Driving Home

I tend to get more agitated on the return trip. I want to be home, in my bed. I want to see David, Ozzy and Buddy. I want to get back to my routine and get some SLEEP!

Our drive back is the same path. We tend to pick a time to stop rather than a destination. My goal was Smithfield, NC and I made it. Zachary picked the hotel from the coupon book I picked up. Cracker Barrel for dinner, as usual. Zachary mastered the golf tee game; Helen is still stymied by it. It makes her mad.

Too much fast food, too little sleep and too much togetherness makes for a miserable trip. Behavior is off the chart crazy. At least we had a good few days. Maybe some rest will get things back on track.

I am a bad mom and a nerd.....

I am a bad mom because while my children are risking life and limb on a 4 wheeler, I am sitting inside with mango rum and air conditioning posting useless junk on my blog. As long as they keep passing the front door at a regular interval, they are OK, right? Right?

So, I bought a new lesson plan book today at The School Box. I am very picky about lesson plans books because I seriously need visual organization and lots of space. I am really digging this one because it has space on the inside to write objectives and methods, but the facing page allows me to break down art, music, centers, etc. I also bought spinner thingies to make games, new calendar numbers, a book of story time activities and "Fruits of the Spirit" posters. Religious posters for classrooms are pretty hard to find when you live in an area with NO teacher supply stores. I will bore everyone with Fruits of the Spirit at a later date! I know you cannot wait!!!!

Home

I am visiting in the town where I grew up. I come down about once, sometimes twice, a year. Many things are different; other things remain very much the same.

Of my 42 years, only about 19 of them were spent living in Covington full time. I have lived in California, other parts of Georgia and South Carolina. I have lived in Maryland for almost 14 years. I have lived in the same neighborhood the entire time, the same house for 13. I was always very involved in church and other groups. Now I work where my children go to school. Guess you could say it is "home" now. Covington will always be where I came from, but the longer I stay in Maryland, the more it seems to be my home. I am less and less likely to leave. Would I if the opportunity presented itself? Probably. Would I go to Covington- can't answer that one. I do admit I wish I saw my family more, and some times I feel like I am missing something.

I am never homesick for Maryland though. So I guess the sentiment that home is where the heart is rings true. Home is where David, my children and my dogs are. Sorry to be such a sap.

What if's........

are a dangerous thing. One can really get lost in them. What if's are perfect; reality is messy. Even when you are happy with your current state of affairs, those what if's can crop up and bite ya when you least expect them.

I have many what if's- everyone has at least one. What if I majored in basket weaving instead of physics; what if I had said "yes" to that date; what if I never made that decision..... If someone tells you he doesn't have a "what if", he is lying. One of my what if's really makes me think some times. Things might not be better, but they would be very different, for many involved.

I am happy in my current place in life. I adore my children. I love my husband. I have the best job in the world. But I still wonder.......

Thirteen!

1. I am leaving for GA this morning.

2. My car is packed, batteries are charged, water is in the cooler.

3. Driving that long with two kids who cannot get along is not fun.

4. I hope we have good weather and traffic.

5. I pray that there are no car problems, and no speeding tickets.

6. I pray for a peaceful trip.

7. I pray that my mom will be on good behavior.

8. I pray that Helen will also be on good behavior.

9. I am sure I will miss David by next Wednesday.

10. I am sure I will miss Ozzy by Sunday.

11. This trip always stresses me out.

12. I need a cocktail just thinking about it!

13. *Sigh*

Rude much

Scene:

I am at the pool, talking to two friends, Annie and Betsy. A third person walks up, says hello to me. A minute later a fourth walks up. Third woman (who I do not formally know) says to Annie and Betsy, "Annie and Betsy, this is my sister in law." Says nothing to me. Umm, I am still standing here in midconversation with Annie. Per any etiquette rules I have ever learned, this is also the opportunity for lady-I-do-not-formally-know to say, "I'm sorry, I have forgotten your name, but I am Judy and this is my sister in law, Jane." So now I feel awkward and invisible. And she still doesn't know my name even though she sees me every day and we obviously know the same people. Also not in keeping with any etiquette rules I have ever heard of, as they were intended to make people fell at ease. Why are there so many rude people in this world? Do they just not think?

I really need to get motivated

I am looking forward to getting to GA. I really am. So why am I finding it so hard to get ready? I have not done the laundry, packed one thing, made a list or anything! This is not like me, either. Just can't seem to get started. I think part of it is that I am dreading the drive. Two kids fighting in the car for hours is not fun to me. Listen to them call each other names is not either. I guess to get there, I have to endure the travel portion. Why have they not invented teleporting?

To do list:

clean out my car (so David doesn't have to drive around in crumbs and trash)

clean out David's car (cuz he is not as neat as he claims)

LAUNDRY!

Clean out gerbil and hamster cages

Iron

Change kid's bedsheets (so they come home to a clean bed)

Gather power cords, chargers, dvd players, nintendos, games, dvd's, mp3 players, cameras, batteries, lap top, books, etc. (this is the hardest part)

Fill prescriptions

Go to the bank

Shop for drinks, snacks

Pack

Load car

Lots to do, lots to do!

Going to GA

The count down has begun. Less than one week to go. Time to start making lists and packing for our trip. We will leave on Thursday, July 15th.

