Here We Go

Tonight is the Grand Opening for the new dance studio.

We had our meeting last night and it appeared to me that the studio could use another two weeks or so of work but alas, they can't wait any longer and so classes begin tonight. People are going to be confused about where to go, everything is brand new to them, and there's been some questions about tuition since classes have been delayed a week. I anticipate some chaos and unhappy customers.

And they have me scheduled to work tonight...opening night! yikes.

I'm a bit scared!

I will say though that the studio is HUGE and very beautiful! It's fun to be a part of a thriving and dedicated business. The owners are wonderful and the teachers are very kind and passionate and talented!

WeeklyAd is extremely excited to get back into dance. She will be taking four classes - ballet, jazz, tap, and lyrical - this year with it being her first year in lyrical. Thankfully, her classes don't start until Wednesday so I don't have to worry about getting her into her classes while I'm trying to work and manage the said confused customers!

I can't believe this will be WeeklyAd's 7th year of dance!

Here we go...

Confusion

I guess you know your husband travels too much when you truly lose track of his comings and goings.

Here's a conversation I had tonight at church:

Friend: "hey, is [Management] coming home tonight?
Me: he actually came home last night.
Friend: oh, I thought he said Wednesday.
Me: nope, he's home.
Friend: (looking confused)
Me: well, anyway, he's happy that trip is over!

Coming home and seeing Management's luggage in the hallway, I realized that he really did just come home this afternoon!

I swear, I'm not getting enough sleep!

Or I'm loosing it!

Birthday Weekend

The kids were able to go back to school Wednesday and we spent most of Wednesday and Thursday night catching up on homework and assignements they missed. I tell you, it is torture letting them miss a day of school because of all the catch up they have to do! The older they get, I'm sure the worse it will be.

Wednesday we also celebrated our big guy, HomeAudio. He was officially 12 at 9:38pm and he wanted to stay up late and blow out a candle at that exact time. I really just can not believe he is 12! It's hitting me harder this year than others but I'm so proud of him! He is truly growing (more than physically!) in responsibility, kindness, spiritually, and emotionally. We have absolutely no clue what we are doing or how to raise an almost teenager but thankfully we have the Lord and friends who have walked this road before us.

Friday evening was his birthday party. He wanted a big party but with the desire to have an airsoft war out in the field and woods, I thought it was best to limit it to a very very small group! Thankfully they were well protected, experienced in airsoft wars, and the woods are big enough that they barely found each other enough to actually shoot.


After airsoft wars, Management barbecued hamburgers and hot dogs, they went out in the woods some more, had a fire with s'mores, watched a movie, and were out by 11:15. Actually, it was a great night! In fact, it was so much fun that I think we will do it again in the very near future and possibly expand the group a bit. I just have to wait for Management to be willing since he is pretty much in charge of all the boy parties. He loves it, but it is exhausting.

Sunday, we finally made it back to church! With traveling and illness it seems like months since we've been to our home church. I missed it so much!! Afterwards we went to my parents' house to celebrate HomeAudio's birthday with all of them.

Overall it was a fantastic weekend!

Still Sick

The kids are still under the weather and now I'm at that crossroad of do I take them to the doctor or do I not take them to the doctor. I hate this corner! I'm 90% sure I know what they have and that it's a virus that last 3-5 days but they don't seem to be getting better so I guess I will take them in tomorrow so that I can hear the doctor tell me (90% chance) that they have exactly what I think they have. Ugh, the price we pay for peace of mind I guess.


WeeklyAd has been saying things here and there lately about not having a feather in her hair. A lot of those around her have them (seems like all the rave since May or so) and I didn't really think anything of it until she started making comments. She never came out and asked for one but I could tell it was a deeper issue than just wanting the feather in her hair. She perked up this afternoon and I took advantage of the time of day and empty salon and took her to get a feather. When she got into the car afterwards she said "now I won't get made fun of for not having one." I hate things like that! I hate that she didn't tell me that girls were saying things! I hate that girls were saying things! Makes me sad! But she got her feathers and she loves them and that makes me happy. And really, I think they are adorable!


H&G is almost 2 but seriously going on 14. Her vocabulary is tremendous! Whenever we are out in public, people always ask me how old she is and comment on her vocabulary. She is extremely charming, very intelligent, and as sassy as all get out. The girl is too old for her own good and has been getting time out after time out for sassiness. She asks "why" with an annoyed accent and usually responds to my answer with "fine, geesh." She also has been experimenting with "shut up, jerk" and has found that she does not like the time outs and definitely does not like the taste of vinegar she gets after saying this to her siblings. It's such a joy to be able to communicate with her (and I swear I can reason with this child at the age of 1...it's freaky!) but I just can't believe some of the things she says! I really need to write them down more often because I know I will never remember these things.


