Smart Alec Backtalk

I work and work until I'm half dead..... Today is day one of no facebook. My gmail account was where all my facebook comments went for me and I really liked all those comments. (janjanmomatgmaildotcom-just in case you want to fill a void) Google reader kind of killed blog comments...oh yeah and word verification. You have to really be committed to leave a blog comment! However, I can't really say that I miss it.

I know that my kids do. They do agree the punishment is a fair one and they are trying to earn it back...and they might. I miss the chores for facebook time arrangement. They will still do chores, they just won't do it so eagerly.

Facebook allows alot of superficial relationships to make superficial contacts. Of course, some of the people are great friends I have lost contact with...but I would rather have a lunch date than a status update. My kids lost the privilege of facebook. I just took a sabbatical. I don't think I am going back. I've always loved blogger more. One online communication outlet is plenty.

All in a Day's Work

It started out well. It actually was a great day...until leaving 4H and then the next hour. Then it was a crappy day. Really crappy. Question your ability to parent kind of day. Thank your lucky stars you have a spouse driving the kids home while you attend a Bible study on raising your daughters. Realize God meant for you to attend it, so he sent you reminders to make sure you attended.

Delete Facebook from life. Enjoyable, yes-but I think it is not helping my daughters develop into the people God created them to be. (That is not a judgement call for anyone else's children-so don't hear that and think I am getting preachy.) I hope we can all get it back when we develop some face to face and problem solving skills. For now, it is a crippling thing that had to go.

Tomorrow, a doctor appointment with my mom. YAY. I'm so drained right at this moment, I can't imagine getting up and having another day of running...but I will survive!!

Aren't you glad you read my chipper post? I did NOT love this Monday...so I am declaring tomorrow my new Monday!!

Snow What?

We have snow!!! We have snow!!! I've been oddly chipper for me for the middle of winter, I can't seem to keep a smile from creeping onto my face every time I see it. Especially when I was out in it today and it was falling like crazy. Or when I was watching the science bowl team having a snowball fight. I wasn't smiling as big when my van slid a bit a few times, but all is well that ends well. Snow makes me smile.

Early this morning I woke up, saw snow and had to wait to make some calls about whether or not practice for science bowl would be cancelled. All public schools and school functions were cancelled. However, we homeschoolers are a mavericky bunch and practice was on like Donkey Kong.

This meant early morning drop-off of Kayla to Sandy's because she was wonderful enough to help a friend in need (and already heading that direction!). (My mother-in-law kept the other two because she is wonderful.) This allowed me to get to my doctor appointment, the one I have been waiting for for 3 months. The one I somehow crazily scheduled for 8AM!!! On a snow day. I was in and out in less than an hour and plan to have all of my appointments at opening on snow days. I read less than one page in my book. Then I went to Kayla's practice and waited for them to finish. Watching made me really miss academic team and math team. Such fun. Eve and I laughed though, that at this age, by the time he gave the multiple choice answers, we had completely forgotten the question. Getting older has so many perks, NOT.

After returning home,(and some while we were relocated at various places) we got our school day in. I save our days off for purty weather and we took a full break at Christmas, so no more days off for us for a while, snow matter what! I hope my fellow West KYians are smiling about this snow too. It is still very stinking cold, in fact, we are due to reach single digits with negative wind chills. However, with some pretty snow, it's all good.

Laughter is the BEST Medicine

Mom's night out with my homeschool peeps is one of my favorite occasions. Laughter does a girl good and there was plenty of it. We discussed everything going on in our lives and all left with a lighter load on our weary shoulders.

Motherhood is a tough calling. Working outside the home or not, there are sacrifices to be made on a daily...sometimes hourly basis. Selflessness just becomes a way of life when the kiddos are very young and if we aren't careful, we will find ourselves, well, SELF-less. Having lost our way and who we are. I am thankful God has placed people in my life to remind me not to do that. To still do nice things-for myself. To take time out-for myself. Because really, if I don't take care of ME, there won't be anyone else stepping up to do it. I will just become angry, grouchy, resentful and burdensome. By taking a little ME time from time to time, I can keep myself a bit more even keel.

