Final additions

Restore/Restoration
Extraordinary
Live
Make
Happiness

More possibilites OLW 2012

Some of these could be repeats from yesterday. A little off the cuff...

Faith
Intention
Poke
Be
Become
Joy
Smile
Together
Priority
Optimism
Home
Clean
Real
Hope
Less
Focus
Write
Remember
Renew
Refresh
Happiness
Balance
Calm
Quiet
Free
Authentic

Okay, need to stop looking for possibles and commit! Word research tomorrow and Thursday. I gotta stick with this word all year so it has to be good. No, great!

Possible 2012 OLW contenders

Cherish
Nurture
Family
Create
Believe
Home
Renew
Pause
Light
Me
Blessed
Enough
Gratitude

The little things I want to remember

So a little tradition we have at the Baker house is getting to pick a special restaurant to celebrate your birthday at. Will seemed hesitant to committ this year but around lunch time on Sunday, the day we were planning to celebrate, he said he wanted to go to Medieval Times. Well, we have been there just one other time when we were hosting out of town company and my recollection of the event was pretty dismal because I had a migraine through 3/4 of the outing. He said he had received an email inviting him to join the knights of the round table for a FREE meal if someone else paid full price. Mind you full price is $58.95 plus ticket fees and tax!

I went online and found a deal for $35/person when you bring 4 people. That was decent deal until... You add in those darn ticket fees and taxes. Our total at the online check-out was $163 and change and I was going to eat with my hands and likely get another migraine for whatever reason/trigger I had gotten the last one. Need I say that I did not supply my credit card info and we did not go to Medieval Times? Will was bummed but even as the birthday boy I had to draw the line.

Well, we talked about it, thought about it, and settled on going to Dave & Busters. Since we were going to spend so much less I even offered to let him bring a friend to join us. He called his buddy Tyler and we headed to D&B to take advantage of the Eat and Play Combos and have some fun!

Well, D&B has three levels of Eat and Play Combos. There are $15.99 meals, $17.99 meals and $20.99 meals. Fred, Nic and I chose $15.99 meals, Will chose a sirloin from the $20.99 menu and Tyler just wanted a burger and fries. I really worked out because I just gave my game card to Tyler and everyone was happy...

So dinner shows up and somehow we ended up with a platter of Cheese Sticks that we didn't order. Well, it was delivered whenI was away from the table so Fred jumped on them before I could tell him they weren't ours. Not like they could take them back so that was a special bonus! We all dug into our meals but Will's Medium Sirloin was pretty rare. He tried it but it was TOOOOO red. I found a wandering waitress and sent it back. I felt badly that Will had to wait for his food but the rest of us couldn't let our food get cold so we ate, he nibbled off of everyone's plates and finally his new steak came back. The manager proudly delivered the Medium Well Sirloin. Ooops, Will was a champ, a hungry champ and dug right in. I mentioned to the manager that it was suposed to be medium but he would eat it but since it was his birthday maybe Will could get a little brownie sundae or something. Brownie, ice cream, chocolate sauce. Simple right?

About 15 minutes later she returned with... a brownie SUNDAE! This thing had found brownie triangles, two huge scoops of ice cream, whipped cream, cherry and not just chocolate sauce but caramel and strawberry too! She was so proud of her generosity and I was just sure that Will would HATE it and not even try any. He is a less is more kind of guy. He gets that from me. I pulled of the cherry hoping we could move ahead and guess what? We did. Will saw the beautiful sundae, shrugged his shoulders and dug right in to the part that he knew he liked.

*********So a month went by and I forgot the little stuff. I MUST do better!!!! *******

6 for 7!

I did it again. I got on the treadmill and moved today. I mixed it up a bit and it felt really good. I ran for 1 minute intervals for the first mile then I upped the incline to three and slowed the pace for the next 1/2 mile then I ran again for another 1/2 mile. I kept looking out the window and feeling so grateful that we bought the treadmill in January. It is 100 degree outside and if I had to workout outside I would NEVER do it!