HomeAudio is turning 12! I just can not believe it! I really can not! There are no words at this time!


I just love my kids and am so thankful for them! Even in the sick, sad, and sassy times of life, I just cherish them so much!!

The Kitchen

I would be thrilled if I never had to enter that room again! Seriously!

I mean, I hate it on a good day!

Then you add this annoying virus my kids have and I just want to scream! They are "starving" but can't eat anything. Their throats hurt, their cheeks hurt, everything hurts and there is not one food that I've found (and trust me we've tried everything in the house) that seems to go down well.

I literally feel like I've been in the kitchen all day trying to help them find something that doesn't hurt. We've baked, we've pureed, we've chopped, and ground, and melted...I have huge guilt over the food that's been wasted after only one bite.
Even ice cream and popsicles hurt.

This is miserable for them and I feel so bad!

I found WeeklyAd up early this morning with her idea of breakfast and the poor girl couldn't even bring herself to eat the goods! That's how I know she really doesn't feel good!


H&G, on the other hand, is just fine and literally bouncing off the walls. That girl needs an activity! This one week at home has proven to me that we can not do a school year with just the two of us here all day. She needs friends and so do I!

Will look into library times and playdates...nothing big but just little snippets of time out of the house or having someone else in the house.

Hoping this virus clears up soon and H&G doesn't get it! Bible Study starts Tuesday and I really really really want to go!

Dying In My Place

A video that remembers not only the loss on September 11, 2001 but also the sacrifice and love of our Lord Jesus Christ.

TV Randomness

We've been following America's Got Talent this season. I don't think I've ever really watched it before other than a few episodes with Jackie Evancho. This season is incredible!!! Of the 4 finalists: Silhouettes, Team illuminate, PopLyfe, and Landau Eugene Murphy, I would be thrilled with any of them winning! If you haven't been watching, check it out this week for the finale as it is sure to be a great one!

I've also gotten a little hooked on Dance Moms. Being in the dance world a little bit, it is so interesting to watch this show! There is no way, EVER, that would pay the money these moms pay or put up with the things that they do. It just really doesn't seem real! I would love to see an interview with the moms to hear if things are edited or how they feel they are being portrayed. So interesting!

I didn't watch The Bachelorette with Ashley so am not sure I'll watch The Bachelor with the new guy. We'll see, I guess.

The new show, Up All Night, looks funny. I'm anxious to see the first few episodes and hope it is as funny as it appears. I'm also excited for The Office and The Middle to return!

Thank goodness for the DVR because it's nice to skip through the commercials and watch the show in (almost) half the time!

What shows are you watching or looking forward to?

Zumba: Part 2

So here is a little glimpse into what we do at Zumba. This is one of the songs we do and it's from the Let's Move: Move Your Body anti-obesity campaign by Michelle Obama and Beyonce. You may have heard about it?



Anyway, our instructor is a little more ambitious about the moves than this video shows but then again, I noticed Beyonce was wearing heels!?!?

So you see, it really is fun!

In fact, you could just stand up right now and dance to the video. Just follow her moves and away you go! :)

Zumba

If you follow me on Facebook then you know my newest "hobby" is Zumba. Actually, I got bribed into it to begin with. My neighbor got certified as an instructor last year and after several months of inviting me, finally agreed to go out to lunch afterwards if I attended one of her classes. Three of my other neighbors went too so I couldn't refuse.

And then I was pretty much hooked. Which she knew would happen.

I am NOT a dancer at all! In fact, a lot of times in the beginning I made up my own moves! I've come to realize that many people make up their own moves. The instructor's motto is if you're moving and smiling, you're doing it right. I am, however, very slowly learning the dances and am definitely having fun...and feeling the burn!

My other neighbors and I have been to a couple of different Zumba classes and I have to say that my neighbor is by far my favorite instructor! She makes the class fun, calls out directions, and does more hip-hop music where the others give instructions with their hands (so confusing!), don't really interact much, and lean towards more latin music.

If you ever want to join me, let me know! You'll love it (and hate it) as much as I do, I'm sure!


Here I am with two of my neighbors (the one on the right is the instructor) after our Monday night class. The one of the left wanted to kill me for suggesting a picture afterwards because trust me, we are drenched! We typically burn about 600-800 calories in an hour and everyone leaves red-faced, sweating, and chugging water!

It makes you feel so good though! And did I mention it's really fun!?!?

