School Days

This past Monday the big girls started school, Jessica in 5th grade and Hailey started Kindergarten. My babies are growing up! So far so good, both like their teachers and are excited to go to school, but we'll see how long that lasts.  The homework hasn't started yet lol.

Here are a few pictures of the girls on their 1st day of school

Jessica &  Hailey 1st day of school 8/9/2010

J- 5th Grade

H- Kindergarten

Back to the Grindstone

Tomorrow that is.  That is what the little bit of what we call normal returns, well except the fact J is still out of school until Wed.  However I return to work tomorrow and both girls will be tagging along, unless dh is still home sick.  I knew he would come down with what we've all had, and I hope it's short lived for him.  He called in today and he's not the type to do that unless he feels really bad. 

We've had a great two week vacation, family visits, movies, staying up late and sleeping in, but I am looking forward to school starting back.  Except maybe the work part for me lol, but I only have about 4 more months  to go and it's only twice a week.  I do wonder though with the impending weather on Thursday and Friday if they will keep school on schedule.  Yes it is Alabama and yes the city closes down when there is a real potential threat for inclement weather.. but really you should be happy.  Have you seen these people drive in the snow?? I have and it's not a pretty sight.  We'll see if the snow stays in the forecast for the week, but even if it doesn't snow, it's going to be below freezing EVERY day the rest of this week. The wind chills are expected to be below 0 several nights this week.  So not looking forward to that.

I've been busy catching up on meetup business and trying to keep the house semi clean, pretty hard to do with both kids home. Also been making lists of things I need to buy for the baby's arrival.  So far the list is short, since we have the majority of all the big items still, whew! I am hoping to find some things at some of the upcoming Spring consignment sales. The biggest thing I need to do is move H from her toddler bed into a twin, so we can have the crib mattress back.  I need to check on some prices and see if I can get it for her birthday maybe.

I also made a couple New Year's Resolutions....not sure why, since I rarely keep them lol

1. Be more organized & efficient
2. Be more patient with my children
3. Be nicer to my husband

They seem doable, right? Just nod your head in agreement and I'll be happy!

Back to Work!

Finally a job offer! Picture me doing the happy dance. :)

I have mentioned in a couple of posts that I have been looking for a part time or full time job depending on the pay and finally got an offer today on what seems to be the "perfect job". It's at H's school, Mon-Fri 8:30 to 1:30, all the same holidays/days off as the school J goes to. You know what is even better?? H gets to go full time for FREE and I still get paid! Oh yah, that's what I am talking about!

If all goes as planned I will start the Tues after Labor Day, least that is the plan. The only thing that could throw a wrench in this plan is the flu. J come down with a fever yesterday morning which hasn't let up and overall pretty miserable, sore throat, coughing etc. So off to the ped office we went, and she tested positive for the flu. Now we don't know if its the "regular" flu or the "swine" aka "H1N1" flu since they aren't subtyping it but they are treating it the same, tamiflu it is. I feel really bad for her, she's been laying around for 2 days now and doesn't seem to be feeling any better. I hope after a few days of meds she will be on the road to recovery.

H is adjusting well to school, she loves going and is excited about going everyday like big sister. This makes the job transition even better and it'll probably help that she'll likely see me a couple times through out the day. We are working on eating better for lunch time, some days she does ok and others not so much. Baby steps.

J seems to be enjoying school as well, and is excited about starting back to Girl Scouts in Oct. I am the Junior Scout leader for her troop. On top of that I have been asked to be the Troop Organizer for Providence School. Hmm I may just be a glutton for punishment. My current "jobs" : HMMT Organizer, NJM Asst Organizer, Troop Leader, Troop Organizer, Mom, Wife and yes soon to be Program Aide part time. If you never hear from me again, you'll know why!

I'll check in soon with updates on how work and Girl Scouts are going :)

The Month of Change

I have decided this is the month of change for me. Things have been kinda of crazy around here, me overstressed about our budget, thanks to my new car. I needed the car but of course here it is back to school time, both girls need clothes and of course Christmas is around the corner. So the conclusion... I need to go to work. Atleast for awhile until we get caught up on things and put some money in savings. We are going to likely need a new roof, pretty much everyone in our neighborhood is getting one from the hail damage, so we have to come up with the deductible money. Sigh, school lunches, school clothes, school tuition, and of course Christmas.