Well after the workout I spend some mindless time in front of the TV then it was time for a nap. Once I got that craziness out of my system I was able to shower and face the day. The day consists of not much in the way of productivity but enjoying the freedom of summer. I did read a little PTA stuff and head out with the fam for dinner. We are all home and off in our own little worlds again. I used to mind when we divided up throughout the house but I don't mind it so much any more. We are together enough and time apart is okay.

So the week ahead is big. I have to get ready for the PTA Summer Leadership Seminar in Austin Fri, Sat and Sun. I am excited to attend but am VERY nervous as well. This whole PTA President thing sounded easy at the start but there is so much to know and do. Thankfully I have a great team on the board but I need to find the balance of how much to expect, how much to do myself and how to manage and encourage others in their projects without taking it on myself. That is hard but I am getting better. Thankfully I have adopted the "less is more" mantra these last few years.

So I'm going to go read some news and try to come up with something a little deeper to write about tomorrow. Just updating the world on my life hardly seems blogworthy. Time to dig a little deeper!

Sunday

The boys are at a movie and the house is too quiet. Not sure if I like it.

Susan Baker
aka Mom
Sent via DROID on Verizon Wireless

I'm shrinking.

Yep, I really am. From November to last month I had lost 13 pounds but of course my Dr. wants me to lose 10 more in the next three months. I knew that I had lost weight but had forgotten where I started on the scale so I did not know how much. I did know that none of my pants fit anymore unless I added a belt. I had not NEEDED to wear a belt in a VERY long time. I was happy about the belt except on days that I forgot it and had to hike my pants up all day. Now I am struggling because I want to wear clothes that fit but I think if I lose 10 more pounds that will be another size smaller. If I buy clothes that fit now they won't fit in the fall. I could be so lucky right? So I bought two new pairs of capris today at Kohl's . Both at just a smidge snug so if I keep at it I should be really comfortable in them in a week or two.

So the plan for losing 10 more pounds in to MOVE! Dr. wants 40 minutes every day! I'm going to give her 40 minutes 6 days a week. Today, Sunday, is supposed to be my day off but maybe, just maybe, I'll be compelled to hit the treadmill for 30 minutes. It sure beats nothin! Which is what I had been doing for the last three months. We bought the treadmill in January and I did pretty well with it in Feb and March but then we folded it up when company came and it took a long time to unfold it and then I was too busy. Well, Fred and I are both back at it. He is only walking/running every other day but again, it sure beats nothin!

So here is my dilemma. If I continue to eat as I always have, (read - not very well) but I exercise like I NEVER have before will I lose weight? Can I shrink if I eat what I want? I have yet to find a vegetable that I love besides corn and from what I read that hardly counts as a vegetable.

Okay, I'll keep y'all up to date with my progress. Hopefully it will keep going in the right direction and maybe I'll need to go down 2 pant sizes by this fall. Maybe?

Clean up mean INSPIRATION!

SO I am cleaning out my email inbox that has WAY too many emails in it and as I delete I keep soming across notices of comments on my blog. These notices are from 2007 and 2008, which just tells you how many emails I have in my inbox. Now I delete the "junk" but those comments I kept. No need really, they are here on my blog, but I did. Well, as I look back at the comments I am reminded that I received those comments because I USED to write regularly and share things that people took the time to comment on. I wrote about funny childhood memories, anecdotes of my beautiful children and about the "happening" life that I once lived.

It is time to be INSPIRED and get back to writing! I heard from a friend recently that you can call yourself a writer IF you write every day. I am hoping that by the end of the summer I can call myself a writer and a walker/exerciser. Just one step at a time and I should get there!

It's not over. Perhaps it's just begun.

Wow! It's been awhile. Sorry about that. I'm here now. I have some stuff to write about. Some goals, some direction, not a plan though. Do I need one of those?

