Ahhhhh......

Nothing beats the feeling of satisfaction on a Sunday night. 

Don't get me wrong, I have the "Sunday night yucks!" too.  But having completed the tasks that needed to be done, makes the "Yucks", a lot more tolerable.  Even with Monday morning looming, I can relax.  Or get as close to relaxing as possible.

The largest and most obvious of weekend tasks is laundry.  I don't mind folding and putting laundry away.  It's sorting it and getting it in the washer and dryer that alludes me.  I don't know what it is, but it is my least favorite part of it.  And I don't do laundry during the week unless I absolutely have to.  I know a lot of people do, but I just let it collect in laundry hampers until the weekend.  So, if you want something special for a certain day....make sure I wash it the weekend before and don't dirty it before hand!  I'm sure when the kids have game jerseys and things that need to be washed midweek, I'll make it happen, but not now.  There isn't time.

Then there is the fact that we have been on the go for the last few weekends and the house hasn't gotten a good cleaning.  And by that I mean I have half bags of things that have come in from the van and various outings.  Hats and mittens from the pumpkin patch, magazines and coloring books from our camping trip, church clothes and cameras from last weekend's Thanksgiving at my parents, pictures and books from a trip to the lake.  And then there was the kids' art supplies..huge mess.  I made the kids do that.

Then the cleaning of the kitchen, the kids rooms, changing the sheets, cleaning the mail table, cleaning out the Engaged Encounter bins for next weekend, picking up the back porch.  All the things Chuck did, raking (for the 3rd day in a row!  My hero!), cleaning out the cars, weather proofing the windows.  Crazy!

For tomorrow, lunches and bags are packed, complete with Halloween costumes, breakfast is ready to go, and coffee is made.

But we also had a lot of fun.  We went to the lake and helped rake and haul leaves.  I didn't do much, I admit...I'm too pretty to work!  :)  Just kidding, but that is what I told my sisters.  We went to the pancake breakfast after church.  Yummy!  We picked out and carved pumpkins.  The kids did a corn maze.  And we had a "B" dinner....brats in buns, bbq chips, broccoli, boxed berry juice for the kids, beer for mom and dad, and brownies for dessert!

All and all a great weekend, but now I am happy to sit and watch the Amazing Race in my clean house with great smelling candles and relax.  Ahhhhh......

Tuesdays

I have not hid the fact that Tuesdays are my least favorite day of the week.  Nothing good has ever come from a Tuesday.  I usually try to just get through the day without it doing too much damage to me.  Today was no exception.

It wasn't a horrible day, but it wasn't great either.  Maybe if I highlight the good points, I won't feel so bad about the day.

1.  I got a lot of compliments on my outfit today.  I went shopping this past weekend and got some new clothes.  I am really enjoying my new wardrobe.

2.  My NHS group is doing a great job planning an upcoming "Lock-in for Leukemia".  I am really proud of them, we just might pull it off.

3.  My seminar class is kicking butt on our door decorating contest.  I think we are going to win if we pull it off.

4.  I have a new book.  Actually, two.  James Patterson's "Now You See Her" and Jaycee Dugard's "A Stolen Life".  I got them at the library.  I'll let you know what I think when I'm done reading them.

5.  We had a good dinner, chicken and dumplings.  And I made chocolate chip cookies.  Yum!

6.  I left the house and went to the pool.  I took initiative.  It isn't my fault a thunderstorm started and they made us clear the pool in the middle of my workout.  At least I tried.

7.  I got excellent hugs and kisses from my kiddos.  Enough said.

Those are all good things.  I don't think it is enough to make me like Tuesdays, but I guess I can put a check in the "good day" column.

My Confession

I hate to run.  I know that lots of people like it, and it is the thing to do, but I hate it.  I have a dad who runs, a brother and sister-in-law who run marathons, and a crazy awesome sister who run ultramarathons.  Even my other sister enjoys running.  I don't.  I never have.  It was my goal as a member of the track team to do whatever I had to NOT to run.  I know that doesn't make sense, but it's the truth.

What I do like to do is swim.  I think the best thing to ever happen to me was to get cut from the jv basketball team.  It sure didn't feel that way at the time.  But my dad told me that I wasn't going to sit around the house all fall so I could run cross country, play tennis, or swim.  Well, I have no idea how to play tennis and we have already covered my feelings on running.  It wasn't pretty at first, but by the end of my first season I realized that I may have a little talent in this area and my love grew from there.

After swimming in high school and college, I needed a break.  I know a lot of the people I swam with did the same thing, and some of them never want to see a pool again.  I guess if I had spent 18 to 20 years swimming, I might feel the same way.  As it is, I only spent about 7 years competitively swimming.  I did need a break, and in the process, had two children and gained a bunch of weight. 

