Back to School and a Summer in Review

It's here -- the time of year that we nerds dream about -- Back to School! In my house, that means just about everybody -- me, Mac, and Oli. Mac and I get super excited; Oli, not so much. But I think even he had a good first day. 

This year, I was determined to get it right -- optimize for success. We did our back to school shopping very early, and got everything that we needed with minimum fuss or tantrum (of course, there was one tantrum, but sadly, Beth and I agreed that this was our most successful year by far.) We've picked out our clothes for the whole week by Sunday night. So far, that has been working. We also get up early enough to include enema (also working), and have a new, no TV in the morning rule (also working, although Tim seems disturbed by it). We are still negotiating lunch -- Mac wants nothing short of lunchables, and I say no way. Plus, Oli decided that he hates peanut butter (his go-to lunch from last year). I have signed up for a free week of mom-ables, bought the Trader Joe's Lunch cookbook, and taken the kids to Whole Foods for a "pack your own lunch" event, but to little avail. Oli wants "snack" and Mac wants Lunchables, which are a nutritional hang up of mine. We'll see how this all shakes out.

Of course, for all my successes this week, there were two epic fails. First: Mac didn't have a half day on Tuesday. Um...Oli did, so why not Mac. I had her all prepped for a half day, and didn't pack her a lunch. Tim showed up to pick her up at noon, along with 2 other parents (presumably parents of kindergartners, as well). Sigh. And then, b/c of my teaching schedule, along with temporarily losing my keys due to rushing b/c of my teaching schedule, I was late  picking up Mac on Wednesday. Poor girl. 

I'm going to focus on the successes and take it from there...

Speaking of successes and disappointments, I have a bit of a round up from the summer. This summer was universally declared "meh" (and by universally, I mean that Beth and I agree on it). Here's a brief rundown of our summer:

Successes:

1. Some good outings and family time. Lots of lunches together, and time spent at Dave and Busters, which the kids love.

2. Reading aloud a summer chapter book together --"Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing." Mac read aloud for us, and Oli even enjoyed it. Both kids got some reading exposure and enjoyment -- a win/win.

3. Being consistent with Bible reading -- for both me (alone in the morning) and the kids.

4. Weekly visits with Aunt Beth and Harry!! 

5. Got Oli's enema schedule back on track. Not fun, but very important.

6. Got new braces. Of course, we have a ginourmous bill that insurance should be covering, and the braces have subsequently given him pressure sores on both feet. However, the fact that we got the ball rolling is good.

7. Ordered a new walker. It's on backorder until mid-September, but since Oli can't wear his braces to use it anyway, no big deal.

8. Got an appointment for seating clinic for wheelchair modifications. A small but important victory that took way longer than it should have.

9. Miles got 4 teeth!!

10. Miles is standing, cruising, and climbing stairs.

11. Miles now eats everything and anything!

Wish we could have...

1. Gotten to the beach more!

2. Gone on more educational outings. The Betsy Ross House, Morris Arboretum and Crayola Factory were high on my list, but we never made it.

3. Gotten my work schedule on track earlier. It took a good month of a lot of stress for me to realize I had to get up and out as early as possible, thus forgoing many of the aforementioned trips. However, the work time was needed, and I think the kids still had a lot of fun.

4. Gotten outside more, period. I get a lot of resistance, especially from Oli. I would love to get them to the park more, but he actually cries not to go, and I don't have the energy to physically drag him.

5. Had less screen time. Not to sound too crunchy, but I know there were days where the kids just rotated among TV, Wii, Computer, and iPad. When they are fighting over whose turn it is for the 10th time, I realize that they have watched several hours of TV. Not that it will kill them (we watched a lot of TV as kids) but it always comes at the detriment of something else (like outside time. See above. I note a pattern).

All in all, not a bad summer, just lacking some of the pizzazz I usually associate with my favorite season. I think that I was spoiled by Tim not working last summer -- we were able to do so much more! Also, since we are saving our vacation for October, this was a first time in a long time that we didn't get away. Boy, am I spoiled. 

So, as back to school gets into full swing, I am happily celebrating the change in pace and routine. I love summer and am always sad to see it go. But I am looking forward to school, sweatshirts, new activities, the cooler fall weather, football and "fall food" (hot wings and pumpkin spice lattes, anyone?).

