Merry Christmas!

Okay, so it's been a while since I've posted anything here. My new job has kept me pretty busy, but in a good way. Things around our home have also been chaotic. Last week we had a flood from the river out back. It came into the house and ruined everything that was in the basement. Luckily, we have insurance and it was covered. Here's a photo of the water in the basement.









I'm so blessed though to have a husband who is now home with the kids. I was worried about it originally, but it's turning out better than I could have planned. The flood was okay because he was home and could clean it up and deal with the insurance company. I am so excited to have him home for the holidays. This will be the first time since we've been together that we will have the entire holiday season off together. We were both talking about how excited we were to spend it together with the kids this year. We have already celebrated my gram's 85th birthday with the family. It was awesome.











I look forward to spending time just chillin' around the house with the kids for two weeks. We really have no place to be this season for the most part and that feels really good. I am so blessed and thankful.

Halloween

On Thursday of last week, I took the kids to my old school and walked the hallways. It was a lot of fun. The halls looked really good this year. The participation was terrific. I loved seeing my old students; it was nice to be missed. Friday night, we went around our new neighborhood here in Downingtown. It was great. The area has lots of homes and townhouses within walking distance of our house so the kids got A LOT of candy. Mia actually got more candy than Coy even though he hit two houses to every one Mia hit. The reasons:
1. Cute blond princesses always win out over glow-in-the-dark skeletons
2. Learn the Miss America wave early on-it gets you lots of ooohs and aaaahs
3. Say please and thank you often
4. Smile and stick your hand in the candy jar and pull out as many as you can at once...would you say no to an adorable two-year-old?

Needless to say, the kids and Coy and I had a great time. This was also the first year Big Coy could make trick-or-treating so life was much easier. Daddy went with Coy and I went with Mia. Life is good. Here are some pictures of the kids.

T-Ball

I can't believe how fast time goes. My son is already four and playing T-Ball. We've already decided that he'll probably be a left-handed pitcher for the Phillies when he grows up. I know that parents tend to be biased, but this kid can throw. His first day was too cute and we all went, Mommy, Daddy, Pop-Pop, Nanny, and Mo-Mo. Coy goes every Monday for five weeks. The first week was fantastic; the second was not so great. We'll see how the third week goes. I've added some pictures of Coy and Mia with their gloves. I think that's what I think is the cutest...who cares if he plays ball, as long as he looks good, right;-)

New Job

So I am officially a Red Raider now. I have had two days of "New Teacher Orientation" even though I've been teaching for eleven years now. It's fine though because I feel like they are truly trying to set up everyone to succeed. The administration is really positive and they talk about the pride of everyone involved. Most teachers have been there for years and will never leave. There is a small turnover rate here, which is great. I am looking forward to starting next week with the other teachers too and meeting them.

Of course, I miss my old friends from my other school but have met some great people now. None can take their places (in case they are reading this) because they know the special place in my heart.

BounceU

Okay, so for all you people out there with kids-any age, listen up! I figured that since I go back to work on Monday and things will change big time with my time I wanted to spend all day with the kids. Well, on Tuesday, I was with my mom and found a flyer for BounceU. There was a preschool playdate for Tuesdays and Fridays. Originally I was going to meet another mom there but she bagged so it was just us. It was about ten minutes from my home. We walked in and signed a waiver, paid my $8.50each for my kids and watched a video on how to jump responsibly and then away we went. For once, I didn't bring my camera and I'm sorry I didn't. The kids had a blast and I would highly recommend it to anyone. There were only about seven kids there today and all had to be under 6 so I didn't worry about 16-yr-olds jumping on my poor kids. The kids got to bounce, run, jump, roll, box etc. for an entire hour and then afterward they were given a juice box and snack in another room. They provide hand-sanitizer too! My kids had a great time and they slept like rocks afterward. I feel like I should pay them! Sorry I have no pictures but you can click on the link I provided and see for yourself. There are many around.