I never stopped enjoying the idea of swimming.  It's been a while since I have really been in the pool to swim.  Once in a while, I would go and try to do a few yards, but I was never serious.  So here is my confession.  I have been swimming pretty regularly since August and my goal is to compete in a Master's swim meet sometime this winter.  I realized that seems a little crazy.  I am not trying to break records or do anything phenomenal, but I would like to race a couple of races.

Although that is my goal, I am really enjoying the working out part.  I was up this morning to go to the pool and the cool, crisp air made me feel alive when I left the house.  And when I was done, I had that really good tired feeling in my arms and lungs.  And I feel very accomplished!  This morning I swam 2000 yards in about 50 minutes.  Not spectacular, but to put it in perspective, in my prime I swam 3000-3300 yards an hour.  I'd like to be at about 2700-2800 yards an hour.  I'll keep plugging away.

I have hesitated telling  people about my swimming because I don't want to feel like I am letting anyone down if these things don't happen.  But I think I am confident enough that this will happen that I can share this information.  And I am confident enough that I know this is for me and nobody else, and I am not responsible to anybody but myself.  I hope that people will support, but not judge me.  I am happy to just do this for me.

Awesome Weekend!

So we are back from our fantastic weekend.  Friday night wasn't exactly the way that I planned.  Chuck and I set up in the rain and by the time we had dinner, we were all so exhausted that we all went to sleep.  And listened to the rain.  All night.

Saturday brought overcast skies and lots (LOTS) of wind, but no rain.  We went out to Lake Michigan.

Yes, it was cold enough for winter coats!  We saw some great color on the way into Empire for lunch.

Then it was off to Glen Arbor and a little Cherry Republic (YUM!).  We decided to drive up the Leelenau Peninsula.  We stop in Leland and had a chance to see the salmon run.

The kids really got a kick out of Fishtown.  I think they could have watched the fish jump all day.  Then we drove up to the tip of the peninsula to the Grand Traverse Lighthouse.  We missed the haunted tour for the day, but we walked out to the beach and picked up some rocks.

We saw this tree with these awesome branches, it is just so fun to have these fun experiences with the kids!  We stopped at the 45th parallel, just for a picture!

Sunday, we climbed the dunes and drove the scenic drive.

The Lake Michigan overlook was so windy we couldn't make it up there.  Calah and I are still picking sand out of our ears!  After lunch it was some shopping in Traverse City and a quick trip up the Old Mission Peninsula.  There is still some great color!  Later we stopped so the kids could play at the park. 

We made sure they took their cameras and they love to take pictures.

So each night we headed back to the campsite and had a little dinner and a campfire...complete with smores and apples and caramel, just like I was looking forward to.  The kids absolutely LOVE camping!

Thanks to the "Big Heat" we stayed nice and toasty at night.  And the wind dried everything out nicely.  Turns out, the campground was shutting down the loops for the winter, and we were the last ones to camp at our spot for the 2011 season. 

Nothing beats fall camping, cool nights and good color make a great trip.  I really wish I was less responsible.  I would chuck it all and move the family to the great north. 

Our Favorite Fall Trip

This weekend, the Holman family is packing up the (borrowed!) pop-up and traveling north!

We have done this trip for about the last 5 years.  We camp at Sleeping Bear Dunes during the fall.  We aim for high color, but I think we will miss it this year.  We should have gone last weekend, but it was Homecoming for Chuck, so no 80 degree camping in the fall for us.  We don't care that we miss the high color, there will still be plenty to see.  And I really don't care that it will be chillier and rainier, I think that makes better camping anyway.

So the plan is to go up on Friday night and stay until Monday.  The kids don't have school, so it seemed like the perfect time to take a long weekend.  We will probably end up finishing up set up about the time it gets dark, so after a quick dinner, I am looking forward to a nice fire.  Bundled up, with smores and apples and caramel.  Yummm! 

While we are up there, we'll visit the dune climb and Glen Arbor.  I am a huge fan of Cherry Republic, so we HAVE to go there.  Tourist season is pretty much over, so nothing is to crowded.  Just the way I like it.  I would love to live in Glen Arbor.  If I had a $1, 000, 000, (I would by you a green dress, but not a real green dress that's cruel)......sorry....side tracked.

Anyway, if I had a $1, 000, 000, I would by a house on Sleeping Bear Bay within walking distance of "downtown" Glen Arbor.  I just love it there. 

We will also drive Pierce Stocking Drive.  It is a special place for us.  Five years ago, I told Chuck that I was pregnant with Gabe there.  Wish there was news this year.  I always read the pamphlet as we drive around and try to teach a little ecology to the kids.  Maybe this time we will get out and walk a couple trails.