I usually take I-95 to I-20, stopping in Lumberton, NC for the night. We will eat dinner here. After dinner, we will swim in the hotel pool before going to bed. Our usual bedtime routine: watch tv until they are ready to fall asleep, turn off tv and lights. I will start out in bed with Helen because she will insist. Once they are asleep, I can turn the tv back on. Typically I will end up in bed with Zachary because Helen is on top of the covers and/ or kicking me in the spleen.

Morning brings showers, car loading (I always pack one small overnight bag for these trips, but all three of us have pillow issues- we can't sleep on someone else's) and waffles in the hotel (the kids can make their own- really cool for them). We will stop here along the way, stocking up on this for David.

I am praying for good weather, light traffic and few potty stops along the way. And, if you are in GA, I hope to see you!

I'm the one.....

that you know will volunteer.

that will get the job done.

you can count on.

that you never really talk to.

that you meant to invite, but forgot.

don't give a second thought once I leave the room. Until you think of something I can do for you.

13! for Thursday

1. My back is achy and I guess I need to visit the chiropractor.

2. It has been unbelievably hot- over 100- for the past few days.... so glad we have a new air conditioner!!!!!

3. Time to start washing clothes and packing for the trip.

4. We all need haircuts!

5. I wish I had something fabulous to do today.

6. And the money to pay for it!

7. Maybe I should just go take a shower.

8. And clean the bathroom.

9. Perhaps put away the laundry.

10. I need to paint the kids' bedrooms.

11. Really, the whole upstairs needs paint.

12. I wish I could go work in my classroom.

13. 6 more weeks until school starts back!

Fitting in

Am I the only one who still feels like I am in middle school? I never seem to fit any where; making friends is hard. It always has been. I have many acquaintances, a couple of close friends, but not very many. I don't have one of those, watch my kids and I'll watch yours friends. I don't have "family friends"- the kind that your whole family hangs out with. I wish we did. I really do.

And then I see my children, especially Helen, struggle with making friends. And it is that much harder. I realize how lonely I am. Am I the only one who feels completely alone even when surrounded by many people?

I Don't Understand.....

why you did not even speak to my child today. You are a mean and nasty person and I really can't stand you, but Helen is only 10. She is your niece. She USED to love you.... guess what- not any more. And your Godson doesn't even remember your name. I wish I didn't.

Poolside Picnic

We go to the pool every day (getting my money's worth!). Helen has swim team practice from 12 to 12:45, so we usually take our lunch. So I guess I really don't get a break from packing lunches! There is a concession stand there- the usual hot dogs, burgers, pizza and fries.... It is expensive, not healthy and certainly not allergy friendly. Once in a while I will buy snow balls (once I told the kids they had to buy their own, they stopped asking- funny how they don't want to spend their own $$$), but we always take our own lunch and snacks.

Here is an example (cuz I know the world wants to know what I had for lunch):

This is one of the kids' containers- turkey (on white cuz Dad went shopping), with cucumbers,

pretzel crisps, cantaloupe and red grapes.....

I had a salad- mixed greens, chopped egg, cucumbers, GEORGIA tomato..... the small containers hold ranch dressing and Salad Sprinkles:

(i really need to get rid of the incorrect date stamp, grrr)

Dairy Update-

Number of Days with no Dairy Products- 3

Number of days without a Melt Down Tantrum from Hell- 3

Coincidence? Maybe, but the fighting between siblings has reduced (because she is less irritable?), the constant wanting to eat is down, she has been, dare I say, PLEASANT??????? She hasn't talked back ONCE!

I know it is too soon to say for certain, but I must say, even David noticed and commented...... Considering the battles have been DAILY, three days is a beautiful thing!!!!!!!

This has not been that difficult....... a typical day.....

Breakfast (she likes to make it herself)

Vann's frozen waffle (they also make a gluten free)

Maple syrup

Soy milk

Snack

peach, pistachios, water

Lunch

Turkey sandwich on wheat (plain- she doesn't like condiments)

red grapes

pretzels

Snack

Strawberries

Dinner

Mustard Chicken tenders (recipe to follow)

Cantaloupe

Corn on the Cob with a smear of Earth Balance

Limeade

This is how she eats any way, but she had been using a lot of cheese, sneaking yogurt, etc....... She was drinking WHOLE regular milk at school until I nipped that one (helps to know everyone in the cafeteria, lol). Hopefully we will see a little weight control to go along with the improved mood!

Feeling better plus a food rant

I don't know if it was getting adjusted yesterday, being dairy free for 3 days, swimming and being more playful with my kids or what, but I feel good today. NO PAIN!!!!!!!! I had forgotten how it felt to not hurt all the time! I do know that I need to make major changes in my lifestyle or I will end up crippled by my lifestyle. There is simply too much at risk.

Sadly, everything always comes back to money..... How will I keep swimming when the pool closes for winter? How will I continue to eat better foods and avoid processed things (I don't care what folks claim, ten years ago fresh produce did not cost more than processed- now the more that is done to it the cheaper it becomes). Wheat bread costs twice as much; brown rice does, too.

See this , and this . This article has several cooks preparing a meal using a budget and food stamps. In case you have not yet figured it out, I am not a wealthy person. I am struggling like pretty much everyone else. Our family's income took a big hit 11 months ago. I refuse to give up the Catholic education I want my children to have, so tuition comes before many other things in life. Unfortunately, this includes groceries......