Time management

So, I should have been working. Instead I was scrapping. I just never find the time to scrap and decided I needed to cheat a little here and there to do what I want to do. Ofcourse, I will pay later. I will have to make up the time, which I was trying to make up to begin with.

It goes a little something like this:

Saturday
6:30pm log on to work computer
6:32 figure out how many more audits I need to do to meet productions standards for the past week. (answer 35)
6:38 go through work assignment and determine how many audits to do to have work completed by month end. (averages 38 a day-normal is 16-18)
6:38 figure out there is no way I can get it done
and get stressed
6:40 Return call to Audrey
6:45 Begin to browse net while talking to Audrey
6:50 Make pop-corn while talking to Audrey
Hang-up?????
8:15 Log in to message boards to see what's going on
in the scrap communities I visit.
8:33 See fun challenge I want to scrap
8:35 On my computer, Pictures printing, looking for paper.
8:40 Making sure kids are tucked in bed (for the 100th time)
8:55 Oh scrap! Scrapping what I scrapped. Yes, taking apart layout to start all over.
9:15 Tucking kids in bed (for the 1,000th time)
9:30 Drinking my 10th gallon of H2O after all the popcorn
9:32 Pee
9:34 Reprinting a picture, after I butchered the 1st one
9:37 Tucking Hunter in (for the 1011th tine)
9:45 Pee
10:15 layout done
10:16 Tucking in Hunter (what time is this one?
Ahhhh, 1,000,000th time) This time it works.
Note to self, next time remember to turn off my TV
10:18 Pee
10:20 scan pictures
10:22 Create photomerge
10:25 Check to make sure kids are really sleeping
10:28 Pee (yes 10 minutes after the last time)
10:33 Bring in outside toys and close up house for the night.
10:45 Drink H2O and instantly run to go Pee
10:49 Log back on to scrapping communities to see
what I missed while I was tucking, drinking and peeing
10:55 start browsing blogs
11:15 Pee
11:18 back to blogs
11:35 Online screen shop
11:41 Pee
11:45 WHAT! I forgot to work!!!!
11:50 log back in to work applications
11:55 Decide I need to update my blog
12:01 Pee
12:04 H2O
12:05 Begin updating blog
12:50 Still no work, peed another 3 times. Feeling stressed because
I need to get some work done.

Sounds like I need time management help? Let me tell you what I have been up to the past couple days.

Hmm, Thursday, kids at school for 3 hours, 20 minutes, grocery shopped, work meeting, put in my 8 hours at work, did a color hunt with the boys and helped them finish up their homework. Cleaned bathrooms. Mike, well... He worked a short day and then went to play poker.

Friday, took kids to school, took the day off work, went to Target to buy birthday gifts for weekend party, grocery shopped for Mike's hunting trip, swept floors and dusted, 3 loads of laundry. Oh, yeah, 2 kids dropped off at 2:30 for me to baby sit over the weekend while parents go hunt. Kids are ages 7 and 4, adding them to my two 5 year olds, the house got a bit loud. I got a fat lip catching kid falling off bunk bed ladder. Not from kid, but from toy falling on my face, which was the cause of the fall to begin with. Oh, this was within 5 minutes after their parents dropped them off. Mike?..... Slept past noon and then went hunting.

Saturday, Annette drops off nieces Sara (14) and Maryann (7) and Sara's friend Lauren (14). Realize I left present on shelf of gift wrap area, run back to Target and leave Sara and Lauren in charge. Home in 45 minutes with bagels, smoothies and gifts. Get boys ready for party, have them make cards, and get gifts ready. Megan (7 y/old being sitted) has soccer game at 11, lucky me, her parents have arranged a pick-up and drop-off. Take boys to party, leave Brian (4 year old sittee) with Sara, Lauren and Maryann. Come home after party with grocery bag (yes again!) and back to 7 kids in the house, although one of 14 year olds is stone cold sleeping on the couch. Ride a skate board, and attempt to teach Maryann how to ride 2 wheel bike. The 3 girls leave and I'm back to just 4 kids. Dinner, desert, movies and popcorn, scrap... I think I've had enough for the day. Mike?..... hunting.