The entire point of this trip is to relax.  We won't spend the entire day in the car driving from place to place, or spend the whole time shopping.  We will stay pretty local to the area and take in the breathtaking nature.  Pictures to come next week!

Things That are Irritating!

Ok, maybe it's the knock to the head today, but I finding many things thoroughly annoying.

Tuesdays notoriously suck.  Truly it is the worst day of the week.  Strike one today is Tuesday.  Strike two...girl fight.  It's over, I'm fine...just annoyed.  So while I was waiting around for strike three....

The first annoying thing is people who have to always have the "better" story, or the "worse" experience.  Really people, your life is so important that the rest of us can't have a bad day, or experience.  Just because I am telling you that I had a rough day doesn't mean that you need to tell me you received death threats from your 1st graders.  I promise on your rough day I will sympathize with you, can't you just sympathize with me on mine.  Grrrrrr!

Then, I went shopping at Meijer and saw a man driving his car with an infant in it.  He was smoking a cigarette, but was being very considerate....he was holding it out the sun roof.  I'm sure that will prevent his infant from the second hand smoke.  Double Grrrrrrr!

Then I went to the pool for a swim (yes, I am publicly announcing that I have been swimming pretty regularly for a couple of months).  There was open swim so I was doing laps, as best as I could, with 2/3 of a lane.  I was minding my own business and not bothering anyone, but the parents of the kids swimming apparently could manage to keep their kids out of my way.  Seriously people.  I am taking up next to no room and I am only at that end of my partial lane for a couple of seconds.  And I'm not complaining that I have only a partial lane, so the least you can do is keep your kids out of my way for a few seconds!  TRIPLE GRRRRR!


No strike three has come...yet.  Maybe it's just my mood today.  I'm sure after an adult beverage and some relaxation exercises, I will head back to school tomorrow just as peachy keen as I was when I left this morning.

Singing

 "Spiderman, Spiderman..doing whatever a spider can.  Shooting his web, swinging from building to building, snatching up the bad guys and taking them to jail.  Spiderman, Spiderman, doing whatever a spider can."

This is the song I sang to Gabe tonight as he went to bed.  I made it up.  Last night, it was Batman.

"Batman.....nanananananananananana..Batman....nananananananana...Who's that caped crusader, saving everyone....it's Batman......nananananananananana...Batman!"

Made that one up, too.

I love to sing to my kids.  We sing all the time.  Lately, Gabe has been stretching my imagination with his selection of nighttime songs.  I don't know the theme to Batman or Spiderman!  I was ok with Bob the Builder, when we went through that phase.  I do miss the ole standbys...Twinkle, Twinkle and You are My Sunshine.  He doesn't want to hear those anymore.

But singing is something that is routine at our house.  In the morning I wake Calah up the same way my mom woke my sister and I up..."It's time to wake up, it's time to wake up, it's time to wake up in the morrrning....."  I also add a little..."Rise and Shine, and give God the Glory, Glory."

At the breakfast table, there are actually requests.  The Underpants Song.  The Announcement Song.  Let's Hit the Road, Jack.  It may not always be the most appropriate (not bad, but I should probably also teach my kids not to talk/sing about underpants in public), but it keeps us light-hearted in the morning and wards off the grumblies.  Even when Calah is pouting because she "just so tired," or Gabe won't eat, a song will bring out the smiles and we can go off happy.

I'm not sure that Chuck knew this about me when we got married.  I always made up songs, but it is significantly worse after the kids were born.  I'm really not to blame.  It's hereditary.  I get it from my mom.  She is the queen of made up songs and nicknames.  It makes life fun!

I have to say the best part of singing is that I have a special song for each of my kids.  I picked them out when they were born and sang them almost every night until they started making requests for songs.  Calah's is "Goodnight My Angel (Lullaby)" by Billy Joel.  I heard it at my sister's wedding while I was pregnant, and couldn't get enough of it while I was pregnant.  She loves it.  If we hear it on the radio, she always points out that it is her song.  Sometimes she still requests it.

Gabe's is "Godspeed" by the Dixie Chicks.  What a way to describe little boys!  I would sing it to him everynight, if he would let me.

I don't think I'll ever stop singing.  I know one day my kids will hate it, especially because I'm not a good singer.  But I stand by my singing motto...If you don't like the voice God gave you, give it back!

Calah

On this very awesome fall evening, while watching the Tigers and enjoying the warm weather, I think I will do a little bragging about my eldest child.

Calah is constantly amazing me.  As a 2nd grader, she is doing wonderfully.  I think her class is challenging her this year, and that is a good thing.  I notice her working harder and wanting to practice and learn more.  The other day, she brought home math flash cards.  She really wants Mommy, Daddy, Gabe, the neighbor boy and his mom to all play "Around the World".  She cracks me up.  I guess I'll have to come up with a fun game to play with her.

