Happies and Crappies

Happy: My brother fixed the air conditioning in my car, fixed my dome lights,changed my oil, and buffed out some of the scratches I put in the side of the van (oops).  Having a mechanic in the family is SUCH a blessing!

Happy: It was SO NICE to drive home in this 100 degree weather with air conditioning!

Crappy: He also discovered that my alternator may be going soon.

Crappy: This is especially bad timing because we just replaced the alternator in Ryan's car only a few weeks ago. It's an expensive repair and a terrible coincidence that both would go within a few weeks of each other. Sometimes you just can't win.

Happy: Isaac had his first viola lesson yesterday and it went pretty well.  The teacher seemed a little skeptical at first about how serious an eight year old boy could be about the viola but it seemed like Isaac had won him over when the lesson was over. 

Happy: My friend Kim gave us a pretty huge inflatable pool for Isaac.  We had to get rid of our old inflatable pool, so this was an especially nice gift for us. 

Happy: Ryan was also able to fix the outside spigots which hadn't worked so well the past few years. (One didn't work at all, and the other only put out a tiny trickle of water).  This made filling the pool up much quicker!  And we can water the lawn again, if we ever feel so inclined.

Crappy:  We set it up, and Isaac played in it for a bit.  Then after a few hours we put it in the garage. Meanwhile, an inspector from the home owner's association came around and issued us a citation for "storing items in the yard".  WTH.  You can bet I was on the phone complaining today after I got the citation in the mail.

Happy: We leave TOMORROW for Miami to meet the Carnival Victory.  I am so excited for our cruise!

Crappy: There is still so much to get in order before then.  And for some reason, I picked up a work shift today.  What was I thinking?? 

Happy Wednesday!

happies and crappies

Haven't done this for a while: Happies: * Overall things have been going really well at work. I'm caught up on things, I'm in the groove, I'm tackling things that have been lingering around on my desk for ages. Feels much better. * Isaac got his report card today and it was wonderful. I'm a proud mom. * I think I've gotten a handle on my spamming e-mail account. Sorry again about that. Hope no one clicked any links. Apparently one of the subjects was "I'm so depressed" and it was sent at 3 in the morning. I guess it had my parents a little concerned. Oops. * I have fun weekend plans: DJ DJ who exclusively spins Michael Jackson, Prince and Madonna. Can't wait. * My powercord for my home laptop is on it's way. I can't wait to get it. I have been getting by bringing my work laptop home, but I miss my itunes! * My compromise with Isaac on school clothes has been working out well. We alternate who chooses outfits on school days and it has helped cut back on tense before school fights. I'm not thrilled that he wants to wear sweat pants and track suits exclusively, but my mom picked him up some cute ones, so it could be worse I guess. Crappies * I had a great lead on a summer job. I e-mailed my resume and heard back from the HR lady a day later. She sent me some info via e-mail and asked me to get back to her. I contacted her the next day (and several times since via phone and e-mail!!) but she hasn't gotten in contact with me at all. Not sure what to make of that. I thought it was a done deal but apparently not. And that was really my only lead. Booo. * A co-worker at my job was ridiculously rude to me at work. Like full on screaming at me in front of my students. It was so unexpected and out of no where, that, two days later I am still reeling from it. * For some reason I can't read any blogs with a "Shabby Blogs" template. I can only see their header-- none of their content. Any thoughts?

Wednesday

Happies * The kitty cats are now fixed, introduced, and friends. Pictures to follow. * Cody is definitely less play aggressive towards us now that he has a friend to play with. I think Saffron is a little tired of him though. * She is very sweet and long suffering. Especially considering Isaac's new favorite thing is carrying her around like a baby. * It's not dark now when I wake up for work. Makes it sooo much easier to get up! Crappies * I have a slow leak in my one tire. * The washing machine broke. Booo. * Now that I am heating the house my electric bill is out of control. And I keep forgetting to turn down the thermostat before I leave for work. * I have to buy a cord to charge my camera up. So pictures are (temporarily) down again.

Happies and Crappies Weekend Edition

Happies

• I bought this fridge today:

It will be delivered the day after I settle. I had a 10% coupon so that helped. Now I just

need a couch of some sort and I will be all set as far as major purchases.

• I've also checked a few more big things off the list, like setting up my utilities and cable and phone in my name and purchasing home owner's insurance.