Well, summer is upon us. Boys are sleeping later, staying up later and eating on a very WONKY schedule. Actually at this moment Will isn't home. He hasn't been here for 4 days! Perhaps the longest 4 day so my life so far. He has been attending the Lonestar Leadership Academy in DFW but it feels like he is  a million miles away.

Nic has enjoyed being an only child for the week but I don't think anything special has happened because of this. I took him to lunch and to the library but I did the same with Will when Nic was in Houston a couple of weeks ago.

So the reason for getting back to blogging. Well, I guess I want to attempt again to document my journey through life. Things are racing by and I want to capture just a hint of it.

I'm on the cusp of 40. I am headed toward health and longevity. I am taking some steps toward physical health in the form of blood work, information, exercise, consults on hearing and the oft put off colonoscopy that is only 5 years overdue.

I am moving ahead as PTA President and Treasurer and am headed to Austin, TX next week to attend the Texas Summer Leadership Convention. I am learning and growing and changing and I'm happy. Really really happy. That is fun to say and I'm glad to be there.

The boys and I are departing on our first road trip for 2 solid weeks in 13 days. We are going to drive over 2500 miles and be in at least 8 states. It will be an adventure for sure and one I need to document.

In the past couple of years I have really let my scrapbooking lapse. I still buy stuff and create things occasionally but I need to put the memories and stories with the photos. Maybe getting back to the blog will help with the memories and stories part.

Okay, time to shuffle Nic off to bed and get my one more sleep before I get to see Will tomorrow. I miss my baby and having him away makes me so grateful for him and all that he adds to our family.

To be or not to be...

The president that is.

I have been approached by more than one person to consider the open position of PTA President. I am flattered and humbled and scared by this. While simultaneously I am excited, motivated and inspired to lead with GRACE. The humdinger is that this is an offer to consider the position on the Elementary PTA. The school where I will no longer have any children in attendance. I have been joking all year that I will be the presence at the school next year with no kids . I'll be helping with school pictures and not need to fix my own child's collar. No one seemed too bothered by this scenario but maybe that is because I am just a really well trained warm body and I am willing to do whatever is asked. So the fact that I don't drop a kid off there shouldn't really affect my job/volunteer performance.

So, is it weird? Are they just desperate? Can I add something to this organization to the positive? Will parents think it odd to be represented by a person who is not parenting a child at their school? I suppose as president I am really much more of an organizer than a representative really. I rally the troops. They carry out the tasks.

I have already agreed to being the PTA Treasurer at the Middle School next year. This is a job that scares me too but in very different ways. The treasurer has to submit paperwork to the State Comptroller and the US Treasury. That is SCARY to me. You see people on the news going to prison for messing with the Gov't. I would never intentionally defraud the government but the question is could I do it by accident and be held responsible? Gosh I hope not. It is an important job and one that I have gained much respect for this past year as I helped a friend work through the maze.

So back to the presidency position. Like I said, I am flattered that people see me as a leader. I guess all the leadership training is HS and the Marian College Student Council positions are being put to the test right here and now. I am looking upon the position as an opportunity to serve my community. We don't have strong ties to our church, and am not so inclined to become involved in the community of Frisco, I don't think I am ready for that jump yet. I don't have a full-time job and my kids are becoming increasingly independent. I find that PTA responsibilities certainly do impact our family time in the evenings but... by 7 many people in this house are ready for me to the leave for a bit so it kinda works out. I feel like if you are going to put time behind an organization and still want to be able to prioritize your FAMILY at the drop of a hat or say the spike of a fever then PTA should be a pretty forgiving organization to be involved in.

I adore the elementary school that is just 4 short blocks from my home. I see the kids from there constantly as they are my neighbors, we shop at the same grocery store and their mom's are my dear friends. I support the things they do and I want to remain a part of that. I can move forward with my boys. I can support them in middle school and still have this little elementary nugget that is mine. I will see my kinder friends who I bonded with last year, who are now first graders and will next year be second graders! I will have continued reason to interact with my buddies who call me Mrs. Bakery instead of Mrs. Baker. Or those special friends who slip and call me Miss Susan right in the middle of the hall!

