Allison's Snow Pet

I forgot to post this pic right after it was made, but this is Allison's first 'big' snowman that she has made by herself.  She's made little bitty ones before, but this one was about as tall as she is.  I am so proud of her.  She rolled the body pieces herself, and lifted them up by herself.  She came in the house for carrots and whatever else, which ended up being a dried fruit mix and spaghetti for the arms(!).  I love the little ears on top, thus it is a snow pet. 

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Stay at Home Mom?

When Allison was born, I was fortunate enough to be able to become a stay-at-home mom with her.  It has been a wonderful experience.  I am especially so happy and blessed to have been able to be at home with her especially during those first few years of her life.  As she has gotten older, it's gotten to be more of a challenge, really need those "mommy time" breaks, as she is a great kid but can be strong-willed and challenging at times (as all kids can be at times). 

Well, Allison is in kindergarten now, and goes three days a week to school.  Next year, she will be in school all day, every day.  The dilemma I face is whether or not I should look to return back to work, full time or part time, etc.  Bruce has told me that I don't have to, and I definitely appreciate that.  I would really like to return to the classroom and teach again.  It would be a HUGE adjustment again, basically going through that "first year" again.  Plus, I really don't see myself teaching in the public school setting again.  I just find it extremely daunting, and looks very stressful.  I still really want to teach at Allison's school, but who knows when a position may open up.

Sometimes when I tell someone that I'm a SAHM, but then go into some of the other things that I do, they do comment that I don't seem to be at home all that much.  Then I think that they are actually very right.  I keep very busy, and if I did go back to work full time I would have to give a lot of this stuff up.   Let's see, homework center three afternoons a week, tutoring 5 to 7 or 8 kids per week, Allison's afterschool activities such as dance, subbing at Allison's school (although that ebbs and flows), our church's Board of Christian Education (which can take a lot of time, especially when it's time to prepare for VBS), teach Sunday School and preparation each week for that, two other volunteer board positions, which don't take a lot of time, but board meetings at least monthly; currently I am on a committee for school for Lutheran Schools Week in March, and that is starting to take a lot of planning and organization time.   Like, seriously, I don't have TIME for a full-time job!


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Roller Skating

We very possibly have a new recreational passion at our house -- roller skating!  She had gotten a pair of Disney Princess skates as a birthday present a few years ago, maybe when she turned 3 or 4, and she did pretty well with them at home.  She liked to skate with them around the house, but we never went any place else, primarily because I don't know how to skate -- I can't balance on them for NOTHING!  She outgrew those, her feet got too big, so she asked for another pair of skates.  My mom/her grandma bought her a really, really nice pair of roller skates for her 5th birthday, I think.  They are super nice, and still fit.   She took them to use last night, and when I went to pick her up she was rolling round and round the floor like a little pro.  She went with some friends of ours, and the older sister said that "Allison was persistent...when she would fall down, she would just get back up and keep going!"  I think that is super!  I wish I had my camera!!!


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Last Hump Day of January

I just kind of figured I ought to come back and update the blog somehow.  However, I can't think of anything intelligent to write about today.  Oh, it's not that things haven't been going on; it's just that nothing 'exciting' has been going on....same old, same old. 

Another snow day last week, some more snow, a little icier this time, school this week going well so far, tutoring good, meetings fine, Sunday School and church were fine.  Bruce's cousin from Smith Center and his family came for a visit Sunday afternoon, so we weren't able to go down and see mom and Amy, Tim, and Shelby, however, on Sunday :(    I miss that little baby girl!  She's so doggone sweet!

Allison had another basketball clinic day Sunday afternoon.  They will 'perform' Friday night at the boys' game.  I am not terribly excited about going; I do of course want to have and see Allison do her basketball thing, but I don't necessarily want to go fight the craziness of the crowds up there. It's nuts.   However, the girls are actually in a different tournament this week, so they do not have a game, so it is just the boys, so maybe it won't be quite as bad of a crowd, so I suppose we can go.

The next week, however, Allison is going to a cheerleading camp, and they will also perform at a high school game. Now, that one is one that I am SURE I don't want to go to...it's both boys and girls!  We'll see what happens.