She consistantly brings home perfect school work and spelling tests.  I am really proud of her.  I hope that she continues her love of learning and wants to keep it up.

And reading....this kid LOVES to read!  The only thing is that she reads, like, 4 chapter books at once.  We find them lying all over the house!   Oh, what a problem to have!  She loves Junie B, Pony Pals, and Ramona (I am soooo excited about that one!)  Little House the Prairie is her favorite series.  She has read the first 3 and can't wait to read the rest.  She even will play "Little House in the Big Woods" with her friends.  She tells them if they are Mary or Ma or Baby Carrie and then tells them what they need to do to help feed the animals or make the food.  I'm not sure that her friends have read the books, or have any idea what she is talking about, but she enjoys it.  I am going to make it a point this spring for her to see the tapped maple trees.  Little House has her fascinated with making of maple syrup.

This year we skipped soccer and just stuck to dance and swimming lessons.  I think that it has saved our family a lot of headaches.  Calah didn't seem to mind too much.  She would rather dance.  And she is quite the dancer.  She is always telling me, "Mom, my talent is dancing".  This kid has never complained about going to dance or said she didn't want to go.  Every week, she is so excited to put on her leotard and go dancing.  She dances at a wonderful studio with wonderful teachers.  Calah loves them, too!  They learn all sorts of ballet terms, that I don't understand, but she will repeat them and show me what she needs to do all week long.  This winter, the moms are taking the girls in her dance class to see "The Nutcracker".  I can't wait to see her watch the ballerinas with their toe shoes and tutus.  She loves toes shoes (but I think that will change if she ever gets to the point of wearing them!)  I have never seen this ballet..I'm excited, too.

Calah is also doing well in swimming.  She's a fish, like her mom.  The smallest one in her class, but she holds her own.  I love to watch her get stronger every week.  Now, if she will just quit trying to talk to the teacher while she is swimming, I think she would get stronger, faster.

On top of every thing else, she seems to get along with everyone at school and the sitters.  She is pretty happy most of the time and I can't believe how fast she is growing up.  More and more, the time I spend with her really is grown up girl time.  I just have to enjoy the time now...before she gets any bigger.

Teddy Bear Picnic and Anderson's Orchard

This weekend we did a couple of really great days!

We attended the annual Teddy Bear picnic at Michigan State.  We enjoy the Teddy Bear hospital and getting our teddy bears (or in Gabe's case, his leopard) fixed up.  Calah is obsessed with broken bones and casts, so we had to have all that taken care of.  She loved the emergency room, the neonatal, and the pediatric orthopedics. 

With Gabe, I made sure that we went to see the speech and language section so his leopard could get his hearing and speech tested, just like he has.  We also made sure that we saw the surgery section.  We are in for another set of tubes in his ears very soon.  I know he doesn't remember the first set of tubes, but he will remember this set.  I wanted him to be prepared, because I know the first time he was a little nervous.  So we learned about the blue pajamas, the blue masks, the blue coverings, and the blue hats.  We learned that blue is a clean color and talked about the little mask that will help him fall asleep.  I hope this will help him.

We also had some face painting and balloon animals.....

 It was a lot of fun and we can't wait until next year!

Sunday was off to Anderson's Orchard for some family time.....

We played, fed the goats, watched the pig races, and had donuts and cider.  It was a great day and a great weekend.


As a side note, I made it through yesterday.  We had a fantastic blood drive and collected 54 pints for the Red Cross.  We only had one real reaction at the end of the day.  My NHSers and my student donors are fantastic!  I am so proud of them.  And despite hating the finger prick, I am one pint lighter.  We should all donate blood, one hour and one pint can save three lives.  So find a drive and donate!

Also, I think that I have decided to keep up the blog for the time being.  I am enjoying it quite a bit.  By the way, I am addicted to the count feature that tracks visits (Thanks for the tip, Abby!)

New post coming soon

I was planning on posting a couple of times this weekend.  Unfortunately, time got away from me.  We had a great weekend at the Teddy Bear picnic on Saturday and at the apple orchard on Sunday with the family.  I even have pictures.  So, my promise is that I will post this week about both of them.  Probably not tomorrow night, and I'll tell you why.

Tomorrow is the blood drive at school.  I am in charge, so that means unloading the truck at 6:00 am.  After working all day (and probably a donation on my part), I have parent teacher conferences from 4-7.  Usually after a blood drive I'm exhausted, but then to add conferences?  Needless to say, I am going to need a little TLC tomorrow night.  So I probably won't be posting then.  I think tomorrow night....I'll sleep.