I have spoken with Fred about the potential involvement and he, of course, thinks I am a little wonky for wanting to remain involved. However, he does support me in my habits and addictions and realizes that serving and volunteering is good for my soul. When we spoke at lunch time today he made a couple of very reasonable requests. He wants me to look at both PTA positions as jobs and plan a workday for each position. That is surely more easily said than done but may be a good way to carve out the time.  He of course wants me to try to limit, within reason, the impact these positions have on our family and I totally get that. He asked for me to look into some technology upgrades that would keep the Treasurer info off my computer hard drive and with his AMAZING tech support that request is more than reasonable. I love that man because he loves me and now I don't have to think any more about buying the foreclosure down the street and moving in with all of the other PTA ladies who's husbands are going to put them out because they do too much. That is such a relief. Good luck girls! I'll be sure to come by when you host GNO.

I guess that I have just convinced myself to be.

Blogging on the go!

So i have this wonderful phone that my hubby got me for my birthday last year and i find out today that i can blog right from my phone! Yippee! Hope it works smoothly!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.7

Boys and their toys...

Nic wanted to get a new Nerf gun today. He had a couple of gift cards from Christmas and maybe even his birthday so he figured he could spend them. Now please recognize that we already have a nice Nerf arsenal upstairs. Each boy only has two hands so I'm uncertain why we would need more than the 5-6 guns we already own. Well, something out there was better somehow and Nic wanted it.

I have tried many times to encourage and discourage certain purchases by my children. Limiting Pokemon cards, YuGiOh cards, Bakugan and most recently Bey Blades. Seems that if I give them an inch and say yes, you may buy one or two that they are unsatisfied and would of course prefer 5 or 6. Will recently used some Valentine's money from his Mamma to buy a double pack of Bey Blades. He then used some saved money to purchase a stadium for the Beys. He was satisfied with those purchases until...

Until Nic wanted a new Nerf gun. Then all the sudden Will was trying to sell me Barnes and Noble gift cards for cash so he could get a new Nerf gun too. I didn't bite. I don't need B&N gift cards and Will doesn't need a new Nerf gun. He needs to realize that they money he chose to spend on Bey Blades two weeks ago and last week impacted his ability to purchase a Nerf gun today. Tough lesson? YOU BET! Good lesson? I HOPE!

What type of mom am I?

So I was watching Good Morning America while I was on the treadmill this morning. Yes, you read right... I was on a treadmill, moving and making progress... And they had a segment about types of mothers. Helicopter, Tiger or Hippie were the options. They had three teenagers, products of the three different mothering types, attesting that they were only better off because of the style their mother had chosen.

I absolutely recognize the helicopter and hippie mom in myself at times.

I deliver lunches when forgotten (but NEVER snacks! Gotta draw the line somewhere). I remind my kids that I haven't signed a practice log or Thursday folder. I ask multiple times if they are sure they really want to sign up for _______ and do they realize the commitment that ______ requires?

On the other hand I let my kids run outside to play and not tell me EXACTLY who they are playing with and for how long. I let my kids ride their bikes to the park 5 blocks away ALONE. I'm crazy like that. A little too free for many who live around me. I even let them pick out their own clothes (although I draw the line at skulls. I refuse to buy clothes with skulls on them).

I just don't see myself as the Tiger Mom. If I were a Tiger mom my kids would be boring. I love that my kids are FUNNY! I mean really really FUNNY! They have great comedic timing and the sarcasm... It is genetic bliss. Tiger moms apparently don't encourage free thinking. They don't even encourage free TIME! I LOVE free time! I live for free time. I got really stressed this past fall when Nic was in the play and Will played baseball. There was NEVER a real conflict but just the fact that there could be stressed me out.

