The end of May...already!

So I haven't blogged since February. On a day to day basis it doesn't seem like anything is really going on, but when I think back to what has happened since February, maybe I should catch you up.

I've applied with the county, and I've had 4 interviews at 3 different schools. That was April. I haven't heard anything yet. When I call, I'm told that they have to place all the early hires and transfers before they can offer positions to new hires. So I wait anxiously by the phone, alternating between, "I'm an excellent teacher, of course I'll get a job" and "Nobody likes me, everybody hates me, I think I'll go eat some worms." Unfortunately these mood swings happen 20 times in one hour, so my days are fraught with emotion. It's really unfortunate for the kids.

All 5 of them. Yes, I still have Nicholas, Arley, and Julia, but the countdown is on! 13 and counting...my last day with them is June 15th. Arley and Julia should be gone by 5:30. My house will be completely un-baby-proofed by 6:00, and I will be drunk by 7:00. I've invited the neighbors to come and watch, disguising it as a neighborhood "welcome to summer" cookout. I hope I have a job by then!

We'll be leaving on June 23rd to go to my parents house. Jesse has been called up to go to Iraq, and is leaving around June 25th. I'm still not talking much about my feelings on this subject. It's in God's hands, and I need to just trust in Him to keep my baby brother safe, and bring him back to me. Jesse being brought to believe and trust in God is my other great wish for him, and I pray for it everytime I pause to pray...for patience, a job, time to go to the bathroom alone, etc.

We'll stay at mom's for about 10 days, then we're home for the 4th, unpack, do laundry, re pack, and leave for Topsail Island on July 7th. W'ere joining my best friend, Anne, and her family for 2 whole weeks! The husbands will join us for part of the time, and the rest will be blessed peace and quiet. Ok, with 5 kids, maybe not quiet. But a bad day at the beach is better than a great day anywhere else! Pat was concerned that the kids would be bored for so long; my response to that was, "Who cares? They'll complain about being bored if we were at home, too."

I'm holding August open for teacher training. I had better have a job by then.

Time for the bus, more later!

NO MORE SNOW DAYS, please?

We got a few inches of snow Monday night, followed by a few more inches of ice on Tuesday. The temp has not risen above 30, and is in fact dropping. The kids have not had school since Monday, and I'm about done. Nicholas is home with mom, but Arley and Julia are still here, and Sam is here, too. We've done crafts, bounced in the moonbounce, watched new movies, made fun, messy snacks, taken naps, fought, been separated,..over and over again! Today is only their 3rd day off, but I'm ready to drive them to school myself and leave them there! The main roads are completely clear, but even our road is still a sheet of ice. We're going out today to run some mundane errands, in hopes that just the sight of the rest of the world will be enough to cure our cabin fever. They better have school tomorrow!

Snow day?

So they're saying we might get a "wintry mix" this afternoon. It is insanely cold, so anything that falls could make the roads difficult to maneuver. My first thought is, "yeah! I could use a snow day!" My next thought is, "Wait. Sheri can still bring the girls over since she can work from home...AND I'd have Samantha...." More kids, nowhere to go...Ok, maybe a late opening would be nice... To be honest, I am feeling cheated out of not being able to look forward to snow days with great anticipation...I guess there's always next year!

So I'm spending this insanely cold day inside with the fire on. My duckie pajamas will not leave my body, and the basement will be a free-for-all while I curl up on the couch and watch reruns of sitcoms or scrapbook.

Could be worse, I could be at Head Start.

Caution: Changes Ahead

So I'm going back to work next year. Cameron will be in full-day kindergarten, and I no longer have any excuse for staying home. How do I feel about this? Mixed, definitely mixed.

I love waking up in my jammies, washing my face, brushing my teeth, and putting my glasses on. And staying that way all day long. Going back to work will mean waking up early, showering, (with conditioner and maybe even...shaving legs?) putting something nice on, and doing hair and makeup. Wow. I'm tired already. I can't use spending my day with adults as a plus, since I'll just be going from 5 kids to about 30. Of course, I won't have to make them lunch or change their diapers, or even just wipe their bottoms. That's a big plus.

I can't wait to feel like I'm doing something important again. In my heart and in most of my head I believe that raising children to love God and each other, and to be somone that others respect is the most important, sacred job there is. That's why I've been able to stay home for so long. But I'm ready to be important to the rest of the world, at least for a little while. It's hard to go to the Christmas party with Pat and respond, "I babysit." when someone asks me, "So, Stephanie, what do you do?" I guess they should be happy that I don't go into detail...

2007

Cameron tells me every day, "Mommy, it's two-fousand-and-seven." While I should be amazed and touched at how excited he is to know something that for adults seems so mudane, for me it just makes me think, "That's how old I feel right now." Well, maybe not that old, but close.

Christmas is gone. A friend, upon hearing how fast Christmas disappeared from our house, commented, "Santa comes Christmas Eve, and the Grinch comes Christmas night." By Wednesday night everything was put away, taken down, vacuumed up, moved back into it's place. (Except the wrapping paper. It's still sitting in the garage. Yes, Anne, it's still sitting.)

The fun new Christmas toys have become old, and the children can no longer find anything to play with. I, however, am having a blast with my new Palm Pilot (more on that later), my bluetooth, (Samantha is embarrassed when I wear it out in public. She tries to pull my hair over my ear to cover it up.) and my new Brighton jewelry. They know my name at the store I frequent (literally), and almost have my phone number in speed dial.