Renaissance Faire Annual Trip

This weekend I went to the Renaissance Faire with my "peeps" from SHS. We have gone pretty much every year since I started working there. It was great to hang with the ladies but even meant a lot more since I won't be returning to work with them this year; I begin my new adventure August 18th. But enough sappy stuff...

The Ren Faire has always been the place where, we ladies, have had to opportunity to hang out, laugh, joke, and just plain have fun without kids or husbands around. This was really the first year that I wasn't so impressed with the shows (I've seen the same shows with the same jokes a number of times now) or the street interaction. The street interaction was null and void and that's one of the things we really enjoyed. It is always fun though to walk around and see the people who flock to the Faire. Jenny called many of them FOFs, Friends of the Faire. They spend every weekend there. I don't know how they can do that because I get bored with the annual show as spoken above. Anyway, people watching is a pleasure. Our favorite this year was the fifty-something year old woman with the a corset, no bra, striped leggings, and spike heels. But to each his own, right?

I guess the way to fix the boredom would be to see other shows than the ones we've seen every year. This year we went to the Feast in the glen and that was fantastic. We paid only 22 bucks and got a meal, sans silverware, unlimited drink, lots of food, dessert and a show. Shakespeare was the main attraction for this show and the man who plays him does a great job. We really enjoyed ourselves, some of us more than others as seen in this photo op. Pictured below is Amber in the foreground, Jenny, Melissa, and Christy. I am sure going to miss these ladies-although I will probably see more of Melissa than anyone because she lives pretty close to me now. It's going to be very difficult to leave these ladies as I've become such a close family with them. I know that it will be nice at my new school but as a wise woman said to me, "It's always harder on the ones you leave behind." I think that will be true in this case too. They have the memories in the building...I'm starting fresh. I'm sure I'll get calls the first week of how weird it is to not hear me at in-services. I feel like crying thinking about it, but enough of that. I will miss you, MY SHS HOMIES! Please keep in touch. Always, KC

Franken-Coy

Friday night we spent the evening, not food-shopping like I should have, but in the ER with the family. Around six-thirty my husband came home and walked into the kitchen. I saw my son and daughter in the living room about to jump on the couch. I said, "Don't jump on the couch; you'll fall and crack your skull open." You know the thing your parents said to you all the time when you didn't listen. Well my child is no different. I walked upstairs and heard my husband coming up with my son. I looked at them and saw blood pouring down my son's face. I was very calm! I really was. (Until the actual stitches, that is) We went out the door to the ER and sat in the hospital until 10 pm when they finally put three stitches in his forehead. They wrapped him in a sheet so they could hold him still. It took three doctors and my husband to hold him still enough to put the stitches in. I couldn't help because I was in the corner crying just as much as he was screaming bloody murder. Hmmmm, I always wondered what bloody murder sounded like, well I found out. Those sounds will haunt me the rest of my life. I've attached two pictures for those of you with a solid stomach. His wound actually looks like a bullet went through his head, but it was the corner of our coffee table. Funny thing was when we got home and put the kids to bed, we checked the surrounding area of the scene of the crime for blood and couldn't find a drop. This child bled like crazy but we figure it wasn't until he started to cry that the blood flowed. WOW! I'm thankful that it wasn't any other part of him like his eye. He will have a scar now just like his father in the same place. Please be warned that the pictures you are about to view are not for the squeamish.

BTW, he is doing very well today and hasn't even said a word about the stitches. We wait five days now to get them removed. That should be another interesting trip to the hospital.

Driving, driving, and more driving

Yesterday and today I drove through three states eight times. That's right, I said eight! My grandmother had to have cataract surgery and I volunteered to help her. She has never gotten a driver's license in her eighty-four years and relied on my grandfather and her loved ones. Since I'm home for the summer I voluteered to drive her. We drove from PA to MD to DE eight times which was fun...I got gas for 3.60 a gallon there so in my mind that was worth it alone.

