Discovery of a More-Present Mother #1

Apparently, my daughter is well-acquainted with the school nurse and frequently visits her office.

I have never received a phone call from the school nurse regarding Evie's well-being.  Clearly, Evie is a bit of a wimp.  I only discovered this because Luke needed minor medical attention and the nurse announced, "Luke isn't a frequent visitor to my office, but I do see his sister more often . . ."

Ah, well . . . at least Evie knows (and has announced) who her favorite person in the school office is:  The School Nurse. 

The school auction is coming up and one of the items is a half day with the School Nurse, including lunch.  I think Evie might actually have some interest in this item.  I would have never guessed until yesterday.

Four Whole Days

[Okay totally had pictures, but I'm having issues with uploading them for some reason.]

Four days at home with the kids and I'm telling you I'm so glad they went back to school!  Still, we had a lovely time together.  Friday, I took them with me to deliver Meals on Wheels.  They weren't impressed.  It's more of an investment on my part, because it doesn't matter to them today, and it won't matter to them next month, but it might matter in 10 years when they look back on what we were doing.

When I was in junior high and high school, I used to go with my grandfather to volunteer to sing at a nursing home in Michigan.  It was not comfortable and it wasn't "fun", but it mattered, and it makes my heart happy to know that I did it.  I also used to volunteer to help with BINGO at a nursing home in the town where I grew up.  We went once a month with my church group and it also mattered.  I'm glad I did it.  I hope I can share similar experiences with my children.

Yesterday, we went to Chuck's office so that Evie could sell Girl Scout cookies.  It is a painful experience because she is so ridiculously shy.  Next time you see us, you can have her give you the speech.  It's gut-wrenching for me to watch it, but I have to remind myself that I used to be just as shy.  I try to have patience, but it is difficult.  We will just keep practicing, and hopefully someday she will break through that shell and show everyone the strong, confident lady I know she is.

After selling cookies, I took the kids to visit Lighthouse for the Blind of Fort Worth.  I know I've talked about it before, but I'll remind you that it is the organization that I've had the pleasure of working with for the past two years to put on the Shot in the Dark night golf tournament and wine tasting.  It is an amazing organization with similar sister organizations throughout the country.  The kids were so impressed!  The director, Nancy Fisher, gave us a tour.  As a former first grade teacher, she had the kids riveted.  I was shocked at how well-behaved they were and engaged.  She handled them perfectly!  I highly recommend touring one of the Lighthouse facilities with your kids, or even with your co-workers.  It's an amazing place, and we met so many of the workers - all of whom said hello and were very friendly to the kids.  They employ individuals with significant vision loss (many completely blind, but all legally blind) and the things they do will amaze you!  At our Lighthouse, some of the employees work with saws and industrial staplers.  It's absolutely humbling to realize I could not possibly do the things they do each day.  And the kids were simply fascinated by it.  In fact they kept talking about it throughout the day, which means it really stuck.  I'm so glad!

We wrote thank you notes when we got home and I had them draw a picture of something they saw at the Lighthouse.  I was shocked that they sat down and did it without any complaints.  Evie even wrote her name in Braille.  So awesome!  What a great day!

Damn, it's early.

I have three children at home with me today because the kids have no school today.  The little stinkers woke up at 6:40 a.m. this morning, ready to go, bright and bushy-tailed, and entirely too happy to be awake.  What the hell happened?!  These are the same kids that refuse to wake up on weekdays.  They groan, moan, roll, kick, and throw things when you wake them up at 7:00 to get ready for school (they are very much like their mother).  So, what in the world caused them to wake up all happy and shiney this morning when they didn't have to go to school and I had the chance to sleep in?!  Argh!

They've been pretty well behaved despite their early morning.  And they were great when I dragged them along with me on my Wheels on Meals deliveries today.  They were great!  Nonetheless, I'm certain that a bottle of wine will be in my hands by 5:00 p.m.

Happy weekend, folks!

I'm not that bad of a cook. . .

I was browning chicken in the kitchen this evening for the kids (even though it is unlikely they will eat anything unless it has been processed thoroughly by the food industry).  George was playing with his cars before he walked into the kitchen and asked, "Mom?  Could you keep that smell down?  I don't like it."  Needless to say, he hasn't eaten a bite.

Where am I? Where are you?