My new Country Curtains curtains are finally up, and they look beautiful. I am such a nag! Every expert in the world says that nagging is not the way to get things done, but if I waited until Pat was "ready" he could cover my casket with the curtains. Just a joke, when it's my time to join Jesus in Heaven, I want to be cremated. Does the Catholic Church frown upon that?

The Zirkles came into town for the New Year. We were all in heaven, having them here again. True, the noise level in my house was insane, and those Zirkle kids wake up at ungodly hours, but I miss them so much when they're not around. Sam had a hard time saying goodbye too, and not because talking hurt her head. Her head was fine, unlike mine. Yes, we had a New Year's party. And it was awesome. And we all paid for it dearly the next day. I just can't wait til the recycling is picked up so I can put milk cartons into my recycling receptacle again...

I'm going back to work in the Fall. I've known for awhile that I'd have to go back when the kids were in school full time, but I was thinking, like, 6th grade. You know, when I would just embarrass them if I was around. No, Cam will be in full day kindergarten next year and I no longer have an excuse to stay home in my jammies, watching soaps and eating bon bons. My application to teach for PWC is going in the mail tomorrow. Pray for a speedy job offer at the one school I'd like to work for...

My Palm Pilot is my one of two of my new plans for 2007. It is fabulous. Not only does it keep my calendar, contacts, and to-do lists up-to-date and right at my finger tips, but it also keeps my shopping list for me, helps me remember which books I still want to read, and I can even play Solitaire! I'm still getting used to using "graffiti," but it could be worse. I'm hoping that having everything in one place (actually 2 because it automatically backs everything up onto my computer) will keep me from double-booking the family. You thought I was organized before, but now I am truly the QUEEN. Except that I'm spending so much time putting stuff into my Palm that I'm really behind on laundry. It's on the list, though! I can actually have things that show up on my to-do list that need to be there every day. For example: laundry (it will never, ever, ever be done!), the dishwasher, showering... So if you don't get to it one day, there it is again the following morning! Fabulous. Seriously.

My second plan for 2007 is something I read in a book recently. It's a book about praying for your husband. I'm not very far into it yet, but the main focus of the beginning chapter is the age-old, "Don't try to change him, it will never happen." Instead, your first prayer should be, "Lord, change me." It's my new mantra. I also love something else she says: the husband is supposed to be the head of the house. Does that just get your hackles up, or what? It did me, too, until I read the next sentence which (to paraphrase) says, "Let him be the head of the house, and you be the HEART." Wow. I'd much rather be the heart of my household. What a neat philosophy, and a new way of thinking. It's only the 7th of January, but we'll see how it goes.

Sam finally lost that annoying tooth that was hanging on only by her will to not bleed. Yes!! I did such a happy dance! Now she's found 3 more that are starting to feel lose. I seriously doubt my ability to make it through the trauma that accompanies losing teeth, at least for this little girl. She is my heart, though.

Have a wonderful, happy, prosperous, or at least uneventful 2007, and remember that the writer of this blog is thinking of you often, and keeping you in her prayers....

Love,
Me

Christmas with children

I really enjoyed the photos of Anne's new house, all decorated for Christmas. However, I found it to be a bit misleading. She has kids, so there are pictures that were left out. For example, here are my house pictures:

Do you notice how the tree is leaning? Does it remind you of anything, say, the leaning tower of toilet paper? Yes, Pat helped put up the tree. The funny (?) thing is, it doesn't look crooked to him. Notice the lack of ornaments on the top of the tree. The kids decorated this one, even though they have their own tree in the family room. Also notice how I tried to pretend that we don't live in a gated community...see it at the bottom of the picture? Wait...better example...

When Julia tries to reach her hand through the gate, I say in my best, no-nonsense voice.."Juuulllliiiiiaaaa." She then cracks us all up by responding, "Uh-oh!"

Our Christmas trees must be turned on first thing in the morning, and stay on all day (as decreed by Cameron.) However, he is his father's son...before we go anywhere (grocery store, preschool drop off, out to play) he has to go around and turn all the lights off, even if we're in a big hurry.

Sorry to digress, on with the tour:

Sweet holiday pic of my beautiful miracles, my favorite holiday decorations (SNOWMEN), and Cameron's ever-present nebulizer.

My most favorite, very expensive Southern Living at Home purchase. Good for holding beverages for a holiday party, makes a wonderful planter, etc...

Mine is filled with diapers for Julia.

Cute snowman, huh? Can you find his nose? Thank goodness I did, or it might have gotten sucked up by the vacuum!
As a response to the broken nose, my most precious snowmen got moved. Can you see them without a pair of binoculars they're so high? Seriously.
I should start a pool about whether or not I'll actually get the deluxe gingerbread mansion (and train too, of course) put together before Christmas.

Santa will be leaving the loot under the tree in the family room; trying to maneuver through my living room is not worth the wrath of Cameron if you knock the train off the track! This steam engine is a nice complement to the diesel engine that makes my bedroom another danger zone.

Their bright eyes, wondrous imaginings, contagious excitment, blind faith, and precious artwork?

PRICELESS.

Ok Anne, show us your REAL pictures!

New Mexico