Hello Everyone!!  Sorry I haven't been posting daily.  I have just been busy.  I use the bit of time I have to check what you are all up to, then I am out of time.   ARGH!!  So here is a quick update of what is going on in our household, nothing too major!

FRIDAY

I took the day off.  YEAH!!  I wasn't able to sleep in my body wakes me up around 6:30 no matter what generally.  Oh well!   Hubby and I dropped Tommy off at daycare and went to run all our errands.  We went to Target for some sale items.  He checked out a food store called Buy and Save, but I didn't think it was very cheap at all.  Everything was off brand, but I do better with sales and coupons at Cub Foods.  We went to a used child clothing store and bought two summer outfits for Tommy and three pairs of shorts for Erik.  I also found a nice Tommy Hilifiger spring jacket for Tommy, but it won't fit him for a while.  But it was only 5 dollars.  We also bought a high back booster car seat there for Tommy.  He still fits in our current car seat, but this will be his next one.  It was a good deal.  Then it was off to have lunch before we bought groceries.  We ate at Lucky China our favorite restaurant, then it was off to Cub Foods.  We stocked up on frozen juice, chicken and frozen veggies as they were on sale. 

We got home and needed to do a quick freezer inventory before add all the new stuff.  Then I took a nap....AHHHH>....that was nice!  That was pretty much our day.

SATURDAY

Another leisurely day.  As we do on most Saturdays we headed to the library and stopped at the post office.  I had a bunch of reserves in at the library and brought about 1/2 home with me.  Tommy checked out a DVD, Elmocise.  That should be fun!   He loves Elmo.  I checked out my educational things on preschool themes, etc.  Hubby of course checked out some computer books. 

Right now I am making my way through the book, Middlesex.  I am really enjoying Middlesex, but it is a very long book, but luckily I am over 1/2 done with it.  At the library I had three of my reserves in, so they are next on my list.  I hate when all my reserves come in at once.  I have Child of My Heart by Alice McDermott, The Hours by Michael Cunningham and The Middlsex Friend by Donna little all waiting for me!  Tartt!!!  Never enough minutes in the day.  I have been terribly neglecting my house all weekend to get Middlesex read.   But it has been very relaxing. 

My face to face book group is reading  Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton, but I am having a hard time getting into that.  I am listening to it on tape as I drive.  I have to finish it by Thursday as that is when the group meets. 

I took Tommy outside to play a lot this weekend.  We saw him straining while outside and we rushed him into the house and he went ARGH on the potty for the second time!!   They seems to be easy to catch since he is so constipated. 

Erik and Josh are at their other parents homes, so it is quiet.  poopy.......
Saturday night Paul and I watched the movie the Rings....it was pretty good...sort of scary.  Then it was off to bed early, we both have been so tired lately. 

SUNDAY

As you see I haven't made a list most of the week.  I have been so busy!!! I hope to get back on track this week.  We will see.  Sunday we headed to church.  Erik has started to come to our church when he spends the weekend with his mom.  That was very nice of her to bring him up to our church.  I hope she continues to do that, the church means a great deal to us and we would like to see Erik raised in the church full-time not part time.  My ex-husband always brings Josh to our church on his visitation weekends.  I think it is very important for my children. 

After church headed home and Tommy wanted to play outside again.  He screamed and screamed when I had to bring him in first Nice change out of his church clothes.  He played outside for a bit then lunch and off to nap time.  He is currently still napping.  I can't decide what I will do while he naps, read my book or actually so the things I need to like laundry and find his summer clothes.  to..............tough call! 

Hubby is using up some older chicken and making a huge pot of soup this afternoon.  We probably will head over to his parents today as it is his mother's birthday today.  Time for me to scoot and do a couple of things around here before I read the afternoon away.  LATER!! Hope you are all having a great weekend!

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In the book of life, the answers aren't in the back.  - Charlie Brown (Charles Hmmmm) 

*My MIL went to high school with Charles Schulz, a bit of trivia for you!

