Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Dear Husband
I just came home form running an errand and my dear husband is teaching my Mom how to play bridge on the computer.
Friday, August 25, 2006
Bed, Bed, whose bed is this?
Now that granny is living with us for a bit, we gave her the kids room and put the kids in with us. There is plenty of room. But still the bed roulette continues. I am surprisingly use to the madness of it.
The nightly routine:
7:45 pm Ki goes to sleep in grannies bed. She can't go to sleep in the same room as A. b/c he snorts, screeches or sings as part of his wind down to sleep and she goes nuts. Or of course he teases her about liking princesses.
8:15 pm A. goes to sleep in my and Pops bed. He prefers it.
10 pm. Granny is ready for bed. I go and get Ki out of Granny's bed and carry her to her futon bed in our room.
11 pm. Pops goes to bed and moves A. to his bed, also in our room.
11:30 I climb into bed with Pops.
1 am. I have been waking to 1 of 2 possible scenarios:
1. Ki whimpering in the bathroom. I get out of bed and hunt her down in the bathroom, sitting on the rug.
"Ki, what's wrong!?"
She sobs, "My blankets are messed up." Why that landed her in the bathroom is unclear.
I carry her back to her bed and realize the reason the blankets are messed up is b/c they are wadded up at the foot of the bed and are being anchored down by our snoring 65-pound lab.
"There's a dog in my bed!!!!" (As if it were a new dog).
"Oh, SiSi loves you and wants to cuddle!"
"NOOOO!!!! I DON'T WANT TO SLEEP WITH SISI!!!!!!!!!!"
I pull the nearly comatose dog onto the floor, "Okay Brown, come sleep over here." This was repeated the following night. It was then that I realized I needed to find Sisi a place that was more desirable to sleep on then Ki's futon bed. mmmmm I pulled her dog bed onto the floor and put her blanket on it. One more obstacle to occasionally trip over. However, an occasional trip will beat out the nightly whimper concert from the bathroom.
2. While fully asleep I am awakened by, "Mommie, can I sleep in your bed?". Lying on my side I open 1 eye to find myself face-to-face with Ki, who is already pulling on the lower sheet to gain momentum and swing into our elevated bed.
"No!" I throw out before I realize the small face will crumble in response. It is just that I know that if I let her in once, she will expect to spend every night there from 1 am on, and I will physically suffocate stuffed between her and Pops.
"Well, how about I take you back to your bed (6 feet away) and sit a bit."
"Okay!"
I carry Ki to the futon bed (a futon folded in half on the floor) and I climb in. Only now do I fully realize the "bed" is only about 5 Ft long and I am forced to contort to fit in with pillow and all. I fall asleep anyway. At 3 am I wake up stiff and stumble back to my bed.
I'm headed to bed now. Here's to sleeping in the same bed, just with Pops, all night long....
The nightly routine:
7:45 pm Ki goes to sleep in grannies bed. She can't go to sleep in the same room as A. b/c he snorts, screeches or sings as part of his wind down to sleep and she goes nuts. Or of course he teases her about liking princesses.
8:15 pm A. goes to sleep in my and Pops bed. He prefers it.
10 pm. Granny is ready for bed. I go and get Ki out of Granny's bed and carry her to her futon bed in our room.
11 pm. Pops goes to bed and moves A. to his bed, also in our room.
11:30 I climb into bed with Pops.
1 am. I have been waking to 1 of 2 possible scenarios:
1. Ki whimpering in the bathroom. I get out of bed and hunt her down in the bathroom, sitting on the rug.
"Ki, what's wrong!?"
She sobs, "My blankets are messed up." Why that landed her in the bathroom is unclear.
I carry her back to her bed and realize the reason the blankets are messed up is b/c they are wadded up at the foot of the bed and are being anchored down by our snoring 65-pound lab.
"There's a dog in my bed!!!!" (As if it were a new dog).
"Oh, SiSi loves you and wants to cuddle!"
