got to see some new sights and the Crawfords were able to catch up with the family they love and miss dearly. It was a success in all respects!

Now where to next?

GLEE!

I LOVED this show this past fall and was a very faithful viewer. I seem to have my favorite shows every season and this was the TOPS this year. I am so sad that we won't get a new episode until April but am certain that it will be worth the wait. In the meantime I am wearing out my new Glee Soundtrack CD's that my BFF Denise got me for Christmas. Can you wear out a CD? Thankfully I am listening to them on my computer, MP3 and in the car so I am spreading the love between formats.

My favorite song is on Volume #1 track 17 "Defying Gravity" I currently have it on repeat in the van. That can only happen when the kids aren't with me but it is fun when it does. I try to hit that elusive high F! Not even sure if I could but it's fun to try. Will gets really embarrassed when I rock out in the car but I want him to remember my silliness when I am too old to be silly. That won't happen anytime too soon though so I hope he has a great memory.

I sincerely wish that this show was more kid friendly but it is not quite safe enough for my audience. The boys were able to watch one episode off the DVR but it still had some challenging themes in it. Hopefully the good themes of tolerance and perseverance were what the kids took with them. Maybe once the baby is born, the divorce happens etc we can consider the boys adding it to their watch list. Maybe...

Ok, enough of my babble. I am listening to the soundtrack now and it just makes me smile!

Happy Hump Day!

Monday

My family on New years Eve/Christmas 2009

Today I had a plan. So far the plan has been tweaked and added to and adjusted but it felt really good to have a plan. Even if it did need to be changed.

Fred just called to warn me that he would not be home at a reasonable hour. He had pretty high hopes when he left for work but now realizes that it's just not gonna happen. I am just thrilled that he took the time to call and give me the heads up! And, it's only 3 so I can put the defrosting turkey back in the fridge and adjust dinner accordingly.

One thing I just did that was not part of my plan was to pull some pics off my camera. I'll add a few to this post from December and I'm planning on a longer post with some pics from last week.

Jen and Landry having sooooo much fun bowling!
Hams? Oh yeah!

OLW art!

I did it! Between a little more rest, a trip to Target, lunch with Sabrina, vacuuming, cleaning sinks and making dinner I created this!

Not the best but it speaks to me and since my OLW is for me, I guess I am the only one that HAS to listen.

OLW 2010

It's that time again, time to select my One Little Word (OLW) for 2010. I checked over a couple of lists and considered revisiting a word from a previous year. I thought about re-upping on DO, my OLW from 2009, because I am not sure that I DID. But in the end I have chosen a new word.

STEWARDSHIP

One definition of stewardship is the careful and responsible management of something entrusted on one's care. I have been entrusted with LOTS of things and I need to work hard at taking care of these people and things to the best of my ability. I need to be a steward to my family, my finances, my surroundings, the earth, my own gifts and talents. The pressure is great but the reward is greater.

Last year I never did get around to making my visual reminder of my OLW and I think that is one reason the word DO got lost in the shuffle of doing, or not doing. I plan to get busy tomorrow making my visual reminder of my OLW. Look for pics by mid-week. In an effort to be a steward to my finances and my time I plan to create with items I have on hand and not spend too much time on this piece.