Allison went with Bruce to Hiawatha yesterday afternoon to broadcast the high school girls' game from that tournament they are in.  She didn't say much, but I think she must've had a pretty good time. I think dad liked having her along. :)


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More Basketball Clinic

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Good Morning

Up and at 'em early this morning.  Had tutoring at 8:00 this morning with the boys that I've been seeing for about four years. I say that, and we have had a heck of a time getting together since May of 2010. It's been really really bad...like this is the third or fourth time that I've seen them since May!!! I don't really do much with the older one,and I keep telling the dad that, but he still comes.  I guess he enjoys my company! :)  One of my Saturday morning appointments had a funeral today. You know, things like that cannot be helped, and I certainly certainly understand and I am honestly not complaining, but it does make it really really hard when times are set up and then for this reason or the other they can't come.  It's not a big deal every now and again, but sometimes it seems like it's much more often.

Oh I almost forgot...I got a new blu-ray DVD player from Wally World the other day.  I don't have any blu-ray DVDs, so why you may ask did I get one....   Well, I LOVE my Netflix!!!  They did, however, raise the rates on the plan I was on.  Not a big deal, but I wanted to reevaluate what I am using Netflix to watch...  I actually probably am watching more "Instant" movies/shows right now. It works fine on the computer laptop while I'm working, but it can slow it down sometimes.  So I ordered myself a Christmas/birthday present from Bruce :).   I picked it up Site-to-Store on Thursday evening, and I actually got it hooked up Thursday night!  Needless to say, I was very proud of myself! :)

It also has access to several other movie internet channels, but you do, of course, have to pay for the movies or shows and they are like at least $1.99 a piece from what I was seeing. Not bad if it's a new release, etc., but I am getting a month for like $8.99 pretty much unlimited Instant movies.  A lot of them of course are older movies, but that is cool too.  Either I haven't seen them anyway, or I don't remember them.  There are also tons of old TV shows, and I'm really into documentaries right now, especially the Ken Burns ones.  There are a number of those on Netflix Instant Watch now.  They do rotate in and out some movies, too, but I'm not sure how frequently they do that (as there are some more recent movies on the "Instant Watch" list also).

In addition, there is access to YouTube, Picasa Web Albums, and Pandora...very, very cool!!!! :)



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Winding Down, Winding Up

Well, according to the Bruce-man, the temps tomorrow are supposed to warm up to more appreciatable (is that a word?) temps...into the 30s or so.  So, that will help melt some of the snow in our area, which of course then means lots of mud and brown.  That's part of that darned old water cycle though, huh?  It wasn't 'too' bad today temp-wise, but MAN oh MAN was last night CoLd!!!!  Geez-oh-pete!  So, the cold weather temps may be winding down for a bit, at least until the next spell, huh?


What is winding up then?  Basketball.  Oh sure, we've had Tuesday/Friday games going for a bit, but next week starts the TVL tourney here in the area (small schools) and I believe the Marysville boys are in a tourney over at Seneca, then the following week or the next the Marysville girls go to a tourney in Hiawatha.  I am going to be a basketball widow, Allison will ask me who her father is, and we will get used to being 'on our own' only to have to adjust to when daddy is home again in the evenings.  Oh honestly it's not bad or anything, however, it is an adjustment back and forth every year.


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Brrrr

Brrrrrrr....baby it's cold outside!   But the kids went back to school today after two days of snow days, so, as I get ready to go to the Library for Homework Center, I am preparing myself for all the stories and non-motivation for doing work.  (sigh)   Ahhhh, to be a kid again......



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Havoc wreaker!

Stupid snow day!      IEP meeting for a kid I tutor this afternoon - cancelled


Allison's dance class (paid for already, of course) - cancelled


5:30 tutoring with a brother/sister - cancelled!




Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr



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....still counting

All weekend, frightening predictions:  6-8, 8-10, 10-12!!!   Getting everyone all worked up!


Yesterday morning we woke up to a 'dusting'...well, okay, a heavy dusting...probably about an inch or so....    Were we going to get what was predicted?