Morning!  I am so tired, I want to go back to bed!  ARGH!!  Yesterday I had to go to two meetings after my conference and stop at my office before coming home.  I got home at 8:00, YAWN!! 

I really hope today is different!   I plan on going to the conference and leaving at 3:00 to come home as Tommy has Musikgarten class at 6:00 and I have a church Conference meeting at 7:00.  I am tired though.......and Friday I am turning off my alarm clock and sleeping until I wake up...doesn't that sound wonderful!  I am sure I will wake up early, always do when I try to sleep in. 

The the workshops I went to yesterday were pretty good.  I attend a very good on on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.  Very informative.  I left learning something new, that men that drink when trying to conceive can cause damage as well.  I thought it only could the the mother.  Drinking can damage the sperm that can cause learning, behavioral and attention problems in the child.  The Keynote speaker was a retired police officer from Nashville that spoke about domestic violence.  He also was a child of domestic violence. 

Josh was excited when I got home from the conference.  He loves all the goodies I get, like pens, key chains, note pads, etc.  He goes through the bag and finds the things he wants, and leaves the rest for me. 

I haven't look at todays workshops to see what I will be attending, but I guess I should hit the shower and drive all the way across the cities to my conference.

Paul and I are going to start participating in "Fare for All".  It is a food and resource exchange program or a cooperative food-buying program that allows people to strectch their food purchasing power.  Food is purchased by the truckload and the savings are passed on to the participants.  Each participant is asked to contribure two or more hours of volunteer service each month.   Since we are already doing the volunteer work at our church, it isn't really any additional work. 

I hope everyone has a great day!  It is almost the weekend!  YEAH!!!  And I get a three day weekend....YEAH, Again! 

Off to bed for me...tomorrow is another long day.  Why again do I schedule myself this many hours in a week to work.  ARGH!!  Tomorrow I will be at the Minnesota Social Services Association Annual Conference in Bloomington.  I have to leave the conference a bit early and attend two school IEP meetings.  My last IEP is at 5:00, so I think tomorrow will be the day I get home the earliest all week!!  YEAH!!!

And Friday I am taking the day off...to relax and see my family!  I have barely seen my children all week.

Later! 

My little Chatterbox added three new words to his list tonight.

1. Quack, Quack
   
2. Elmo
   
3. Noodle

It is amazing to me how many words Tommy has been learning in the last week.   Very cool!

Morning....I have been putzing around on the computer this morning.  I dton' have to be into work until 10:00 so I am letting my baby sleep a bit.  We all seem to need some extra sleep.  Hubby is still sleeping as well. 

I didn't do my weekly cleaning yesterday, and I don't really know when I will actually get to it.  I worked late last night and I really didn't have the energy to do anything when I got home.  When I got home it was time to get Tommy ready for bed and stuff.  After that I jsut read my email and went to bed.  I think tonight will be very similiar.   I actually have a later meeting tonight.  I have a meeting at 6:00, so won't be home until around 8 or 8:30, which doesn't leave much time to get anything done. 

Tommy said a new word at daycare yesterday, Blue!  He was watching blues clues with the other kids.  He also is signing cracker, though he has made his own sign for the most part, but we know what he means.  He says, Shoe and Sock as well.   My baby is growing up so fast!  But he sure is a lot of fun!   I just updated Tommy's Word list for our next peds appointment, so I will share it with you.  I think I have all the words he is saying!  He is a regular chatterbox these days! I have to work on introducing more sign language, but I need to teach hubby a few more signs too.  Tommy goes in streaks as to when he is willing to learn new signs and he is willing to learn some right now.  He just learned cracker over the weekend.