1:13 Sunday am.... signing off and going to bed. Work? That can wait. I'll squeek it in later. No stress.

May The Force Be With You

Wondering what I have been up to? So wonder why I haven't updated my blog? Well, 1st, I need to use my Jedi Powers to remove the children from the computer. Since the 1st week of school and they saw the commercial, it was all about counting down the days until the new Lego Star Wars game was released. Yes, "Lego Star Wars II, The Original Trilogy". And, it's out. Since last Tuesday. They actually only get to play Wednesdays and Weekends, but the other days are all about talking about the game and planning the next world they need to conquer. Check out the site: http://www.lucasarts.com/games/legostarwarsii/ .

I have to say, my work computer was down for an hour or so on Thursday while the kids were at school, and instead of cleaning my house, which very much needed it, you know I was playing the game. For an hour! I grew up on Star Wars. The 1st one came out when I was 7 and I remember the long lines and all the hype, and the t-shirt, and the secret fan club we would call to order hidden under my grandmother's table behind the table cloth. I remember being in LOVE with Han Solo long before I knew who Harrison Ford was.

For months now, Hunter has been obsessed with Star Wars. He has all the movies in his room, and plays them alllllllll the time. He has all the light saber colors (Mommy likes to play saber wars) So many of the Star Wars Lego ships and other die case Star Wars goodies. The best of all are the Transformer Star Wars character and ships. So, you know if this was Pokemon, they wouldn't have all this stuff. I have to say, I'm a bit Star Wars obsessed, and this is the secret fan re-living their childhood, by spoiling my children. Poor Austin has had it pushed on him, but Hunter, he is truly in love with the ways of the Force.

Hunter, my love, may the force be with you.

No looking back

So you want to prepare them for school. Make them feel comfortable with new routine, the new classroom, the new teacher, new friends..... Hey, but they can at least look back! Austin is the Power Ranger back pack kid and Hunter is the head directly on top of Austin's. He has a Darth Vader back pack that is not really visible because of the unusually large cranium his brother carries on his shoulders.

Those kids were ready. Hunter was a little skeptical. A litte on the stressed side. Wanted to eat an eggo in the car (yes on top of the breakfast he had in the house), and really I think just wanted a different prop for the pictures other than back pack and lunch box. A smile would have been nice, but he would not give one up, no matter how many eggos I bribed him with.

As always, Austin had a lot of smiles in him. He was so psyched about school. The teacher had a sign in front of the classroom letting parents know that she would have the kids line up and that no parents should come in the class, that the good-bye's should be outside to make the transition smoother. Well, Austin WOWed the other parents when he read the sign completely to us, only fumbling on the word parents. Hey, I was WOWed too.

Yup, this is the biggest before school smile I could get out of Hunter.

Most of the morning he looked more like this. Can you say stress-ville! He asked me to sit in the car in the parking lot all day to wait for him to finish school. I explained I would be back to get him, and be very early to make sure he didn't have to wait.

This is what I found on his face when I came to pick him up. Much better. He was happy the day was not too long (3 hours and 20 minutes). Just enough time for Mmommy to cry, Daddy to hug her, blink and pick the kids up.

Yup, he enjoyed the day. At least he said so. Ofcourse, Austin 1st greeted me with big smiles and nothing but happy comments. A bit later in the day when I asked about their day for the 100th time, Austin finally fessed up. The dialogue went something like this.

"Guys, tell me more about school. Did you make new friends? Did you like your teacher? Did you have a good time?"

(Austin)

"Well, mom..... It was the worst day of our lives."

(mom)

"Really? Now why is that?"

(Austin)

"Well.... I have to raise my hand to talk, and wait for my turn to talk, and stay quiet when we are working.... Mom, (pause) I can't breathe when my mouth is closed."

Yup, just like his Mama. Can't stop talking. It's like breath and air to me. Austin got that from me.

Now that a week has gone by, to them it's like they've always been there. They have new buddies, new playground wounds, fun art work for the fridge and BIG smiles when I pick them up.