Last night late it started in, and I woke up this morning to Bruce on the radio telling me that virtually all area schools had cancelled school for the day.  :(  bummer!   However, I remind myself how happy I was when I was a kid (and even a teacher) when there was a snow day.  As a mom, of a kid, who only goes to school three days a week, however....SHE NEEDS TO BE IN SCHOOL!!!! LOL

Our back deck at 9:00 a.m. this morning.  Still snowing...so we'll see how much more we get.


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Marysville Sport & Rec Basketball Clinic

Marysville Sports and Rec, along with the high school boys basketball team, is sponsoring a month long clinic on Sunday afternoons for one hour for kids grades kindergarten through 6th.  I signed Allison up for it primarily because it's another activity to get us out of the house and to get some exercise.  

She is normally a kid who is ready to get out and get going and excited to do pretty much anything new that I'm throwing her way. I'm so thankful.

The basketball clinic was not that way!

I really had to talk Saturday night to her. She was very nervous.  All through the day on Sunday she kept asking about it. 

Thankfully, when it was all said and done, we left the clinic yesterday, and she says, "Mom, I really liked the basketball clinic. I had a lot of fun."   Well, Hallelujah!!!

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Letters to God

I was totally intimidated to see this movie....    Any kind of movie or book or whatever that has to do with kids and sickness and 'bad' things happening to the kids just TEAR me apart.  Although I've always been this way, once I had my own kid it all changed.  It is so true about nothing more intense than a mother's love for her child.  My heart just hurts when I think about my beautiful daughter.  I don't know what I would ever do if something bad happened to her. I pray every single day for her continued good health and safety.  I love her so much. 


This is a very touching, loving movie. Highly recommended.






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Back to School

Well, life returns to as normal as we can have it be right now....Allison returns to school on Wednesday.  We were driving home this evening, and I reminded her that she has school tomorrow.   I asked her if she was excited.  I expected her to say yes, but alas she said no.  I said, no? really?  Why not?   "I want to stay home with you mommy...."   Ahhhh....how can I argue with that?

Dontcha....

just love when you are getting ready to leave the house, with just the right amount of time to get to your destination, and your car won't start!!!  Grrrrrr....

University of Kansas Men's Basketball

The radio station carries both Kansas and Kansas State football and men's basketball, thus we are considered "affiliates."  A few years ago, KU gave us some tickets for a football game. It was tons of fun, but that hasn't happened again.  K-State has never given us anything as affiliates.  This year, KU once again sent some tickets, this time to the men's basketball game this evening, 1/2/11.  I had been to one other men's basketball game in Allen Fieldhouse with Bruce several years ago, but this time we got to take Allison along.  I have a feeling that with the success of Kansas men's basketball program, that tickets to games are pretty hard to come by.  It was a lot of fun tonight, even though we were in what I would consider "nosebleed" section. :)  

Princess Castle

My little miss found this castle in the Cricut booklet "Once Upon a Princess".  I had seen it before, but hadn't tried it because, yes, it looked very difficult (and it is to a certain degree).  She asked me to make it for her.  Well, what can a mommy say?  It was difficult in some ways and not too bad in others.  I must admit I will probably make another one again someday, and hopefully embellish it and make it look even prettier. :)

Our Lives

The other day I made a post about being in charge of our own lives.   I think I need to reevaluate that comment.  At the time, I was trying to convince myself that basically destiny has very little to do with what happens in our lives, that we make decisions and choices that influence what happens.  


While I still wholeheartedly believe in the fact that we make choices in everything we do in our lives, I also believe, however, that the Lord has full control over our lives.  We can do nothing without His help and guidance.  It is, however, up to us to choose to follow Him. The other choice:  the temptations from Satan.  Unfortunately, there are times when that choice just seems so much more attractive to us, but we must ask ourselves if it is the correct or appropriate choice.  


I don't want to sound preachy or goody-goody, but it just seems that so many people go through life blaming others for their own poor choices in life. Heaven knows that I have been tempted, that I have made very poor choices in my life.  I am not proud of it, but I'm also not blaming those decisions on someone else.  

Happy New Year, 2011!!!