Spring has sprung...

I've been bad again and have to AGAIN refer to the calender as a reminder for what life has been for the past 2 months.

February:

There was the usual: school for the kids, work and sports officiating for Chris, Girl Scouts, guitar lessons and a vacation (well...from school). The month started with my first big event as PTO co-president - a benefit supper for a boy who lost his mother way too early due to violence. The night was a HUGE success in so many ways! Jake had his hearing retested and passed with flying colors and a distinct lack of tantrum according to Chris. Liz and I hung out in the waiting room. We had a family night in Portland. Chris, Alexa, and I enjoyed a hockey game while the twins hung out at the hotel with Kayla and Sean. The hotel we stayed at had a shuttle service which was great since it was snowing, again. Alexa got invited to hit the bars with some of our fellow riders but we reined her in. The three of us also enjoyed a night of UMaine hockey while the twins got to hang out at home with Lauren. Despite being a UMaine alumni this is the first game I actually attended in it's entirety. It was fun and the seats were great (box). Alexa made friends with the guys in the skybox with us. I wish I'd had a camera for the look on her face when she got tapped on the shoulder by Bananas the Bear. We followed the game up with

pizza and milkshakes at Pats...ahh takes me back to the good old days.

March:

In addition to the usual was the arrival of the Girl Scout cookies. Getting them delivered and the money collected is always fun (can you sense the sarcasm there...). We also did 2 cookie booths and I think I ended up having as many orders during the booth time as were sold the first round. I started guitar lessons with Alexa after they switched to Sunday nights. I am loving it! We had more doctor check ups courtesy of allergies and some rental viewings (none of which have panned out yet). Spring arrived officially on the calender at some point during the month, although you wouldn't really have known it thanks to the cold and snow. Alexa got the crowd going at the FVS Talent Show with a joke routine, a combo of ones she's written in class (to make a book) and found online. She was the youngest to participate and did great. The month ended with all the kids starting indoor soccer. And Alexa FINALLY had her 7 year check up at the beginning of March. That was the most rescheduled appointment ever I think.

And some pictures...

in her spiffy new UMaine hat - go Black Bears!

enjoying a cool yet springlike day

Sunny day play in Maine = warm coats, hats, and wading boots!

Showing off their Irish spirit...

January 2011

Here we are, already into the second week of what is already a very short month! January passed somewhat quickly in a blur of snow and sickness. First everyone caught a stomach bug, with Alexa getting the worst of it. J and E were barely bothered. Nevertheless it was not fun. Then she managed to get strep but thankfully no one else got it.

And the snow! If it wasn't canceling school it brought about delays that kept the twins from school. All of it also meant rescheduling appointments over and over again. Next week A will finally have her 7 year check up.

January also brought the start of speech therapy for J and E at school, plus OT for J at the headstart. It's only been a few weeks but already they are becoming easier to understand and learning how to use the correct sounds in the correct places. J's easy adaption to being left alone at headstart has been amazing. The first week I stayed with him. Then we had a holiday. The following week we were met at the door by his therapist. He took off his coat and off he went without a look back! Now if I could only say the same for E. She wasn't very happy about J going off to "school" without her. I took her to Moody's for some breakfast and that seemed to cheer her up. When we returned an hour later to get him she really wanted to stay and "have her turn".

A started a K-3 basketball program. According to her dad, who is also the coach, she's been showing some emerging skills. Good for her...I know I was horrible at basketball. I could run and dribble but couldn't get a basket in the hoop if I was standing over it (okay...slight exaggeration).

We also had it confirmed that should the pending sale go through on our building we will have to move by spring. So in addition to life in general I've been living with a knot in my stomach as we try to figure out what our next move will be. There isn't much in the housing department here in town. The one lead I had hasn't panned out as I can't seem to get a call back. I must admit the idea of moving into the "city" has it's appeal. More school options, daycare options, shorter commute to work, stores, and the library, which is handy as a 1 car family. But then you add in that we'd have to change and leave friends behind, again. Granted they won't be far away but even 30 minutes makes a huge difference. Even A is torn, she doesn't want to leave her friends but seems open to change.

Goals for the new year

Instead of snoozing last night in my bed I took advantage of the technology in my hands, AKA my cell phone, and wrote myself up some "goals" for the new year. For some reason I like that word better than resolutions. Maybe because it's smaller and easier to spell. I can't say for sure, but I am just going to go with it.

After writing them up I emailed them to myself. And decided tonight that rather than keep them hidden I'd post them here, hopefully to remind me (when I remember to blog...) to work on achieving them.