Yes, they survived the 1st week, but I barely did. I'm a miserable mess. Not just because my babies are now school boys. Not just because I had to send the 2 away at the same time. Not just because I won't ever repeat one of my children's 1st day of Kindergarten. Not just because I am a working mom. Nope. Honestly, I'm not sure what it is. Maybe it is the whole package. A demanding job. Both babies now in school. Too much to do, not enough time. Working crazy obscene hours to be able to play a more active role in my kids' lives. Messy house and not enough time to find a good house keeper. I don't know, I'm just a pathetic mess. Blubbering here and there for no reason. Choking up each time I pick up my kids. It's not PMS, wrong time for that. I just don't know. I think about all the other kids I will never have, when really all I wanted are 2.

I can barely handle Mike being gone for a day's work without wanting to cry. I call him like 10 times a day with nothing new to say. He's been a doll. Just chatting with me even though he was in a major project crunch. When he's driving to the supply house or a hardware store, he calls and talks to me on the drive. He calls me on the drive home, or when they take their lunch break. He tells me non-stop he appreciates all I do. He leaves at 4:30 in the morning and gets home after 5 at night, and still jumps up to do the after dinner dishes. He makes me laugh when I'm crying. You couldn't ask for a more supportive man. Thanks, Mike, for seeing me through this time.

I guess I need to adopt the kids' attitude. Face it all head on and not look back. Go in stressed and worried, but go at it, none the less. Hey, I just may come out smiling.

Major League T-Ball

As Pre-School was coming to an end, and summer was beginning, I thought long and hard on what kind of activities the boys should commit to in order to keep them active. Medical experts say a child should have at least 1 hour a day of excertise and/or activities to reduce the risk of childhood obesity. What's the perfect summer time sport for a 5 year old? T-Ball was the 1st thing that came to mind. Running bases, running to catch the ball, or tag an oponent out. Hand eye coordination, team work.

3 weeks before T-Ball starts, Austin breaks his arm and is banned from contact sports. No running for the risk of falling. We have him participate, as long as he doesn't run. Did I really have to worry? Just look at some of the exciting shots of a game mid-season. The little girl is the coaches daughter.

Where's Austin in those pictures, you ask? Probably trying to climb a tree. Or sitting where he can keep a close eye on the game going on in the next field. Or trying to figure out which cooler holds the after game snack for our team. Look at that smile. It's all about the snack.

One game left and we're done. T-Ball, not the game to keep the kids active through the summer. I'm thinking next summer I'll sign them up for bowling.

When one picture says it all.

One day you hear from some mean old bag that you are not the kind of girl any man would ever want to marry. (before I ever did anything of that nature, mind you.) Another day you hear that you will never be successful in life and probably be homeless. Another day your doctor tells you that you will never have kids naturally.

Here's one that says stick it where the sun don't shine! I have a good job, I have a wonderful husband, I have a beautiful home, and I have 2 healthy beautiful boys that I gave birth to.

Never mind the bad scan job. I suck at the whole photomerge thing. This is my favorite picture! My kids running around my home in the middle of winter. There were days where I thought I would never find true happiness. Now I can't recall a time that I was not happy. Every time I look at this picture, I just melt. It says everything to me. Winter time at my house, dead grass, no leaves on the trees, grey skies, broken light... Paradise!

A weekend in the life of me

It's in the 80's so I can think straight, once again. Austin got his cast off on Thursday. Now comes the task of keeping a 5 year old from running, skating, biking, scooteringing, fighting, wrestling, jumping...... Yeah right! Especially the fighting and wrestling stuff. the doctor said no falling or wrestling or contact sports for 2 weeks. We've barely survived 2 days so far. The kid is board and picks fights with his brother. Hunter is done to the point he'll just fight now. Kind of embarassing in the middle of t-ball.