WeeklyAd

I'm sharing this with you all because most of you are close friends and I know that you pray for our family with the same heart and love that we have in praying for yours!

I've shared before that WeeklyAd has suffered with toenail fungus for the last several years. This is extremely embarrassing for her and we have tried almost everything we can to battle it. Seriously, I would not wish this on my worst enemy!

The doctor thinks it is time to use some oral medication. This medication is quite dangerous (from my understanding) for the liver and is used as a last resort. I took her to get her bloodwork done on Saturday and if her liver appears healthy enough, they will start the medication this week. She will be on it 8-12 weeks.

The doctor is pretty optimistic about it clearing up within that time frame. The problem is....warning....could make you queezy...

3 of her toenails are gone and the doctor isn't sure that they will grow back. It hurts my heart to think of her living life like this. I know it could be so so so much worse and in reality, toenails are not a huge deal, but on the other hand, this is affecting her emotionally, spiritually, and of course, physically.

It especially affects her socially. Almost every little girls loves their toenails painted, wears the cutest flipflops, goes swimming in the summer, and all the other things that kids do barefoot in the summer. As you know, kids are merciless sometimes and she already gets tons of questions, comments, and rude remarks. I just hate it for her!

She also love love loves dance. She is starting a class this year that is done barefoot. She will be able to wear ballet shoes but she will be the only one and will undoubtedly be asked questions.

So I'm praying that the toenails clear up and GROW BACK! Besides dance, I just feel like not having toenails affects many things...particularly for a woman (wife, mother, etc.). It will be hard.

The doctor said she will always be susceptible to this and will have to treat her toes for the rest of her life. It's something we will always have to keep an eye on and treat but I'm really hoping we can at least get ahead of it first. I feel like treating "healthy" toenails should be the easy part.

Thanks for praying along with us that this issue will clear up in the next 2-3 months and that her feet will return to "normal" appearance! Again, I know it could be so much worse and we do a lot of talking and processing with her and she knows it could be so much worse too.

Thanks again friends!

Routine

Here are pics of our new routine.


Our mornings this year start about 15 minutes earlier and have been much smoother! The kids have been ready by 7:25 and though we've had a few last minute changes in wardrobe or items forgotten, we don't panic or yell anymore because there are about 5-10 minutes built in for that kind of thing. As long as we leave by 7:35, we are good.

And here's the afternoon schedule:


Unplugged time means absolutely no electronics at all. This has been so helpful for the first hour or so of coming home. It has forced the kids to interact with us about their day, re-unite and play with H&G who is just beyond giddy when they come home, and to get a snack or get settled without too much loud chaos. I thought the kids would fight us more as they love to come and home and collapse in front of the tv or jump on the video games with their friends, but actually I think this hour is one of everyone's favorite part of the day.

Open play means they can do anything including electronics.

Chore time is "above and beyond" chores. They still have daily chores such as loading/emptying the dishwasher, cleaning their rooms, etc. but this time is used to do bigger and less urgent chores or to teach new life skills like doing laundry, scrubbing the tubs and showers, etc. I know some friends who are way beyond us in these areas (in fact I've heard of people who hardly do any housework anymore because their kids do it all). We are behind in this area I guess but my philosophy is a bit different and we are easing our kids into things.

Even homework time (although there has been very little so far) has been a joy! We have plenty of time to get things done and even time to prepare for upcoming projects or tests. That may change as the responsibilities increase but we can always take time from something else if needed.

We'll see how things are going a few months from now but like I said before, the first week was fantastic and I'm full of hope!

first week of school

We jumped back into school last week and it's been a great week! The kids love their teachers, the things they are (already) learning, and H&G and I have settled into a bit of a schedule with our quiet days at home without the older two.

I guess it's never too late to start some Supernanny techniques. Though we have watched the show for years and years, we never had our schedule written out on the wall and certainly never really stuck to a strict after-school schedule...until now. Management and I wrote out the morning schedule, the afternoon schedule, and lots of scriptures to help encourage ourselves and our kids. I can not tell you what a difference it has made in our home! Of course having Management home, helping to enforce things, has been so helpful but really life is so much simpler (and it seems like we have so much more time!) with these new schedules. It's cut down on the yelling, franticity, and overall confusion that often overtakes our home.

And, since there is time for daily cleaning, the house often looks very clean and I feel much more in control! The kids are learning great life skills and are working together well. Of course there were growing pains, fits of complaining, and fights but they are decreasing by the day.

It's been a great start to the school year for all of us and I am so thankful and feel like life is so much more manageable. That is exactly the opposite of how I felt at the end of the last school year and not at all how I anticipated feeling this week so again, I'm so grateful!