"NOOOO!!!! I DON'T WANT TO SLEEP WITH SISI!!!!!!!!!!"
I pull the nearly comatose dog onto the floor, "Okay Brown, come sleep over here." This was repeated the following night. It was then that I realized I needed to find Sisi a place that was more desirable to sleep on then Ki's futon bed. mmmmm I pulled her dog bed onto the floor and put her blanket on it. One more obstacle to occasionally trip over. However, an occasional trip will beat out the nightly whimper concert from the bathroom.
2. While fully asleep I am awakened by, "Mommie, can I sleep in your bed?". Lying on my side I open 1 eye to find myself face-to-face with Ki, who is already pulling on the lower sheet to gain momentum and swing into our elevated bed.
"No!" I throw out before I realize the small face will crumble in response. It is just that I know that if I let her in once, she will expect to spend every night there from 1 am on, and I will physically suffocate stuffed between her and Pops.
"Well, how about I take you back to your bed (6 feet away) and sit a bit."
"Okay!"
I carry Ki to the futon bed (a futon folded in half on the floor) and I climb in. Only now do I fully realize the "bed" is only about 5 Ft long and I am forced to contort to fit in with pillow and all. I fall asleep anyway. At 3 am I wake up stiff and stumble back to my bed.
I'm headed to bed now. Here's to sleeping in the same bed, just with Pops, all night long....
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
First day
Pops went early and took A for his first day. I went a bit later to go to greeting coffee and take Ki to kinder orientation hour. Ki and I had picked out her outfit the night before. But somehow morning of we could not find the beloved new brown and blue Kangaroo tennis shoes. She had to wear purple Crocs-which matched. Then she wanted to wear her SF Giants coat (a baseball hand-me down from her brother). I couldn't find it (didn't look to hard, may have hidden it if I did find it). "Well, I can't find it, and we'll be inside" I declared.
"That's okay Mommie, I'll wear this one." She rips out of the closet a 2 generation hand me down grey hooded sweatshirt with "basketball" across the front.
"Oh...uh, well let's put that in your backpack and you can get it out later if you need to."
I arrive at Raincloud school and try to maintain the I-am-comfy-here look. It is like being the new kid at school myself. Lots of well dressed women greeting one another and hugging. Not a lot of sweats and jeans here. I turn around and really look at my daughter the for the first time since we've arrived and she is wearing the sweatshirt. I wander over to table with the coffee and I spot this Mom and twins that were in daycare with Ki 3 years ago.
I say,"Oh, Hi Karen! Our girls are in the same class!. Ki, you probably won't remember, but this is Karen.
She says, "Oh actually, I go by "Mrs. _________" at school."
WHAT????? I don't know anyone who goes by "Mrs._____________."
I retreated to the playground with Ki to try and take a breath and overcome that. I have never felt comfortable around that woman. There is something condescending or righteous in her interactions at times. Oh joy, we're in the same class!
I made little small talk with others and walked into Mrs Junes class with Ki. (I should mention I do know a few great families here, and I have met some other women who seem nice.)
The teacher and class structure, materials, plans etc were quite impressive. I've heard great things about this teacher. It will be a good year for Ki. She is a bright and curious girl. Hopefully, she'll be able to reach out and make some friends.
The teacher had mentioned that they don't need any supplies brought in for the kids, they have everything. What they want to do, as they have done in the past, is to have parents donate money toward having the field trips come to us. (Busing is expensive and there is only one bus, driving is hard because of carseats and short day etc). So if we could donate money, in addition to the $500 each class gets from PTA, that would be great. Well that sounds reasonable and good!
So I later go to sign up sheets. I have in mind to be a volunteer, but not coordinator, for Art in Action. Sure enough, "Mrs _______" has signed up as coordinator. For some reason she signed first and last name and not Mrs._______. Oh, %&%#&* I say to myself. I end up signing up anyway. I'll be the bigger person here and not let her irk me. This is what I want to do and Fridays is the day I have available.