I have applied to a bunch of jobs in the last week and have an "assessment test" at Regions Bank on the 18th of this month, hopefully it'll go well. Atleast that would be day time hours and no weekends and they usually pay pretty well. The downfall, having to find Hailey full time care....not really thrilled about that. She is going to 2 days a week MMO this fall but I would have to figure out something for the rest of the time.. I thought maybe I could find someone in the group who wanted to earn extra money. Guess we'll cross that bridge when we get there.

Another change, I was trying to decide whether to reactivate my Tupperware business or let it go.... ultimately I chose to let it go. I love the products and company but right now I can't have a business where I have to meet minimums. So I have been looking at other companies and have signed up with Usborne Books & More. I have a one time minimum to meet in my 1st 12 weeks, $115 in retail, and nothing else after that unless I become a supervisor. Those of you reading, help a girl out, go visit and buy a book or two to help me meet my goal! :) While you are there be sure to enter into the drawing for $50 in FREE BOOKS!

I am excited about this company, as I love books and so do my kids. Now I can build their library, earn money and get a discount, how great is that! I hope to do a few home shows here and there and then work my way into schools/preschools around here doing fundraisers and more. It's really a great program available for them and I would love to introduce it to the schools around here.

Jessica had a wonderful 9th birthday! We did a small family thing and she enjoyed going bowling and to dinner. She loved all her presents, which was mostly HSM stuff, room decor, toys etc. She is also excited to be going back to school next Monday. We go tomorrow to meet her teacher and turn in school supplies. I know I'll miss her but she is ready for the routine again and truthfully so am I. Hailey also goes in starting Tuesday and we go see her class and meet her teacher on Monday morning.

Don't forget to go check out my website and enter to win free books and book a party too!

Back to School - 20 Days & Counting

I can't believe school is only 20 days away! Jess is going into 4th grade this year, oh my, where did my little girl go? Hailey will be starting moms day out two days a week for four hours each day. That is really bittersweet, wasn't she just born yesterday? Sigh, guess not lol but it sure feels like it.

I am still waiting on the school to publish the supply list for this year, they have last years up still... um hello 20 days away, lets update already! I know they are busy, but come on, this is just a little important. I need to run up to Walmart I guess and see if they have the lists out yet as they have in the past. I really hope to not spend more than $50 but I guess it'll depend on what is left at the store by the time I get to shop. Luckily for Hailey I only need to have her a small backpack and lunch bag :) She is soo excited about going to school this fall, just like Jessica.

I am thrilled that I will get a few hours to myself two times a week, I am not sure what I'll do lol but can't wait! I have been trying to find some ways to make money at home yet again, other than a home business. Luckily I was able to find a work at home job, but its a temp contract, Sept thru Dec, but it'll come in handy for Christmas shopping. I have applied for a local part time job, I hope to hear something back this week. It would be perfect, the hours and pay is just what I need right now.

On the weight loss front, I did manage to lose one more pound this past week, whooohooo! I am down officially now 10lbs, very happy about that. I still have a long ways to go but it's nice to see the number steadily dropping on Monday mornings. Still trying to motivate myself to get some exercise though, one day I swear it will happen! Oh hubby has lost a total of 12lbs since he started the lower fat and portion controls with me :) I am proud of us both!

Busy, Busy All The Time

Well that is how it seems for me lately, I barely get time to blog about anything fun lol because you know I do FUN stuff all the time. Ok probably not all the time, but I do try to keep the girls busy so they aren't driving each other crazy with school out. One month down one to go for Summer vacation and I am still trying to plan the rest of July out.

We were planning on going to the Tennessee Aquarium at the end of July but I quickly realized that is not going to happen with our car tags due this month. EEK, and I know mine will be high, the other 2 cars I am not to worried about. I think it would be better to go in Sept anyways, it'll be a little cooler and not as crowded since school will be back in.