Now an interesting point about my grandmother is that even though she is 84 years old she doesn't look it. No, I really mean it...she doesn't. You may be thinking, yeah right, of course you'll say that, but no even the woman at the eye doctor's said it too. My gram put her birthdate down and put 1923 as her year of birth. The woman actually asked if she had made a mistake. Gram's skin is flawless because she never tanned, smoked, or did anything bad for it. I've added a picture of her from this year and you can see for yourself. I pray that my skin will look as good when I'm her age too! You go girl!

Tethered to Technology

So I'm finishing up my online course that I've been facillitating for seven weeks. It's been great and has shown me even more why I'd like to work with teachers and technology on a regular basis. I have to give my work laptop back this week (a week before my new one arrives) and it kills me to be without it for that long. How much of a tech geek am I? My new job doesn't seem to be that tethered to technology as my previous district so that should be a shock to my system as well. (Have you noticed all the alliteration? Crazy!)

I know my family will be glad when I get rid of the computer. I am on it way too much...from skyping to oovoo to online summer school and professional development courses, I use it too much. You know you use it a lot when your son, with whom we play this game called, "I love you a million blanks...." and you fill in the blank with "a million teddy bears" and he fills it in with "a million computers and cell phones." If that doesn't break your heart, nothing will.

The Joys of Motherhood

So it happened, yes, it finally happened. While trying to teach Mia to go on the potty, she POOPED on my foot. Yes, take a moment and revel in that. If you are not a parent, you are probably completed grossed out by this and cringing at the thought. If you ARE a parent, you are probably saying, "Oh that, my kid did that about ten times. It's just a process." Well who the heck decided that this was an okay process for moms? I would like to meet with them and place my ploppy, gloppy, foot up their....well you know. I can tell you that I don't remember my son ever doing that and I would be perfectly happy going through the rest of my life without ever having had my foot pooped upon!

Nerd Noses and Tasty Toeses

Ok, so I had alreay written this and then I clicked on the picture to insert it and I lost everything I had typed. Technology is great when it works for you, but when it works against you you're ready to throw it across the room!

Anyway, the title says a lot, but not in proper English. That is completley unlike me, but I couldn't resist it. Today Mia learned two really important things:

1. Don't put Nerds candy into orifices it doesn't belong

2. Putting your foot in your mouth isn't so bad, literally!

Number one is obvious to us but not so to two-year-olds. Mia was sitting at the table and I noticed her playing with her nose. I asked her what was wrond and she said, "Tandy dare" which in her language is "Candy there" as she pointed to her tiny little nostril. What a time we had trying to get her to blow her nose as hard as she could. Eventually we were able to blow that sucker out of there with some boogies as well. She tried to eat the boogie because that was green and the candy which used to be green had lost it color in her nose! I threw it in the trash as fast as I could.

Now the toes weren't so dramatic, she just stuck her foot in her mouth at the dinner table while we were eating. It was so adorable and we did the unthinkable! We laughed. That was the end of it. It was a disgusting thing for her to do and all the dirt from the day was caked in on her foot so she should have stopped. No, we had to laugh and so now she has found her toes not only amusing for herself, but to get a laugh from us as well. She continued to do it and looked at my husband and me each time! Talk about putting your foot in your mouth. Ahhhh. Hopefully that will get old soon.

Finally, the kids went to daycamp today. It was great for two reasons: the kids loved it and will meet kids for the fall when they attend that school and MOMMY GOT A BREAK! I will be sending them there every Tuesday...so if you see me with a big grin and a Cappuccino, it must be a Tuesday!

Busy doing nothing

How is it possible that I can be soooooo busy doing nothing? I spend the mornings cleaning up after the kids' breakfast and straightening up before my hubby comes down. I check my emails since I'm teaching an online professional development course AND summer school. The summer school has six different courses of which I have to keep track. Then I have to entertain the children with various things like books, walks, arts and crafts, and yes, computer play for my preschooler. I feel like I don't accomplish much by the end of the day but I see this list and know I've done A LOT. Whew!