I look over at the "field trip" donations sheets for these 2 kinder classes only. They read:
I can pay for the FULL $150.00 cost for Museum X visit.
__________________________ (parent signature)
(There are a few of these with similar or greater amounts listed)
or
I can pay for PARTIAL cost of $500.00 Bug Museum visit:
__________________________(parent signature)
___________________ (amount parent to donate)
I am shocked to read continued donations of nothing under $100. People are signing up and putting big numbers next to their names. And for all the world to see. This seems wrong to me in so many ways. You get it-I don't need to write them out. Oh-I didn't mention that each family is requested to donate $200 per kid at the school. That I get and they can't make you donate, or you can donate what you can. I get that a good public education is no longer free. But this public listing thing makes me grind my teeth! I didn't sign up. I don't want to cough up a big chunk of money just because "everyone else is" and hence acquiesce to this public display. I'm thinking of giving a check to support in amount I am comfortable with, and not put my name down-but just hand it to the teacher. mmmmmmmmm
Ki and I leave and I excitedly speed over to Bea's house. She is throwing a Mimosa Bash for Mom's for the first day of school. All of us are "special" moms and I look forward to spending time in the comfort of my tribe.
"That's okay Mommie, I'll wear this one." She rips out of the closet a 2 generation hand me down grey hooded sweatshirt with "basketball" across the front.
"Oh...uh, well let's put that in your backpack and you can get it out later if you need to."
I arrive at Raincloud school and try to maintain the I-am-comfy-here look. It is like being the new kid at school myself. Lots of well dressed women greeting one another and hugging. Not a lot of sweats and jeans here. I turn around and really look at my daughter the for the first time since we've arrived and she is wearing the sweatshirt. I wander over to table with the coffee and I spot this Mom and twins that were in daycare with Ki 3 years ago.
I say,"Oh, Hi Karen! Our girls are in the same class!. Ki, you probably won't remember, but this is Karen.
She says, "Oh actually, I go by "Mrs. _________" at school."
WHAT????? I don't know anyone who goes by "Mrs._____________."
I retreated to the playground with Ki to try and take a breath and overcome that. I have never felt comfortable around that woman. There is something condescending or righteous in her interactions at times. Oh joy, we're in the same class!
I made little small talk with others and walked into Mrs Junes class with Ki. (I should mention I do know a few great families here, and I have met some other women who seem nice.)
The teacher and class structure, materials, plans etc were quite impressive. I've heard great things about this teacher. It will be a good year for Ki. She is a bright and curious girl. Hopefully, she'll be able to reach out and make some friends.
The teacher had mentioned that they don't need any supplies brought in for the kids, they have everything. What they want to do, as they have done in the past, is to have parents donate money toward having the field trips come to us. (Busing is expensive and there is only one bus, driving is hard because of carseats and short day etc). So if we could donate money, in addition to the $500 each class gets from PTA, that would be great. Well that sounds reasonable and good!
So I later go to sign up sheets. I have in mind to be a volunteer, but not coordinator, for Art in Action. Sure enough, "Mrs _______" has signed up as coordinator. For some reason she signed first and last name and not Mrs._______. Oh, %&%#&* I say to myself. I end up signing up anyway. I'll be the bigger person here and not let her irk me. This is what I want to do and Fridays is the day I have available.
I look over at the "field trip" donations sheets for these 2 kinder classes only. They read:
I can pay for the FULL $150.00 cost for Museum X visit.