So...without further ado...my 2011 goals!

1. Exercise daily starting at 15 min per day. Encourage kids to do it with me!

2. Eat meals where they belong - at the table.

3. Practice meal planning to save money and time. Healthier meals with proper portions.

4. Improve my diet to be a good example. Lots of water, fruit, and veggies.

5. Take time for me that doesn't involve a book or the computer. Crocheting, sewing, scrapbooking. Okay...so in reality the computer is a useful tool, when you're not over occupied with facebook. So really I guess it should read "less time on facebook playing games".

6. Spend more time playing with the kids. Coloring, games, puzzles, reading, pretend. Be a kid with them.

7. Organize housework to try and keep the house from looking like a disaster. And remember that I am not the only person responsible for the condition of the house. It takes 5 people to mess it up, therefore more than 1 person to clean it up.

I did get off to a good start today. The kids ate at a table, had a reduced amount of tv time (of course all the traveling we did sort of brought that about), and got at least 20 minutes of exercise in between my walking video and arm exercises. And I got loads of research and ideas down for meal planning and housework planning. Each of these activities does have a down side. With meal planning - something simple that all in the house will eat is hard. Sometimes I can't help but think I'd rather be tortured than cook for my family. And the housework...I'm not even sure where to start there. I'd like to blame the disaster on a robber who decided to eat some popcorn and left a trail. But sadly I only have myself and the 4 other people in my house to blame.

I suppose instead of researching any further on any topic I should put myself to bed. Because sadly, my little darlings will not be waking me up with breakfast in bed tomorrow. They'll likely drag me out of it and demand to be fed at once while watching their favorite cartoon. Or drag in whatever it is they've decided to snag out the cupboard that is not a breakfast item for me to open. And fuss horribly when I say no, hoping that I'll give in. And yes...sometimes I do give in.

Happy New Year!

Goodbye to 2010 - a very busy year. And to 2011 - sure to be even busier than the last.

I just spent a few minutes looking over old blog postings. In March, now just 3 months away gasp, I will have been blogging for 3 years. Doesn't seem possible. But good thing I did because while reading I realized how much I had forgotten from just last year....

What's the best way to sum up 2010? Well....we survived it! And we are all intact and pretty much sane ;)

What are we looking forward to in 2011? Hopefully happy, and healthier versions of ourselves. A move may or not be in our future, depending on what happens with the building. And that leads as to question where we would move to.

Last year in pictures:

January 2010

February 2010
March 2010
April 2010
May 2010
June 2010
July 2010
August 2010
September 2010
October 2010
November 2010
December 2010

Christmas 2010

Christmas this year was an experience to remember. To start it was one where Chris was a total scrooge. He actually enjoyed himself, and had to be told to rein in on the Christmas gift shopping for the kids.

We started the festivities with a lovely Christmas Eve dinner at my mom's, joined by my brother and his family, and my dad and stepmom. I love that despite being divorced for 27 years, that my parents can come together for family events. The only one missing was my sister, but she was visiting her mom's side of the family.

Once we got home everyone got into pjs and settled in to watch The Night Before Christmas. Then set out cookies, eggnog, carrots and a note for Santa, before being tucked into bed. Apparently Alexa awoke around midnight deciding it was time to get up and shower. But eventually Chris talked her back into bed. I, blessedly, heard nothing.

I was the first to wake, followed by Liz. She was so funny - had completely forgotten that it was Christmas morning. She was focused on getting a donut for sleeping in her own bed all night. Chris and I had to prod her a bit by asking her who had come, and what those stuffed things were on the couch. Then she got excited and went to wake Jacob and Alexa. They quickly got into their stockings and were happy with what they found there. Especially Jake when he discovered things to eat!

Then it was onto gifts. Jake and Liz really got into the gift opening this year. They were happy to tear in, but also happy to look at and examine what they got. By the end though Alexa was getting a bit of a frown. She wasn't very happy that Jake and Liz seemed to be opening more gifts than her. I could read that as clear as if she'd been holding a sign. So we decided to let her open the last unmarked gift.


I think she was happy with what she found inside!

We cleaned up and got ready for Chris's family to come. They brought loads of gifts for everyone to open. Alexa got elected to play "Santa" now that she is old enough to read. But she needs a little more training - she was trying to hustle everyone along! We took a break for lunch and then got back to it. It was a day filled with fun, family, and good times. But not many pictures because my batteries kept crapping out. But that's another good thing about family - they are there to take pictures!