WORDS TOMMY SAYS! - Age  17 Months

1. MOM
   
2. DAAAA
   
3. UT-OH
   
4. Ball
   
5. HI
   
6. Bye
   
7. Eat
   
8. NO
   
9. Yeah
   
10. Yah
    
11. One
    
12. Two
    
13. Three
    
14. EIEI (Old Macdonald) 2/2003
    
15. Tank You (Thank You) 2/2003
    
16. You Love You (Barney Song) – 3/2003
    
17. Shoe – 3/2003
    
18. Sock – 3/2003
    
19. Blue (Blue’s Clues) – 3/17/03

SIGNS TOMMY CAN MAKE

1. Eat
   
2. Milk
   
3. Book
   
4. More
   
5. Sleep
   
6. Cracker - 3/15/03
   
7.  

 

 

SIGNS TOMMY UNDERSTANDS

1. Bath
   
2. Eat
   
3. Drink
   
4. Milk
   
5. Book
   
6. More
   
7. Sleep
   
8. Cracker

Can Identify The Following:

1. 
   
   Nose


2. 
   
   Eyes


3. 
   
   Toes


4. 
   
   Belly


5. 
   
   Belly Button


6. 
   
   Mouth

2/2003 - Waves Bye-Bye

3/2003 - Throws Kisses

3/16/03 – Tommy went poopy on the potty!

 

I am off to get ready for work....have a great day!

I want to thank Chelle for doing the 100 things lists.  That was fun!  I haven't been around to read them all yet, but I will.   It is very interesting to read eveyones list! 

 I worked late again tonight, I just got home at 8:00.  I have to work late again tomorrow and on Wednesday again.  Thursday I don't have to work late, but I have to take Tommy to Musicgarten and then have a committee meeting at church.  It is a insanely busy week for me!   I am hoping to take Friday off since I will have all my hours worked!  We will see if I actually do take it off or not.  I have a lot to do at work too,  But I am trying to take a  little bit better care of myself so I should take the day off.  hmmm....we will see what happens.

I am heading to bed to read for bit.  Hope everyone had a great day!! 

Currently reading: Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides.
Currently listening in the car to:  Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton

OK....I did it....I thought it was hard to do.  I don't have 100 interesting things about me!!!

1.        I was born in South Dakota. I lived in South Dakota until I was 18 years old.

2.        I moved to Minnesota with my one-year-old son.

3.        I love living in the Twin Cities, if I didn’t have children and was married I would love to live downtown in a high-rise apartment.  The true city life!

4.        I am able to draw fairly well.

5.        My mom taught me to sew and cook.

6.        I am obsessed with being organized at times.

7.        I had trouble with anorexia when I was a teen.

8.        I married my boss from when I worked as a check out at the grocery store.  (1^st marriage)

9.        I married my best friend in 2000 and couldn’t ask for anything nicer. (2^nd marriage)

10.   I suffered from infertility for 8 years.

11.   Tommy is a product of clomid, infertility treatment.   Thank you for answered prayers.

12.   I had two eggs, but only Tommy actually was fertilized. 

13.   We joke that Tommy ate his other sibling.

14.   I had gestational diabetes with Tommy.

15.   Tommy was my worse pregnancy.  I was very sick through out.

16.   I probably will not have more children due to how sick I was with Tommy.

17.   I secretly would love to have one more baby, a daughter.

18.   My hubby doesn’t want to have any more children.  Three is enough he says.

19.   My hubby went to every single Dr appointment with me while I was pregnant with Tommy.  I had 5 appointments a week towards the end.

20.   Erik is my stepson from my hubby’s first marriage.

21.   I have asthma and.   I am diagnosed with Interstitial Cystitis, which is under good control.

22.  I am VERY SCARED of BATS!!  They freak me out!  I can't even watch them on TV without getting goose bumps. 

23.   I love Diet Mountain Dew!, even though I am not suppose to due to my bladder problems.

24.   I rarely drink alcohol, but my favorite drink is tequila.

25.   I sometimes sleep with my eyes open and even drool occasionally.

26.   I talk in my sleep.

27.   I like to cross-stitch

28.   I teach my baby sign language.

29.   I love to read.  The library is one of my favorite places in the world.  I will read books about anything that interests me at the moment.  But always have a good fiction book going as well.  Cookbooks are a lot of fun too!