__________________________ (parent signature)
(There are a few of these with similar or greater amounts listed)
or
I can pay for PARTIAL cost of $500.00 Bug Museum visit:
__________________________(parent signature)
___________________ (amount parent to donate)
I am shocked to read continued donations of nothing under $100. People are signing up and putting big numbers next to their names. And for all the world to see. This seems wrong to me in so many ways. You get it-I don't need to write them out. Oh-I didn't mention that each family is requested to donate $200 per kid at the school. That I get and they can't make you donate, or you can donate what you can. I get that a good public education is no longer free. But this public listing thing makes me grind my teeth! I didn't sign up. I don't want to cough up a big chunk of money just because "everyone else is" and hence acquiesce to this public display. I'm thinking of giving a check to support in amount I am comfortable with, and not put my name down-but just hand it to the teacher. mmmmmmmmm
Ki and I leave and I excitedly speed over to Bea's house. She is throwing a Mimosa Bash for Mom's for the first day of school. All of us are "special" moms and I look forward to spending time in the comfort of my tribe.
Sunday, August 20, 2006
The First Day
Tomorrow is the first day of school. Ki enters kindergarten and A. will be in second grade. We've transferred A. to our home school-so he and Ki will be together. I am a bit anxious, as I always am, about entering community situations with "typical" kids and families. Also, the families in this area tend to be wealthy. That with my own insecurities and my atypical family tends to make me shut down socially. But I have been trying to gear myself up so I don't end up shutting myself out-as I did at Iron Gate. Many of the kinder families will be new to the school-so that is good. I already really put my head out there and volunteered to take a position on the PTA board. Should be interesting. Tomorrow there is a meet and greet coffee. I am going to go to that. Some of the best news is that many of those my "special family" will be at Raincloud school,too. That is b/c the special ed day class for kindergarten is there. So Leelo, Maximilian, Ditto and their fabulous families will be there. Oooh Yeah! There are a few other families I know as well. Pops and I went to the school with the kids today to find their classrooms. Both kids brought their new backpacks. A. Is a bit obsessed with pushing and pulling things (suitcases, wagons, grocery carts etc), so the new Spiderman backpack on wheels is heavenly. He took off walking it around the school and wasn't seen for another 15 minutes.
The kids are 2 doors down from one another and across a very small lot where the special ed kinder class is. So nice. I have to say we are off to a better start than we have been the past 2 years. The inclusion spec JT, is new to the district but not this job. He seems very motivated, thoughtful and organized. He had all of A's "stuff" dropped off prior to 1st day of school (slant board etc). Also he pulled together a nice file for the classroom teacher and called her before school started. I have only fair feelings about the aide-so we shall see.
Ki's new backpack is a car. I indirectly edged her from Spiderman, though I would have gotten if she really wanted it. She was hot on the mutant ninja turtles for a bit. But I know she really only briefly knows about them and I think they can be a bit violent-so I said no to that one. She got new brown and blue kangaroo shoes that she is in love with. It was that or the spiderman tennis shoes. No dresses for us. Lots of cropped pants. Also, 2 skorts. They are acceptable b/c of the shorts hidden underneath. She sees it as a funny surprise that the shorts are there. Then again, she wanted to wear pants tomorrow. So hopefully the funny surprise isn't on me now that we have 2 skorts with 3 matching shirts. Pics to come.
For my first day back to school, Kurt and I bought new cell phones. And I got a Palm Treo!!!! It has phone, camera, tape recorder, video recorder, PALM, internet (broadband), etc. WOW! Soooooooooooooo cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mama Bea of the "Hot Mamas" special Moms group is hosting mimosas at her house in the am to celebrate the start of school. Such fun. I am ready to enter the routine of the school year, madness and all.
The kids are 2 doors down from one another and across a very small lot where the special ed kinder class is. So nice. I have to say we are off to a better start than we have been the past 2 years. The inclusion spec JT, is new to the district but not this job. He seems very motivated, thoughtful and organized. He had all of A's "stuff" dropped off prior to 1st day of school (slant board etc). Also he pulled together a nice file for the classroom teacher and called her before school started. I have only fair feelings about the aide-so we shall see.