Speaking of school, I can't believe J will be going into 4th grade! How did that happen? Wasn't she just born like yesterday? LOL apparently not, her 9th birthday is quickly approaching. I already have the bulk of her presents done, as I did after Christmas shopping for that. So I will basically just need cake and decorations and a party! H will also be starting preschool 2 days a week this fall. I will get a much needed break and she'll start learning even more things she needs for Kindergarten, in the fall 2010. Though I am not sure what I'll do during my free eight hours a week lol but I am sure that it'll go by quickly! I for sure see a couple coffee mornings in here and there :)

We are also trying to pick a day to have a yard sale and try to purge all the junk, I mean awesome stuff we have in the garage OUT. I would love to be able to park my car in there, esp come this winter! We'll see how it goes, as it is pretty hot right now but we have alot of summer stuff that needs to go! Wish us luck!

The Countdown Begins

For back to school that is! My oldest dd starts back on Aug 6th, yes I know that's early but here in the South we like to do that because what fun is summer vacation. I don't mind it actually, they get 2.5 months of summer vacation, a fall week break, Christmas break which is 2 weeks and spring break week. Seems like plenty of time for me to be off and driving the parents crazy!

So here it is the middle of July and still no school supply list has been published for my dd's school. Ok sure I could go buy some paper, pencils, notebooks etc but they would be the wrong kind, brand, size etc. Why is it that we have to get so particular for name brand things? Shouldn't the schools be worried about teaching the children how to read and write and not worry if the kids have Crayola or Rose Art crayons??

We still have all the school supply shopping today, oh I take that back we have the backpack. Then school clothes but I do not plan to buy any winter items yet, not the way my kids grow and plus its to dang hot to even think about it. It doesn't start to get cool here until Oct and sometimes not til Nov! I just need to buy a few more pair of shorts and some of the usual socks/underwear and a couple pair of shoes and she'll be good.

Only 20 days til school starts!

Update on Life in the Family

Where to begin....

The house is still not done with home improvement projects. Well I say that like the house is doing the actual work lol but that's not true. Hubby and I aren't done with the projects though we are getting closer. One would think that since we have been working on this since oh I don't know maybe April we would be done and were supposed to have it on the market before our Hawaii trip late May. It wasn't done but no surprise to me because I knew there was still to much to be done but hubby was insistent we would be done. We have had a coming soon sign in our yard since May, umm and it's July now! How long can you have a coming soon sign before it's not soon anymore? I keep waiting for my realtor to mysteriously show up and take the sign down when I am not looking lol like she put the sign up. I keep praying we'll in the next couple of weekends so we can move on with this.

Our contract on the other house we were trying to build fell though. We were having tons of issues with the builders getting the contract extended and they kept telling us BS and giving us the run around. So we are waiting to get our earnest money back now from the mutual release agreement. So we'll just move into an apt or an existing house once our house sells....if it ever gets on the market!

Onto family news, my mom was told she had skin cancer a few months ago. She had a growth on her ankle and went in and they removed it because it was pretty good size and it came back as cancerous. So then they tell her they need to go in and remove the rest of the cancer to keep it from spreading and/or to make sure it's not spread already. So she was slated for surgery last week with the surgeon. She's in the office, prepped and ready and he comes in and looks and goes out for a minute and then comes back and tells her he's not doing it. She has an appt with the specialist the following week. So her surgery is now on the 10th and I am worried about it because seems off the other guy wouldn't do the surgery and the fact that referrals normally take months with the army and she got in the following week. Will post an update soon as I know.

School Glorious School starts back Aug 6 whoohooo! I can't wait, er I mean I will sure miss my oldest when she goes back. I do love having her home but it's been so hot we haven't done much this summer (outside the Hawaii trip) and a few playdates. Her birthday is coming up on the 2nd of the month as well so we are trying to figure out what do for that as well. I am not sure where the money is going to come from since we are spread thin due to the house stuff and then we need to buy school supplies and clothes.

Well there's the latest and greatest from our end of the world.