Oh, yes, T-Ball. Austin shouldn't be playing, but the way these kids and their team play I figured it was safe. Every hit is a bunt. At one point our 2nd baseman was lying down with her hat covering her face so she could "nap", Hunter was crouched down looking for worms or bugs, Austin was watching the other game in the field next to us, another little boy was in line with the opposite team waiting for his turn to bat, one was throwing spare balls in the air, and one was trying to play, the other 3 just didn't show. Let me tell you, come snack time, they are all focused.

Mike has been working a thousand hours a week and is so far away. He's way over by Danville and has been staying there Tuesday and Thursday nights. I guess I'm in training for hunting season which is right around the corner. Anyway, he had to work today, so he stayed Thursday and Friday night. Lucky me, I was able to get friends to agree for over night sitting at their house and I went to Danville to meet Mike.

We went out for some Italian. big mistake, we were both stuffed and so garlicy that kissing and making out was like sucking on a garlic clove. So romantic. We did get to catch up on some talking without kids interuppting, and watch TV without having it as loud as it gets. I even got to sleep by 10pm. Mike was up and out of there by 6 and I was out of there by 7 to get home, get the kids and take them to T-Ball by 9:30. Not quite the romantic getaway. I'm not dissapointed though, just feeling a little old.

One good thing was that on the long drive I got to listen to my iPod, whatever I wanted to listen to and actually hear it! That was a bonus. Peacefull, pleasant, sometimes rockin'. Then I get to Pat and Jen's and I can hear the kids arguing through the open window. Back to reality, but it made me smile anyway.

Have to say, the fighting drives me crazy, but hearing those kids not be afraid to have input and speak up for themselves makes me proud. I was always encouraged to speak my mind and that kids are people too. I'm glad my boys have that. Now if they would learn to express the happy stuff as much as the what is bothering them stuff, that would be the cherry on top.

thinking about scrapping. Since Mike is working and the kids are bushed from the oh so tiring and athletic exercise of T-Ball... I'm going to finish cleaning the house and get a little work done so tonight I can scrap. Let's see if that really happens, but's it's my goal for the today.

Hot, anyone?

This little man is the coolest cat I know. At age 5 he can identify a song and the artist from AC/DC to Eminem to Jack Johnson to Green Day. I love music, and he totally gets that from me. The dude break dances and rocks out. Like I said, 1 cool cat.

He's loving his new cast. He asked for camouflage, and ended up with red. No camo available. He's so brave about all the MD visits and the x-rays and all. Such a little man. Yes, such the man that he decided it was time to start chasing girls.

Girls???? It seems, I'm not the only female around that thinks little dude is rockin' hot. Yup. Little man got his 1st kiss on Thursday from a neighbor girl. We were hanging, having pizza and drinks while the little ones played in the play room. Both mom's were pregnant together, and Sadye was born 5 or 6 weeks before the boys, so they've known each other a lifetime (yes, 5 years is a lifetime to them). So her being his 1st kiss was no surprise, but at 5????? Can I say it again? Dude you rock! Groupies and all.

I ask Hunter if he got a kiss and he says "Eeew, yuck, I'm not kissing a girl". Good boy, only kisses for mommy, please. Then we have to go in to the big talk with the boys of no kissing little girls at school. Petrified of my sweet boys getting in trouble at school for doing was totally normal for little kids. May I mention that I was a founding member of the San Francisco Montessori Kiss-Kiss girls? Yes, Katy, Bernie and I were the original Kiss-Kiss Girls. We would take off our clothes, run around in our underwear, trap boys and kiss them. Things that make a mother proud. So, I guess it's my turn to be horrified. Lucky me. Or should I say, lucky little girls in the California Central Valley.

Speaking of hot little boys and mamas, it's been scorching hot. Yesteray it hit 112, I believe. Yes and with humidity, the heat index was something like 117. Un-bear-a-ble! The boys started T-Ball in this heat wave. Lucky us we got the 8:30 game, so by the time we ended it was only 90 degrees. Lucky for us, we had shade on 1/2 the diamond, so only 2nd base, which was rotated, was in the sun. I am also happy to say, 1 game down, 5 more to go.

Well, off to bed to sweat through the night. Sweaty sweet dreams to all.