Ki's new backpack is a car. I indirectly edged her from Spiderman, though I would have gotten if she really wanted it. She was hot on the mutant ninja turtles for a bit. But I know she really only briefly knows about them and I think they can be a bit violent-so I said no to that one. She got new brown and blue kangaroo shoes that she is in love with. It was that or the spiderman tennis shoes. No dresses for us. Lots of cropped pants. Also, 2 skorts. They are acceptable b/c of the shorts hidden underneath. She sees it as a funny surprise that the shorts are there. Then again, she wanted to wear pants tomorrow. So hopefully the funny surprise isn't on me now that we have 2 skorts with 3 matching shirts. Pics to come.
For my first day back to school, Kurt and I bought new cell phones. And I got a Palm Treo!!!! It has phone, camera, tape recorder, video recorder, PALM, internet (broadband), etc. WOW! Soooooooooooooo cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mama Bea of the "Hot Mamas" special Moms group is hosting mimosas at her house in the am to celebrate the start of school. Such fun. I am ready to enter the routine of the school year, madness and all.
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Did I mention...
Did I mention that while I was in Southern Ca moving Mom up here that:
- e-coli was found in the drinking water somewhere and for 24hrs we weren't supposed to be drinking the tap or shower water (you can guess how well my son and Mom adhered to and remembered that)
-it was 85-90 degrees and humid while I packed up Moms house
-A had a melt down...or two
-the dog tried to swim off to china in the ocean
-I pulled things out of the cupboards and Mom put them back later
-the night before we left Mom was drinking and agitated that we needed to stay and "clean all this up". She asked about this multiple times. I felt crazy
-I badly pulled a muscle in my right calf 15 minutes before we were supposed to leave and drive North. I had a melt down.
-I couldn't walk and needed to get crutches. Mom told Kurt she called the Thrift store and they had crutches-Good news! She just wasn't sure which Thrift store she had called.
-Upon return to the Bay area Mom and I stopped so I could pick up my hubby's car at a friends. It had been hit by a guy driving a UHAUL the day before (Okay that is just weird). (The driver was kind and left his name and number)
-there is so much furniture and crap here it looks like a resale store
-People keep asking "How was your vacation?" and then I wanna kick them.
- e-coli was found in the drinking water somewhere and for 24hrs we weren't supposed to be drinking the tap or shower water (you can guess how well my son and Mom adhered to and remembered that)
-it was 85-90 degrees and humid while I packed up Moms house
-A had a melt down...or two
-the dog tried to swim off to china in the ocean
-I pulled things out of the cupboards and Mom put them back later
-the night before we left Mom was drinking and agitated that we needed to stay and "clean all this up". She asked about this multiple times. I felt crazy
-I badly pulled a muscle in my right calf 15 minutes before we were supposed to leave and drive North. I had a melt down.
-I couldn't walk and needed to get crutches. Mom told Kurt she called the Thrift store and they had crutches-Good news! She just wasn't sure which Thrift store she had called.
-Upon return to the Bay area Mom and I stopped so I could pick up my hubby's car at a friends. It had been hit by a guy driving a UHAUL the day before (Okay that is just weird). (The driver was kind and left his name and number)
-there is so much furniture and crap here it looks like a resale store
-People keep asking "How was your vacation?" and then I wanna kick them.
Throwing insults
I had to break up a brawl between the kids today.
A. was yelling at his sister, "You like princesses!", "You like dolls!".
Well them is fightin' words and she came unhinged. It was even more insulting then last weeks, "You like pink!". You really want to get her going, tell her she looks "pretty". Yep, we don't use the "p" word here. Reportedly "cute", however, is fine as a compliment. Just don't whip out the "p" word.
A. was yelling at his sister, "You like princesses!", "You like dolls!".
Well them is fightin' words and she came unhinged. It was even more insulting then last weeks, "You like pink!". You really want to get her going, tell her she looks "pretty". Yep, we don't use the "p" word here. Reportedly "cute", however, is fine as a compliment. Just don't whip out the "p" word.
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Back in town
I was gone almost 2 weeks working on getting Mom moved up here. She's here-permanently in the Bay area. Plan is just temporarilly living with us. Lots of ups and downs-more later.
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