• I have listened to The Fray's I'll Look After You about 100 times today. They are rising higher and higher in the ranks of Bands I Love.
• We had an inservice day on Friday. The inservice in itself was sort of boring but it was lovely to just sit and listen and not have to run around after any kids. And wear a dress even. A dress would never fly on a typical school day. This week we have two field days (a special ed one and a regular ed one) and then the following Monday off of school. It's almost summer!!!

• I know this is a little late, but I also had a completely lovely mother's day. It really is one of my favorite days of the year. Isaac made me a really cute mug at school and he was so proud to give it to me. He **coughcoughGrandmacoughcough** also got me a rice cooker which is something I really wanted for the new place, so that was a total surprise. Being a mom is the best job in the world and I think it is so appropriate to have a day to reflect on what a wonderful calling it is. Where would the world be without mothers?

Crappies

• Isaac fell asleep for no more than 8 minutes in the car on the way home from his dad's. Now he won't go to sleep though. It's ten thirty and he has come out of his room approximately 582 times since I put him down.

• I put off applying for summer jobs (I know I need one but I really don't want to) and now the ones I wanted are all filled. I still think I can get one, but it will probably be in Pottstown. I was looking forward to a change. But, looking on the bright side, Pottstown ESY only runs Mon-Thurs, and every Friday off would be a major perk.

• Isaac's dad wants to take him to Florida for five days to visit his aunt this July. I have agreed but I am incredibly nervous. A few years ago I left Isaac with my mom and went to visit my aunt in San Diego for I think four days. That is the longest we have been apart. I think I will probably sit home and cry the whole time he is gone. IT's a whole swirl of emotions. A part of me is excited because his dad is so judgmental about my parenting skills yet he has never been with Isaac for than about 26 hours at a time. He might hum a different tune after a week straight with him with no breaks. Another part of me is petrified that he won't really take Isaac to Florida, that he will take him out of the country and over to Africa and I will never see him again. I know this is not likely, but it still concerns me. A third part of me is disappointed because I was planning a Disney World trip with Isaac next summer and I feel like he is sort of stealing my thunder. Meh.
• The mortgage company people want me to send them a copy of Isaac's birth certificate as proof of his age to verify that child support will continue for a while. The problem is one whole side of our two car garage is filled with packed up boxes and his birth certificate is one of them. No idea where. I did pull out about 5 boxes that were close to perifery and go through them. Ironically, I came across my father's birth certificate but no sign of Isaac's. So far, I have only two somewhat official documents that verify his age. One is a form from my child custody paperwork. His age is just written in in pen but it does have a court stamp and stuff on it. The other one (and this is really bad) is a letter from when he had to go to a urologist at Children's Hospital which references his full birthday. It also has a lot of medical information about what is going on with Isaac's junk and isn't exactly something I want to submit to my mortgage company. Ugh... I really hope this doesn't keep me from getting a mortgage. I am kind of nauseous thinking about it. I have a feeling I will end up paying, like hundreds of dollars to have his birth certificate overnighted or something.
• Lastly, I was trying to download some music onto my work laptop and ending up downloading another virus and now nothing on my computer will work. This will be the third time this year I have downloaded a virus. I am sure the computer tech people at my work must think I am a secret porn addict or something. This is less than a week after I lost my phone, and then bought a new one, and then found my old one.... Me and technology clearly do not mix. At all.

Have a lovely weekend!!

Happies and Crappies 5/5/09

Happies

• I locked in my mortgage rate today-- 4.5% which is exciting check on my list of Things to Do Before I Move. We had projected my interest rate being a bit higher, so my mortage payment will be about 50 bucks less a month than I originally budgeted. That is a HUGE happy.
• We had a meeting today at school in which we discussed next year's rosters and caseloads. It seems that I will still have a job (hurray!) and that I will even be keeping my current assignment (double hurray!). Since I am a first year teacher, it is not a given that my contract will be renewed. It is still ironic to me that I ended up being a kindergarten and first grade teacher at all, much less that I am thrilled to do it again. Historically, as a day to day sub, I avoided kindergarten and first grade at all costs.
• The inside of the new house is getting painted and trimmed and flooring should be in. Hopefully I can schedule a walkthrough this week. The outside has been slowed down a bit because of the rain. The sidewalks and driveway have not been poured yet.

• I was peed on today by a student at school. This is under happies because my mom was home and willing to run me up a pair of workpants. Yay for moms!