30.   I love to cook

31.   I have three magazine subscriptions:  Quick Cooking, Taste of Home and Parenting.

32.   I was taught to drive by my brother at the age of 14.

33.   I have three older brothers.

34.   I have one older sister.

35.   My next oldest sibling is 9 years older than me.

36.   My family isn’t very close for the most part.

37.   My childhood wasn’t perfect.

38.   My nephew has autism.

39.   I have an aunt diagnosed with Schizophrenia.

40.   I often fall asleep with a book in bed with me.  My hubby tries to put it away and I say “I’m reading that!”

41.   I sing a lullaby and dance with my baby every night before putting him to bed.

42.   I rarely watch TV.  The only shows I watch are:  Friends, Judging Amy, Law and Order and ER.   I don’t even watch all those each week.

43.   I met my hubby online on a local computer bulletin board system.  My handle was jasmine and his stickman.

44.   Nervous habit:  Chew my fingers until then bleed.

45.   I worry a lot.

46.   I took Spanish in high school and college.

47.   I attended two years of graduate school.

48.   I am a licensed social worker.

49.   I work with children with developmental disabilities, but prefer to work with kids with autism.

50.   I am currently developing 2 SLS’s (supervised living situations) for children on my case load.

51.   I don’t’ have time for people that won’t pull their weight.

52.   I don’t care to associate with people who are always negative or play the victim.

53.   I maintain three calendars: one at work, one at home and my planner.

54.   I handle all the finances in our home. 

55.   I love to go to garage sales.

56.   I love to be cheap!

57.   My hubby is not as thrifty as me!

58.   I am a flybaby.  Flylady makes sense to me!

59.   I love to makes lists!! And I actually do my lists!

60.   I love my job and most of my co-workers!

61.   I have more hobbies and interests than I do time! Gardening, reading, sewing, cooking, home repair and decorating. 

62.   I like pampered Chef products.

63.   I sell and buy things on E-bay.

64.   I was raised Lutheran and still worship as a Lutheran. 

65.   I believe in raising my children within the church.

66.   I am active in my church.  I try at attend church twice a week.

67.   I have a temper.

68.   I have thrown a lamp when angry before.

69.   I rarely get angry anymore.   I have not thrown anything in the last 4 years.

70.   I belong to three book groups:  Bookmoms, Bookies and A book group at my work.

71.   I like to avocados.  Tommy loves them!

72.   My favorite snack are Doritos, with a Diet Mt Dew of course!

73.   I broke my collarbone when I was a child on my bike.

74.   I had stitches on my face from a bike accident with my brother, Monte.

75.   I procrastinate!

76.   I have not ordered all the pictures from my wedding two years ago, yet.

77.   I wish I could be a Stay at home mother.

78.   I would like to work part-time.

79.   If I don’t write a list I forget everything.   I am easily side-tracked!

80.   I like to have parties and friends over to play board games.

81.   My favorite board games are Cranium and Clue.

82.   I don’t like video games, but can beat my son on pac man.

83.   I collect decorative signs for my entryway.  My sister just gave me a new one for spring.

84.   I like to frequently send greeting cards and thank you notes so people know I am thinking of them.

85.   I love to eat Quesadillas.

86.   I make really good Egg Rolls.

87.   I am a democrat.

88.   I hubby’s family are republicans.

89.   I vote every election.

90.   I voted for Jesse Ventura.  (Hangs head in shame, hubby persuaded me)

91.   Sometimes I wish I would have become a teacher.  I never knew how much I enjoy teaching until I had my children. 

92.   We home school our children over the summer to maintain their skills.

93.   I get stuck on brands, like only hanes underwear, only Lee Casual dress pants for work.  I have a hard time finding a new kind I like once the stop making or selling what I like.

