Get up kids!

It's one of my most dreaded things to do for the day...get the kids out of their nice warm beds every morning. Even if I don't care to sleep and think it's a waste of time, the stark and cold reality of getting up and going is something I don't like. It just doesn't seem right to have to do. Then to have to do it once, twice, a few dozen times (I''m kidding...they are actually pretty good about getting up usually)

Things have been pretty busy around here. The middle and school kids had an extended weekend. They had a half day Thursday and all of Friday off for parent teacher's conferences. With lake effect snow in the forecast, the high schoolers were hoping for a snow day They settled with getting out of school an hour early instead. I had my conferences on Thursday so Friday was all mine (especially since Michelle also had the day off). We worked on getting things in order around here and we did pretty ok with it. I actually made a dent in the laundry situation although it's diminished now that I haven't touched it since then. Hopefully I can get back to it today.

The conferences went well. We're concerned for Carrie a bit. It was rough sitting in front of all 7 of her teachers at once and hearing again and again and again how she's struggling. Some of it is from lack of attention in the homework department and that we can fix. I'm pretty sure a lot of it is residual from her transplant and having had radiation. Her recall abilities suck. You can teach her a concept, she'll get it and do it over and over and over again on her own while she's sitting there. The next day though, it can be like she's never heard of the concept before. I mean someone doesn't score in the teens on a test (or a retest) unless they didn't attempt to take it or truly don't know it. I HAVE to call up to 5C (cancer clinic) and get her in to see the educational specialist...she can't keep going like this. Right now she's ok with school (although she was in tears talking about it Thursday night) But it won't continue to be like that if she's constantly struggling and still not making it. I don't think she minded summer school too much, but I'm sure she'd rather not do it again.

This weekend was nice! Saturday night the youth at church cooked and served the adults a formal sit down dinner. It was SO wonderful to sit, have an uninterrupted conversation and not have to worry about what anyone was doing or getting into. The food was DELICIOUS!...Hors d'oeuvres, wine, french onion soup, roast beef, garlic mashed potatoes, green bean almondine, 3 different types of dessert and coffee from the coffee bar! It was sad to see it end. lol Tom and I were surprised when we went to the car and realized it was only 9. We thought about finding something else to do but decided we'd been out for 4hrs so we'd just head back home. It's a good thing because shortly thereafter, Tom had a horrible headache and went to bed....he's coming down with a nasty cold. I think a few of us are flirting with it.

Michelle was here while we were gone and as usual made it fun. She's the type that's always up for some fun and games. I had planned on them having something easy like chicken patties and boxed mac and cheese. She made them that and a smorgasbord of odd things...oatmeal, baby food (apricot with pears and apples), olives, celery with dip and/or peanut butter and something else that I can't remember. She strung up christmas lights to make it festive. Made me want to get the Christmas decorations out. lol

Sunday was an exciting time.... my niece gave birth to a baby boy! The first boy of the family! My SIL has 7 girls and until now...one granddaughter. That little guy is going to be so spoiled! I can't wait to see him! We had a potluck dinner at church. We use to eat together after almost every Sunday meeting but then kitchen construction put an end to it and it never started back up. I've missed it! I don't think I'd like to do it every week (it's HARD to make a dish and get out the door by 11am!) but it would be nice if we could start it up once a month. It allows for some good fellowship. :o)

Della and I ended up taking a trip to Target and Price Chopper. She brought 2 of her older kids, I brought Sean. It was nice to get to talk together and the older kids made sure we had fun. They're very interesting shopping companions. Sean really enjoyed being the only child for a bit. I knew his vocabulary was expanding quickly but I don't think I realized just how fast it's exploded. He makes a good parrot.

Having Tom home all week has been nice. I'm a bit sad to see him going back out the door this morning, at least it's a short week with Thanksgiving in there. He's been getting a bunch of odd jobs around here done...including getting the furnace tuned up and running! It's nice to see the inside thermometer go above 52 again. For me it's the floors. The way we have our ducts running the floors get nice and warm even if the air's a tad chilly. I can deal with chilly arms, cold feet...not so much. Especially when I have an aversion to socks!

OH and as a public service announcement...it might be a good idea to rethink letting a 14yo cut your hair. My hair had been terrible to take care of. I've had to have the girls comb out the back for me a few times because I can't. Most of the time I just made a pony with a huge snarl in the middle. No one wanted to cut my hair on Saturday except Carrie. I figured one straight cut across the back using the back of my bra as a guide...no problem...so I let her do it. I guess I didn't realize I wear the left side of my bra a little high....like over my armpit high!!!! By the time we "fixed" it I went from my hair being past my waist to just past my shoulders. It's still a bit uneven and it's going to stay that way for now.