• I have decided to dive into reading for pleasure again. I picked up a few from the library including Water for Elephants and Breaking Dawn. I have started in on A Girl Called Zippy, which so far is all right. My mom brought me home The Potentially Sane Mother's Guide for Raising Young Children from Deseret Book when she was out west for my sister's graduation. I have been keeping it in my purse and reading it a few pages at a time. It is pretty good. Finally, I have been reading What Good Teacher's Do Differently for my book club at school. So lots of good reads.

• My brother Tom came home for the weekend and, as he almost always does, generously helped with with my car. The mechanics at Oaks Automotive had done their part to get it up and running but they didn't fix the knocked off mirror and the dent that prevented my passenger side door from opening. Both of those items are now fixed for less than 15 bucks after my first ever trip to the junk yard. Talk about an enviroment where I am COMPLETELY and TOTALLY out of my element. I had my brother document on his Iphone.

For your own future reference, there is a rule at the junk yard about no open toed shoes. I think that it is a very good rule.

Crappies

• Crappy is pretty much the only way to describe Isaac's behavior as of late. It seems like everything out of his mouth is a rudely phrased demand and it is generally SHOUTED at the top of his lungs. He is also in a vicious sleep cycle. For some reason when Isaac goes to bed late, he tends to wake up earlier than usual. He has been getting up insanely early (4:30 am has been our earliest wake up as of late) which causes him to nap at school, which makes him not at all tired when it is time for bed at night... I am sure this is part of what is contributing to his generally atrocious behavior.

• Money - there is just never enough. And, as I have blogged about before, the house purchase and move is making me obsessed with things I need and want to buy and that makes me feel materialistic and selfish. I am trying to keep my head on straight.

What's new with all of you?

Happies and Crappies 4/21

Quickly... Happies

• Isaac has been very adorable and charming lately. He crawled into bed with me the other night. I told him he had to sleep in his own bed, and he said "But I need someone to cuddle with". Awwwww
• My mom and dad did not accept the offer made on our house. This goes under Happies because if they accepted the offer they would have to be out of this house before my house would have been done. This will make my move less pressured and an easier transition (hopefully).
• I found a fabulous TV console at the Pottery Barn Outlet for dirt cheap. It's an outcast from Williams and Sonoma home that retailed for over 1200 initially. I didn't pay anywhere near that. =)
• I really enjoy the fact that it is no longer dark when I am getting up and off to work in the morning. It is not nearly as painful to drag myself out of bed when the sun is shining.

Crappies

• It has been raining forever now... I miss outdoor recess. I am over the rain!
• Work is really stressful right now, mostly because of one isolated student/situation. Sadly, it does not seem like the situation will be resolved before the end of the year. *Sigh* Six more weeks...
• My parents are going out of town for a few days for my sister's graduation and my cousin's sealing. It is always a little bit stressful/lonely when they are gone but now I have the added stress of keeping the house ready to show at any moment.
• I am becoming so obsessed with everything I need/want for my move. It is making me feel materialistic and selfish. I don't like it.
• This morning I was driving to work. There is a small concrete bridge about two blocks from my house. It is pretty narrow-- technically two cars can go across at once, but I wouldn't try to go across it when a bus was coming the other way. Well I was a litte too close to the side today and I scraped the whole side of my car against it and ripped a huge hole in my tire. Oh, and I also have no mirror. Fortuneatly AAA came promptly and helped me get on the road, and I was only even a few minutes late to work. Tomorrow I will hear how much the whole episode has damaged my wallet. And now I get to drive around a car with a big scrape on the side. Man...

Happies and Crappies 4/9

HAPPIES

• I am officially on spring break! Wahoo!! I have today, tomorrow, and Monday off. It is much needed. Isaac and I have big plans for today. Bounce U-- here we come!
• My neighbor across the street dropped by with another goody bag. She has two boys who are just older than Isaac and she always sends over their outgrown clothes/shoes. Yesterdays bag featured four brand new church shirts (two white, one yellow and one red) and adorable Eagles track suit, two pairs of sandals, three pairs of dress shoes and several pairs of shorts, among other things. Everything she sends over is gently used or new with tags still and brand names that I would never splurge for. Never stained or worn. I am so lucky-- she has pretty much outfitted Isaac since he was born.
• I am loving Isaac as a preschooler. He is so verbal and has so many interests. I have been blog reading some mom's of toddlers/infants and I am so happy we the phase of life we are in now. It just seems less stressful. Although, my life is a lot simpler now that I am done school and decently employed, so who knows if it was Isaac or me or both? Anyways; gone are diaper changes, perpetuually smelling like spit up, sleepless nights, the hours spent trying to coax him down for a nap so I could have an uninterupted shower, and tearful sacrameet meetings (his tears and mine). Isaac was so destructive as a toddler it was just exhausting. So anyways, I guess that is just my testiment to those who are in the thick of it-- hang in there, it will be over soon. And preschoolers are so much fun!
• The new house (what Isaac and I refer to as "our little house") is being framed and hopefully towards the end of next week there will be a roof in. That is exciting because it means that weather will no longer be such a huge factor in how much work can be done in a given week.
• Spring is springing!!! It's chilly but lovely out! Things are flowering and starting to be green.
• Hopefully I am getting a hair cut tomorrow. I am going to get a bit taken off. I never, ever bother to do anything nice to my hair anyways, so I may as well lose some of it.