Wedding Fun

Ok, so this weekend I was in a friend's wedding and my children stayed at my parent's house! I can't believe how life is changed when children are NOT around and pulling on your clothes at every turn. I spent the weekend with my hubby which was sooooo nice. We talked, cleaned, played, danced, slept in...it was amazing. Now my parents on the other hand talked or were talked at more likely, cleaned up after a whirlwind of activity, played A LOT, danced too I'm sure, and got up early. Thanks M & D, I needed it and I hope you can rest too now.

My hubby and I had a wonderful time. The wedding was outside at this beautiful estate called the "Peter Allen" house. The owner said that William Penn's daughter was kidnapped out of the kitchen of that house. I am now interested in doing some research about that because I had never heard that before. Anyway, I'll add later if I find anything else out about this.

I was thinking while I was getting all gussied up for this wedding, why we as women like to do this. I spent over an hour doing my hair for the wedding, then a bunch of money on "things" that you need for the day, wore shoes that hurt my feet after a while, drank too much, danced too hard, ate too much, and drove way too far! Why I ask you? We do it because somewhere in the back of our minds we think about the barbie doll that we used to dress up and at some point in the mixed up world of diapers, potty training, cleaning, dog walking, cooking, bathing babies life I lead, I want to be that barbie doll. Just once more. No strings attached. Dress up and show off and then go back to the same world of children. Don't get me wrong; I love my kids to death, but one night, one Cinderella night, I got to think of me. It was nice so thanks to my dear friend who gave me that opportunity. I needed it and so did my husband.

Hot, Hot, Hot

So this morning at 2am and at 6am, my daughter puked up all the raspberry juice she had drunk all day. Since we just moved and our washing machine is non-existent, I had to throw her favorite blankie in the tub and then try to explain (in the dark) why she couldnt' have her wet blankie back until tomorow. The only good thing about the heat was that I stuck that puppy outside and it was dry in no time. I slept on the floor with her for a while and then finally went back to my bed when my left hip went numb.

She must have given me something too because I haven't felt well all day. Anyway, we went for a walk at 9AM this morning because in my mind, I thought it wouldn't be THAT hot at that time. Yeah right! It was a sauna. We walked to the path behind our new house and got to the train bridge. The nice thing is that the train bridge has a little path down to the river and we had our own little science lesson there. We saw guppies and tadpoles and a lot of MUD! My son at first didn't want to take off his shoes and go in...but it didn't take too long and he was sloshing around in the river. It was fun to watch. We also ate the honeysuckles along the path. I felt very "crunchy" which I am not...I leave that to my sister and her family:-) The walk over was NOTHING compared to the walk back especially since I was pushing the stroller with my son and holding my daughter. I was dripping sweat by the time we got back and into the air. Thank God for air conditioning though. I don't mind spending the money for the air now. It's all worth it. It's also worth it because my children were tired and took nice long naps.

I have now had time to put dinner on, vacuum the LR, DR, couches, stairs, runners, and bare floor. This is probably more cleaning in one day than I did all year while I taught. :-) Of course, I cleaned yesterday, but my husband didn't even notice. Again, he won't notice because much of what I did has already been destroyed by the kids. Well, I should go now and see if I can wipe anything else down.

Already ready

So I spoke with a teacher friend of mine and already we are ready to go back to work. We've been officially off work for three days and being home has left us wondering why we have a summer break.

Ok, so I'm blogging and skyping at the same time while my two kids try to not kill each other. Isn't technology great?

So what did I do today? I spent the day in doors with the air on because it was so stinking hot outside. The kids were very good today for the most part, but it was the first day we were all home together. I have played Zelda, yes we still have Nintendo 64, and colored, and watched the Backyardigans. I love the Backyardigans...I think I like them just as much as the kids do. It's amazing to watch them dance better than half the people I know...their moves are pretty keen. (Who says keen in this day and age, I know!)

I spent the morning on my hands and knees cleaning the kitchen floor and then cleaning the living room and dining room and because the kids are home all the time now, it looks like I didn't do a thing. I just know that my husband will come home and ask what I did all day. I guess the easiest thing then is to NOT do anything all day and then I won't be annoyed when he says that:-)