Sounds to me that being a Tiger mom is full-time work and I just love part-time gigs. Just like I enjoy subbing for 1/2 day. Now I do realize that parenting is a full-time job but it is not work. I love my JOB but I hate to WORK! Guess that says plenty about my future earning potential. Lucky for me mothering my two amazing boys pays in DIVIDENDS! Just as the kids on GMA gave their moms each a grade of A for parenting, I think my kids know that I am devoted and proud and feel VERY VERY BLESSED to be responsible for any small part in the amazing people that they are becoming.

Where have the blue boxes gone?

When I was growing up there was a blue mailbox two blocks east of my house. There was another one on a corner near my school and an third a little further by a mall entrance. Of course I could always take mail to the Post office, good old Bacon Station. Or I could simply put my letter in my own mail box where the smiling mailman would pick it up fight from my porch.

So recently I needed to mail a bill, which I don't like leaving in my own mailbox at the curb, and was trying to think about where the closest blue box was. I thought and I thought and that box sits outside of the USPS building 4 miles north east or three miles south west. There aren't blue boxes on any corners between here and there. There isn't one near the school. There isn't one near the mall or even the grocery. There aren't mailboxes anywhere around here except the drives in front of the post office.

That got me thinking about why there are not blue boxes on corners anymore. It surely takes time to stop and unlock and unload a mailbox. The USPS is losing money like some people lose their hair. They need to work smarter not harder so maybe that is why all of the mailboxes are gone. Additionally, there are bad people in this world who look at the USPS as their personal means to an end. They want to use the USPS to do their dirty work for them and deliver bombs or poison to people while they stand back and wait. Maybe you can't drop a letter or package in a blue box any more because the USPS wants to see (and/or record) who sends what packages through their system. Maybe there are many more reasons that the blue boxes are missing. Maybe they are expensive to build? Maybe the blue paint used to keep them bright was lead based? Maybe someone considered them more of an eyesore than a service?

I do not know the answer. There is probably more than one anyway. But I do wish there was a blue box two blocks to my east.

Looking for change in the couch.

My least favorite time of the month is bill paying day. Fred has left this task up to me for a few years. We have passed it back and forth over the life of our marriage. It's my turn but honestly I am almost ready to pass it back to him.

I always find that we are cutting it so close (which is a relative statement). We have never NOT had money for clothes or food or a fun family activity. Fred provides for our family very well and for that we are all so thankful. We have our bills and donations direct withdrawal for the most part so it's not like I am writing a bundle of checks but just clicking the accept button and watching the balance go down and down and down ain't fun.

In reality we are well provided for but I always wish I could respond to every request for funds that comes to my mailbox. St. Judes, the American Heart Association, the homeless shelter, the band boosters. Shall I go on? I suppose I just want to help and know that in order to help others you must help yourself first.

I think the root of this anxiety lies in the fact that I contribute so little financially to our bottom line. I am the primary spender not the primary earner and that is my reality. Not looking to change it but somehow wish that someone would pay me every time I cleaned a toilet, made dinner or folded a load of laundry.  That kind of sounds like I want a job cleaning houses THIS IS NOT THE CASE! I loathe cleaning and would certainly not be worthy of being paid to take on such services.

I suppose the best I can do is continue to sub and keep my personal spending in check and set a good example for my children about prudent spending and prioritizing spending, saving and giving. And if I find a $20 bill in my winter coat from last year that is a bonus that could be shared with the American Heart Association.

The boys are challenged...

This past week or two have been challenging for both boys as they wrap up a grading period, take semester exams and begin taking TAKS practice tests. It often amazes me how hard they work and how successful they are and how seriously they take it all. I mean they aren't slackers and for that I am so proud! My boys are smart but can choose to be lazy or motivated and I am always thrilled when they choose to be motivated!

The schools that the boys attend are both the type that will not let them slack. They are watched and counted and supported and that is GREAT stuff! I just wanted to take a second as Will writes a final copy of a paper on Madame Marie Curie and Nic studies for his final semester test which is Science to acknowledge that I see that they are driven. I see that they put in the time and I know that it is partly my responsibility and but mostly theirs to complete and success and commit! I love my boys!