CRAPPIES

• I have Monday off from school but I have been called in for jury duty. Ick.
• Isaac is officially outgrowing some of his 4t stuff which puts him *gulp* in the little boys department. It's a whole new world over there... He's growing up.
• I had to call out of work Tuesday. Monday I woke up feeling really icky but managed to make it through a day of work (barely). The worst part was we had someone coming to see the house Monday night so when all I wanted to be doing was dying under the covers in bed I had to be out at a pizza parlor and running errands to be out of the house. Tuesday I stayed in bed pretty much the whole day. Fortuneatly, I am feeling much better now.
• My parents are in Lancaster for a few days house hunting which means I have to be in charge of getting the house spic and span if we recieve the call that it will be shown. Kind of overwhelming. I will be in the family room picking up all of the toys only to discover Isaac is upstair dumping laundry baskets full of clothes everywhere to make a playhouse.... Ugh. I will be so happy when this whole process is over.
• We have been watching way, way, way too much TV here lately. It's ridiculous and needs to stop.
• I have been breaking out like CRAZY which I just don't get. I am 27 years old. What.the.heck.
• I have a to do list a mile long... I better get off the computer and get started on it...

Happies and Crappies - St. Patrick's Addition

HAPPIES * I have a goal to become more domestic. I thought it went nicely with being a homeowner and also, I won't have any money to do things outside of the house. I think it is about time I learn how to cook. I wouldn't mind learning some other things too. I am have a Mormon heritage. I feel like I should know things like... how to make jelly and bottle beans and stuff.

* While I was pondering my future domesticness at FHE last night, I started to talk to my home teacher Andrew, who is a professional gardener at the beautiful Longwood Gardens.

The new place has a sliding glass door off of the kitchen that most people build a porch off of. Since I cannot afford a porch, my sliding glass door will lead to no where and will just have a gate across. I was thinking maybe I could put a pretty basket or something on it with a few flowers, just to dapple in domesticity. So I started asking Andrew about good hearty plants and before I knew it we had made plans for a small but full blown vegetable garden and a one tree orchard =P. I'm actually very excited for it.

CRAPPIES

* I stayed out late this past weekend (got home after 3 for the first time in.... I don't even know how long...) and I still can't seem to recover. I was in my pajamas by 6:30 tonight and literally nodding off putting Isaac to bed around 7:45.

* I am being summoned for jury duty on my spring break! I will have to waste one precious day off of school sitting around in Norristown. Booooooooooo.

* Glenn Beck sobbing about the state of America... just kind of disgusts me. I won't go on...

* All of the stuff I have to buy after not living on my own for four years. And... a tiny part of me is irritated because if I was getting married near strangers would be sending me rice cookers and crock pots. I know it's petty but I do sort of feel gypped...

Anyways, I had more, but I'm tired. That's all for now...

Happies and Crappies 3/3

Happies

• A two hour delay today after starting off the week with a snow day! I adore two hour delays and it was a surprise to me. I figured we would be back as usual.
• Tomorrow I am going to a conference on teaching kids with autism to read. Looking forward to it. So it will be Thursday by the time we really get into the swing of the week! Hurray!

• The fact that for the last couple of days I have been able to devote some time to reading for pleasure again. I have been reading the above book which I got for Christmas. Frida Kahlo is my favorite artist and is such an interesting person. I wish I made more time for reading and less for watching TV.

Crappies

• Money FLYING out of my bank account. It's pretty ridiculous and sort of stressful. It seems like every time I turn around there are four more bills to pay, or invoices arriving.
• Still not having heard back from the mortgage company. Five business days my foot. I know there isn't any reason why it won't work out, but it is concerning... I just want to have the official word.

Anyways, off to Target to return some things. How are things going for you??