Holy crap!  It's been a LOOOOONNNNNNGGGGG time!  Hope you all are well.  I'm getting into the swing of my new lifestyle, but I can't say it isn't without some challenges.  I've often stated that I wouldn't make a very good stay at home mom, and I was correct!  The kids whine everyday because I don't let them go play at the park before going home to do their homework.  I'm mean.  Maybe I'll let them stay today and play in the snow - yick. 

So, here's the update. 

1. We went to Disney World for Christmas.  The kids were not particularly excited, but they are now talking about "when they go to Disney World again . . . " and what they will do there.
2. Christmas was weird.  You know it's my favorite holiday, but this year we spent it in a hotel in Orlando.  The kids hung out at the pool and I watched with envy while it snowed (ON CHRISTMAS DAY) in Fort Worth.  What the hell?!  Chuck was annoyed because I pouted about missing the white Christmas all day.  What can I say?  I really, really like Christmas and the idea of a white Christmas makes me pee my pants with excitement.
3. New Year's Eve was spent at with our friends Caroline, Wayne and Eva.  Evie and Eva are convinced that they could be twin sisters.  They are practically inseperable and want to live with each other.  We are doing our best to convince them that they are not actually twin sisters.
4. The kids spent a few days with my brother and sister-in-law before going back to school. They had a blast!  I love it when they have fun with their cousins.  I'm going to have to reciprocate now that I have a little more time on my hands.
5. The kids finally went back to school on January 8.  They were not happy about it, but we are getting back into a routine even though it is new and different now that I'm picking them up from school.  They keep asking me when the babysitters are coming back.  I think they are disappointed that I'm back for good.  Plus, I refuse to buy them crap and take them out to dinner all the time because we don't have my salary to spend as generously as we used to.  They don't get it and are plotting ways for me to make money.  I roll my eyes.  Spoiled little kids.
6. George and Evie started basketball.  Evie inherited my complete lack of athletic ability. She said she wanted to play basketball, but she stood there the entire time playing with her nails.  I'm not so sure about this.  As we say . . . at least she's pretty.  George, on the other hand, is a freaking rock star and LOVES basketball.  He'll do just about anything to go to basketball practice or get to see his coach - Coach Troy.  Coach Troy is an attorney I worked with at my old firm.  He and his wife may be the kindest people I know.  So glad they are willing to put up with this crazy family.  Coincidentally, Evie's coach is also an attorney that I had the pleasure of working with on one of my cases in the past 18 months.  Weird, right?
7. With my changed career, I have been able to volunteer for Meals on Wheels. In my opinion, this is one of the greatest organizations in the community.  I've always wanted to do this and I'm finally able.  I LOVE it!  It is so fulfilling and provides a feeling of community and giving back with direct and obvious benefits.  My first delivery was last Friday.  Best. Feeling. Ever! The kids don't have school next Friday so I'm planning to take them with me on my deliveries.  I hope they will see how much good can be done in the community and how much need exists too. Maybe, just maybe, they will see that they've got a pretty good life full of "wants" but not very many "needs."
8. Next Monday the kids also don't have school.  That's right, it's a freaking four-day weekend after two weeks back at school.  Thirty days ago, this would have been a major headache with Chuck and me playing "Rock-Paper-Scissors" to decide who would stay home with the kids and who would get to go to work.  Now, I'm handling it all on the homefront.  It has brought a lot of calm to our lives.  Anyway, I think I'm going to take the kids for a tour of Lighthouse for the Blind - my other favorite non-profit organization in town.  It helps that I'm on the inside with the people who run it.  In fact, I was honored to serve the Christmas dinner to the employees on December 20th.  I am so very blessed.
9. In other news . . . I'm FAT!  Aaackkk!  To be frank, I really enjoyed doing all the things that made me fat - holiday food, Disney World, drinking, Champagne Thursdays, etc.  But, now it's time for me to haul my fat butt back on the diet bandwagon.  Barf.  I hate dieting.  Hate. It.

Now, I have other posts about Disney World that I put together and just never got posted, so please look for those soon.  Hopefully, this is my return to the blogosphere, although I can't say that many people missed me.  My mom, Chuck, and FWAtty were the only ones who even mentioned my lack of blogging, so at least I'm not letting down a huge fan base.  What a headache.

Hope you all have a beautiful, cold Tuesday!