6 days in already? WOW!

So the week had been pretty mellow.Kids are back in school. I am trying to not run around and spend any money since all of the Dec CC bills are here. I was Martha Stewart yesterday when I stayed home, made lasagna and foccacia bread from scratch all the while laundry sheets and other stuff.

Today I was in bed. After I got the kids out the door I went back to bed. I do this sometimes and it is GREAT! Anyway I was resting pretty well when I got a call to sub. Thinking about the bills and my wonderful friends in the office I said YES and set about my day.

I didn't need to be at school till 11:30 but I got moving and made myself presentable and headed out to run an errand before heading to school. I put in my time at school and even got to press some VERY important buttons to turn off a fire alarm after a drill. The pressure I tell ya! They do not pay me enough! Tee Hee. Yes, they do. I might even do it for free. Actually sometimes I do sub for free. Let's not make too much of that though. I prefer to get paid.

Anyway I did my time in the office came home changed clothes and went back to school for a meeting. It is time to plan the end of the year 5th grade party and since I participated with Nic I feel the need to be involved with Will. It's only fair right? Well, the meeting was a good start. There were a dozen people there ready to make it fun! YEAH! I committee of 12 is BIG but the party is a BIG deal so we'll need all hands on deck.

After the meeting I returned home and helped with homework for a few before typing minutes from the party meeting. My job is done for the week.

I am soooooo looking forward to tomorrow. I am helping my pal Susan set up for a SCRAPBOOKING weekend at her house that I get to attend! Then I am going to lunch with the core of the Band Boosters then I am coming home to pack and stack and head to Susan's. It has been WAY TOO LONG since I scrapped and I am excited. CAN YOU TELL?????

So to prepare for that kind of fun. There will be food and drink and music and dancing and scrapping of course. I need to get to bed! Hoping I can grab some inspiration in my dreams tonight.

The return of order... kindof.

My life will never have real order. I don't really want it in fact. What I do want is a little routine. I like to know who needs to be where and when. I like to know what my responsibilities are with regard to house and kids and spouse. It seems that when we have a break from school (aka routine) then I am in the unknown.

The boys returned to school today and were AMAZINGLY easy to get up and moving. They both ate good breakfasts with eggs and the works. I made about the most perfect omelet of my entire life for Nic this morning! Yeah me!

Once I was able to get everyone off to school I sat for a few and just enjoyed the stillness. The house wasn't really still, lots still going on around me, but it felt more still than it had in weeks. Literally.

After everyone left and I had enjoyed the stillness I moved and moved and moved. I did laundry. I showered and dressed for the day. I ran the dishwasher. I went to the grocery. With a list! I returned phone calls. I faxed. I planned dinner. I had lunch. I worked on my OLW project. I got a headache. I got frustrated. I slowed down. I took a pill. I rested. I tried again. I got the boys. I made dinner. I finished laundry. I invited family time. I blogged. I succeeded!

And now with a true sense of accomplishment I can rest. But before I do I will take a moment and pray. I will pray for peace in my heart. Pray for friends who are ill. I will pray for travelers and students and parents I know. I will pray for my kids and my husband. I will pray for my sister and brothers and parents and those whom they love. I will pray in thanksgiving and I will pray for my wants and God will listen because it is part of the routine that we have. God and me. That routine stays even when the kids are out of school.

Grace

That's it!!!! That is my OLW for 2011.

GRACE

I had a LONG list.... I narrowed it. I researched. I narrowed some more. I reduced it down to 5. Then I just jumped in and held on and now I'm letting go and hoping that GRACE follows!

My goal in using the word GRACE is deep and shallow and everything in between. I have signed up for a year-long class through Big Picture Classes that will be taught by Ali Edwards. Ali is the one who has inspired my OLW in the past three years so this opportunity to get her perspecitve and guidance through this year is pretty appealing.

So, it is out in the universe now and I will write more and share more about the whole impact of my OLW in my life this year.