It never ends

So being the list maker I am, I made a list of everything around the house I wanted done. We have managed to mark quite a few things off the list but in doing so, added twice as many! Poor Bucky... Two of the items on the list were to fix the Man House roof and get central AC/Heat in the "old" part of the house. I spent my entire morning on the phone arranging people to come out and give me an estimate. There are some interesting people out there, and some of them think rather highly of themselves and their businesses. I know you get what you pay for, but based on some of these estimates, either my house should feel like the Antarctic without raising my power bill or the Man House roof should withstand a category 5 hurricane. Too bad we don't own a bank. Hopefully tomorrow will bring some more estimates with more reasonable amounts on the bottom line. I get to install my fancy-schmancy trash can cabinet during nap time tomorrow- wish me luck! It will be one more item off the list. Only 42 more to go....

Adventures to DC... so far...

We made it here. All alive and in one piece. Not for a lack of trying to drive us nuts on Maggie's behalf. Leaving at the crack of dawn was the grand plan- Maggie sleeps- we drive... sounds great? Would have been if Maggie slept. Instead we fuss, we throw tantrums, we have diaper blow-outs in the middle of nowhere. The blow-outs were especially fun since Aunt B doesn't do stinky diapers well, or should I say at all?

But alas we arrive to find lots of fun things! My parents got Maggie the neatest chair from IKEA and one of the Pottery Barn chairs she loves too. The teddy bear chair works like one of those old lawn chairs, so you can bend the waist, arms, and head to all different angles. She loves it!

We are working on getting things for the house, however Mom and I have extremely different taste when it comes to color. I like it, she doesn't it. Resell beige all the way.

Got the camera charged and hopefully I'll get some decent pictures of Maggie playing- she loves the stairs here! However, she won't come down them... doesn't like the height, won't go near the railings either...smart kid.

On the Road

It just erased my post. Grrrrr.... We are driving to DC tomorrow. Fingers crossed all goes well and Maggie doesn't kill her carseat! I'm not typing it all again. Sorry, you got the abbreviated version this time.

Things... they are a changin'

Got some news the other day... I have been moved to 4th grade!! I have always taught 5th, variety of schedules and subjects, but always 5th graders. Going through school, I started with the intention of teaching middle school (back when an elementary certificate got you K-8) but by the time I finished I was only 3-5. I knew I didn't want 3rd, 4th was really not that appealing- I loved 5th! Well, I am going to have to learn to love 4th now... Thankful, I am going to only have to teach math and science. At least I won't have a chance to ruin another generations reading skills. So now I am off to plan new lessons, with a new math book and new standards, so much change! FYI- I usually don't do well with change... hmm....

To read...

Motherhood

Busy, Glorious

Cleaning, Running, Loving

Toddler, Home, Romance, Literature

Reading, Imagining, Pretending

Smutty, Thick

Novel

Oh glorious novel, how I miss your wordy, overly descriptive pages... if only things were quiet enough to find my way back to you... one day, I will once again find my way into your wonderful pretend world... oh romance novel, how I miss you!

On my knees again...

This time last year, I was on my knees praying that wonderful childcare would be found. My prayers were answered and then some. We were lead to Dana (Thanks Mandy!) and I have never thought twice about Maggie's care since then. It has been as wonderful, if not better, than me staying at home. Dana is the most wonderful mother. She is caring and loving, structured and healthy, everything a mother should be. She has taught Maggie and I so much... Maggie is such an amazing child because of the amazing family that takes care of her. Got to give props to the rest of the Ellis Family! However, it is time for Dana to return to school :( Yeah for her, sad for the loss of the greatest caregiver in the world! So once again, I am on my knees praying that he will lead us to another great caregiver. I was telling Bucky the problem is going to be that I have experienced excellence and won't accept anything less. I know, I am spoiled, I am rotten, I don't want to give her up. But I also know, she has to do what is best for her and her family. I am once again, ending and beginning each day with a prayer that his plan for us includes another person to love Maggie as much as we do and the Ellis family has. On a lighter note- we are WALKING! She has decided it is better than crawling and we are on the go. You know me and technology, I am trying to get video posted...

So much...

So much has happened....

We celebrated Maggie's first birthday last weekend. I am a horrible mother and didn't take any pictures so I am relying on other's to share theirs. It is taking a while to compile all of them but Dana got this one on her actual birthday (Friday, May 1). The party was great on Saturday- we are so blessed to have an amazing family and terrific friends!

It is hard to believe that a year has gone by. I didn't get teary eyed until I was uploading photos and came across Mother's Day last year. My first and Nana's last... she went to a better place after 98 years and hanging with us long enough to meet her great-great-granddaughter. 5 generations together for one of the last times. This is the last picture we have of everyone....

School is winding down and I have struck the jack-pot. We have "STAR Celebrations" each nine weeks for students with A's in conduct. Usually a committee determines what is going to happen but that is a whole another story. This nine weeks each grade level is on their own so I got in touch with one of my parents that is a manager at Cracker Barrel and.... wooo hooo! We are having grits, pancakes, and sausage breakfast for our kids!! Cost to us- $0! They are donating part of it and he is paying for the rest. Mad props to Cracker Barrel!

Dana has gotten wonderful pictures of Maggie lately- I am grateful for her presence in our life every day. I couldn't imagine a better caregiver for my child.