School Projects

I don't like school projects because it never fails that I end up doing most of the work. I think most parents do. 

I usually see 3 types of completed school projects:

1. The Art Gallery Project

There's no way the kid touched it. In fact, mom did it at home while the kid was at school. Surprise  - look what I did today! It is done using clay and paper mache.

2. The "Can You Tell Me About It?" Project

You can barely tell what it is, but the kid did it all by him or herself. He gets an "A" for effort. 

3. The "We" Project

This is combination of 1 and 2. The parents do most of it while the kid gets distracted. The parent refuses to do it all, so parts look great and others look...ok. 

I am a number 3 parent. I refuse to do the project, but I do the measuring and planning while he fights with his brother and goes off to play. Then he traces, cuts, glues and draws. To give him some more credit, we plan it out at Michaels together, although it's more like me making suggestions and him agreeing so we can leave. 

Why am I posting about this?? 

Of course "we" have a school project due tomorrow. 

And "we" waited until the last night to finish it. 

Abraham Lincoln on a can. He really wanted him to have googley-eyes. 

Another one down in the books!

It's been a while...

It's been a while since I last wrote - 1 year and 5 months actually. Way too much time has past for this to be a catch-up blog, but I'll do my best to hit the main points.

I did not like to get on my previous laptop. It was 7 years old, had to be plugged in, and over heated. I spoiled myself this weekend and bought a Mac Book Pro so I hope to be writing more now that I found the love of my life...the computer, not a man. Literally, I LOVE this computer!

Austin is now 9 and in the 3rd grade. He's wicked smart - genius smart - and loves to read. He played baseball the past few seasons, but is taking this season off. 

Ryan is now 6 (almost 7) and in 1st grade. His heart is so kind and he has such a gentle soul. He also has been playing baseball and is playing again this year. 

They are getting a sister in June (obviously not from me) and their dad deploys in May again so I have a long summer and fall ahead of me. Being a single mom when you share every other weekend is difficult, but nothing is like being a single mom for 6+ months without the emotional support. I feel like deployments take more of a toll on me now than when we were married. 

I am still working at the same company (3 1/2 years) and I was just promoted to Sales Operations Manager. How crazy is that! I started as a temp doing data entry and now I am a manager! I am so grateful for Facebook...because of a post I made about needing a job, an old friend from high reached out and got me this temp job that has turned into and amazing career. To top it off, her husband coaches our sons' baseball team now too!

I know you all want to hear about the man in my life...there's two and I already mentioned them. I haven't been dating since my brief stint online. I'm really happy where I am right now. I really like my independence and keeping up with kids and my job is enough right now. I get a little lonely sometimes and wish I had someone to co-parent with, share my day and my dreams with, a shoulder to cry on or just someone to hold me, but overall life is good. There's my hodge-podge catch up and until next time...

First day of school ramblings

Both my boys started school today. Ryan still gave to lots of hugs and wanted to sit on my lap. I didn't cry...he's still my baby.

Austin went right into his second grade line and wanted me to go. Hes the one growing up so fast, but I guess that's typical for the first born.

This is the first year Austin has a single grade. While I am happy, all of his friends are in a 2\3 combo class. That makes ne sad.

Ryan was in a late owl K class from 9:30 to 1:23. I was able to switch him to 8am to 11:55, but his class size went from 12 to 18.

I love seeing all of the parents I know, but I just wish I fit in better with them. It's difficult to be a single mom in OC.

Ran into a friend from high school snd college who's daughter is going to this school now.  Super fun!

I hope I have done what is right for ny kids. Here's to another year and to focusing on learning, building good educational habits and making new friends!

End of Summer Fun!

My 7-year-old son made this video on his own. Enjoy!!!















***He moved the Minions and took the pics. I animated it in Photoshop. 

I've made it!

It's been a long time since I've blogged. Since a ton has changed, I thought I'd just start with my new house. Here are some bad pics, messy pics, but at least they are pics.    

We moved out of my parent's house after 2 1/2 years. We only moved 10 minutes away but we love it! More on the move tomorrow!

Smarty Pants

It's one thing to be sarcastic to your son and know he doesn't get it. It's another thing to have him spurt the sarcasim back at you.

One afternoon last week I promised Austin a snack before dinner. We were out of the house and running late, so we ended up having to just get dinner.

Austin: (Staring to throw a temper tantrum) "But MOM, you PROMISED to get me a snack before dinner. You PROMISED!"

Me: I know I did, but sometimes plans change and we have to be flexible. We're getting dinner right now, so you won't starve.

(Drive thru Del Taco and get dinner.)

Now we are right on time. I have 10 minutes to get home, drop Austin and food off and then 15 min to get to my appointment. It takes 10 min to get home from where we are and 15 min form home to get to my appointment. In other words, just enough time.

We are about to go through a traffic signal when it turns red.

Me: (starting to throw a mommy temper tantrum) Oh my goodness! We need to get home!

Austin: Mom, why are you mad?

Me: Because I wasn't planning on us missing this light and now we have a red light.

Austin: Sometimes plans change, Mom.

SMART-A**!!!!!

Aside from that, my son is actually a smarty pants. He was a top speller in first grade and will compete against all of the top first grade spellers at his school in a few weeks! So proud of him!

Time with Ryan

I stayed home and worked from home up until Austin went to Kindergarten. He had a lot of bonding time with me and we were able to make a lot of memories together.

I went back to work in an office before Ryan started preschool and sometimes I feel like he was cheated out of that special time with me. We have a great relationship and bond, but I felt he got the short end of the stick.

I have been blessed to work from home for the past  months (and until March 2013) and though I am working during the day, Ryan has been able to have some of this special "mommy time." We are able to eat lunch together, play, watch tv shows/movies, get coffee and other quick adventures. I thought I'd share just a few from today:

Lunch
Usually I'll make it for him, but today he decided he wanted to make it himself. Here's how I found him.

Playtime
He has been playing Santa all day..."Ho Ho Ho!!!" Our stockings were filling with die-cast Thomas trains.

Getting into things
Playing with mommy's 10 year-old glasses. I'm not too concerned because if he breaks them I have to get new ones and styles are MUCH cuter today :)