94.   I hate to SHOP for clothes!!!!!

95.   I only use Nexxus Shampoo and Conditioner.

96.   I love listening to Books on tape while I drive in my car.

97.   I love alternative Rock music, I think you would call it.  Such as Sarah Mclachlan, Train, Natalie Merchant, Goo Goo Dolls, etc.

98.   I like to listen to classical music when I read.

99.   I read books while I take a bath and I have never dropped on in the water yet.

100.  I once got intoxicated in St. Cloud at the Hilton hotel.  A friend and myself rode in the elevator and put furniture in the elevator.  We had a chair each to sit on, a trashcan, etc.  So we sat in the chairs and rode the elevator. 

Way more than you wanted to know!!!!!!!!   Congrats if you actually made it to the end of this!!

Big news to share................................................................

TOMMY WENT POOPY ON THE POTTY!!!!

YEAH!!!!

We haven't really started potty training, but tonight he was having a BM.  He sufffers from terrible constipation so you always know when he is going.  But we have found that once he has gone once we always change his diaper and he will go again within 15 minutes.  So once he went the once I chaged him and put him on the potty chair and we read about 6 books. 

He went poopy, while on the potty which freaked him out... LOL!!  Then once I knew he went I wanted him to stand up but he wouldn't.  but he didn't want to get off the potty, he wanted to read his books more.  Finally we got him off and Daddy and I clapped and stuff.  Tommy looked in the potty and wanted to pick it up...EEEWWWWWWWW!  

So we are on our way....LOL

We just got the flyer for the Children's Summer Program at our church.  We are very happy with the offerings this year and signed up Erik for a number of activities.

They are having a Day Camp for a week this summer with paid counselors.  They have all the regular camp stuff, crafts, archery, fishing and swimming.  He is excited about that.

There are two Friday Fun Nights which are from 7-10:00, which he is excited about.  That is later than he usualy gets to play outside..LOL!!  One is Pizza, Capture the Flag and a campfire.  The other one is a cookout/swim party.  Erik loves anything with water!

They are also offering Summer Sunday school.  I am very happy about this.  Erik is able to go to service with us, but he really doesn't get much out of it.  So this will be nice for him.  Plus his bio mom has decided to start taking Erik to our church on the weekends he is with her.  I think it is great for him to have one church only, just like only one school.

Vacation Bible School is offered in the evening which is nice for working parents.  I might help out at that...we will see. 

Wild Wednesday Outings - these Erik went to last year and enjoyed.  They have  about 6 activities throughout the summer.  So once a week he will be able to go on outings to movies, bowling,  2 different water parks, etc.  He always likes that.

So that should be a nice variety to break up the summer for him.  He is pretty disappointed that he will have to go to daycare this summer.  He will be going to daycare with Tommy three days a week and then will be home with Josh for two or at church activities.  I am not sure how he will do at the daycare.  I felt it was unfair to ask Josh to watch him more than twice a week, he should be able to have a summer with his friends too.  

I am off to read for a bit, Tommy is napping and the boys are outside playing basketball.  What a nice spring day it is today in Minnesota!  Josh being goofy is even wearing shorts.  I told him he had to get a haircut tonight, he hasn't refused.   I think him and his friend were trying to grow their hair long.  Charlie's mom made him get a haircut, so now Josh isn't resisting so much to get his cut.   lOL!!!   Later!

OMG...I took the plunge, I just registered my son for Driver's Education.  ARGH!!  I can't believe it, and it is very bittersweet for me.  My baby is going to drive a car and soon he will drive away from my house to a life of his own choosing.  THey grow up way too fast.  I wish I could slow down time a bit.  Only three more years of high school and my baby will be probably going to college.  WOW!!!  This is wonderful for him...but does leave me a bit sad.  He is a good boy and I can't imagine not seeing him every single day!

So today I am $365.00 poorer and have one happy boy who is going to be able to take Driver's Ed with two of his buddies.  I can't deny him that.  But mean mom that I am, said that he isn't driving if he isn't on the B honor roll for insurance reasons.  So we will see...........but he will be able to drive and educated.