And this has been...Deep Thoughts, by Janice

Productivity

Productivity feels good!! I have accomplished alot. I have waded through two banker boxes of paper. Some of it is no longer in my life and almost all of the rest is filed away where it needs to be. That is a good feeling. tomight is Mom's night out with my homeschool group and I am hoping like crazy that there will be a good turn-out. I think many people are in hibernation mode.

We had a good school day yesterday and we are prepped to do it again. I'm glad I did not listen to the inner voice telling me to just sleep.

By the way, the movie I was quoting is my new favorite Disney character, Doug the Dog from the movie UP! He reminds me of Daisy. Because he LOVES me. And Hula, even a few good men have a hard time handling the cold!!

Back to School!

This morning I was first awakened with some plumbing matters...we live in an old house. Old houses always have plumbing issues. Most of them are easily solved with a plunger. Slow drains are just a fact of life until we bite the bullet and re-plumb the house using more modern materials. Some of it has been done but there still remains more to do. MOVING ON...I lay in bed thinking, no I do not want to start back to school today. Then I heard my own voice in my head telling countless people we would be starting back today. But, most importantly, I told my children we would start back today. So we eased into school mode. We are out of shape, we are not early, we are not eager-but we are back. I am determined to have a kick-butt rest of the year as we travel about less and stay home more during this cold cold weather. The more we do now, the more fun we can have when it is warm and sunny.

I can handle you cold weather. From the warmth of my home in my jammies assuring myself over and over, this too shall pass.

Stinkin' Cold!

As much as I make fun of my friend Hula for being such a lover of hot weather, I'm pretty sure I can speak for both of us here and wish for some warmer weather in this neck of the woods! I can only enjoy cold when there is snow-enough to build a snowman. Then it is all fun and seems like a holiday experience. This shocking cold all around just serves no purpose...unless it's killing fleas and skeeters. Is it killing fleas and skeeters? I might be willing to endure a few more days if that is the case. Haha...like I have a choice.

I have managed not to hibernate although our travels are at least cut to half. I just don't want to get out. The kids aren't feeling the same way but we got some really cool games for Christmas we have been playing so it isn't all bad. Plus, I bought some wonderful FRESH Playdough the other day just because.

Other than that, I have little to share. It has been a really good week. PLUS, I realized a blessing that I have previously not really paid enough attention to: My kids always kiss me goodnight, sometimes more than once if they go get a drink and then walk by me again. Some kids might outgrow that, I hope mine never do.

Name that movie:
"I was under the porch because I love you. Can I stay?"

This Is the Day

...I must take my eldest daughter to Hobby Lobby. She received a big ol' dollhouse and needs glue and to pick out some furniture. She has been asking to go since the shopping fiasco on Dec 26th. AND I, have been putting her off. So now it has been five years in kid time that she has been waiting. But it is sooooo cold outside. I am fighting with all I have not to hibernate. It helps that we had hibernate day all day yesterday. I would like to sleep all winter, but I cannot allow myself the privilege.

The new year is here at last. We have had a really good week. Lots of fun and funny things. Lots of games. If you do not own Rush Hour, I can't recommend it enough. It is a one-person puzzle. The goal is to get your cool little red car out of a traffic jam. As soon as one of us puts it down, someone else picks it up. It is as addicting as tetris for puzzle people. Scrabble Slam has been a let-down so far but I will wait until someone besides Lilly plays it with me to make a final call.

Last thing, I am reading Same Kind of Different As Me and it is phenomenal!! It is going to be one of my top ten faves for sure. It is a true story. Very touching and at the same time uplifting.

I guess that's all I got. HAPPY NEW YEAR!