My cuties on their first day. They are so big!

Love her spirit!

Happy Birthday Sweet Oli!

I think I use that title every year. Because Oli is just so, well, sweet! He is funny, engaging, and, well, sweet! I don't know if it is because I consider him more vulnerable that the other kids, that I still consider him my baby. As my mom has taught me, all of my kids will always be my babies, but Oli is different somehow. And as I watch him grow, I am excited to see him change, but still want to hold him close.

This has been an exciting and challenging year for my Little O. He started kindergarten, and while he made friends and learned a lot, he didn't keep up with the class. After much debate, we decided to hold him back and let him repeat. Since he is a young 5, and only two weeks ahead of the age cutoff for the school district, it seemed like the right choice to make. I still think the first year was good for him, and from the spring through the summer, especially, he has really blossomed. He can count, recognize letters, and is starting to read just a little bit. If video/computer games were a measure of academic excellence, he would be at the head of the class! He is (sometimes) curious, and always showing me stuff. His favorite phrase is "Mom, c'mere."

He often talks nonstop, but can also be quiet and patient. He has a bit of troublemaker in him, especially where Mac is involved. He is still a good snuggler, and I hope he always will be. He is, quite simply, my little buddy. I love him so much.

Some stats:

Favorite computer game: club penguin
Favorite Superhero: changes daily. I think batman is at the top right now, but I suspect superman will always win in the end.
Favorite food: spaghetti and meatballs or tacos. And anything ice cream or dessert.
Favorite shows: Batman brave & the Bold
Still loves: playing with his guys!

Wishing my Little O a happy birthday, and many more!

helping me out with recent errands. i really don't shop at wal mart much, for the record. but look what a cutie i picked up there on sale!

at orange belt promotion. i'm so proud.

loving his cousin harry!

at an impromptu ice cream party we had on his birthday.

What I'm Wearing

I have been reading a lot of mommy blogs lately (possibly the key for my undoing), even as part of a paper I presented at a conference. I have noticed that many blogs have regular features, one of which seems to be "what I'm wearing." In these posts, bloggers share the details, of, well, what they are wearing on any given day. Although I doubt it is a random day, I"m sure they dress up for it :) At first I thought it was a bit inane -- who cares what you are wearing? But in the blogs that I really follow, as opposed to just followed for my conference paper, I find myself absolutely fascinated. So, although I am no fashionista, I thought I would give it a try...

This guy! Other than when I am working, I feel like he is always either attached or at arm's length. That is how I like it. He is my little squish!

This guy. In the a.m. it might as well be attached to me. And I've started a very bad afternoon habit, too. Mostly, it's just decaf, though. Is it possible to drink too much decaf? I think I'm going to find out.

And these guys. Apparently, you can take the girl out of Jersey, but, well, you know the rest.

And since I couldn't get a respectable selfie of the bags under my eyes, you'll just have to take my word for it :)

Just in time...

As if an answer to all of my parental angst, this article came across my Facebook feed the other day. So funny, hopefully true, and extremely timely.


And -- God bless Facebook friends -- a great article about work/life balance, relatively specific to my situation. Tenure track is hard. I've been thinking about how much I hate it lately, even though I love my job. This article reminded me that I'm not alone in that, and that persisting is important for both myself and for future women (or men) who are looking to change the mold.

And now -- some eye candy ;)

And back to work.

A Good Question

So, I make it to my desk by 9:10, and what do I do,  but browse blogs. A temporary distraction -- a way to warm up and start the day. (or so I promise myself as I procrastinate :)

Mac is taking a camp on campus today, so it is giving me a good chance to get into my (relatively distraction free) office early. Today is the first day I am actually enacting this, although I have been getting here around 1 every day and working until she gets out at 4. I think that even after camp is over I will have to keep to this "real" work schedule. Tim is home with Oli and Miles, and I have to hope that they get breakfast. I'm realizing that I am my own worst enemy with time management, and there are some things that I just have to let go of to get other things done...and we'll see how that works out, but I'm sure that will be another post for another day.

As I was browsing one of my favorite blogs, I clicked through a link to one of her favorite blogs**, which posed excellent questions:

What is the Jesus my children are seeing through me each day?

How do I need to read, pray, fill my own heart, so that what my children and friends draw from is life-giving to them?

What do I need to confess and repent from–complaining spirit, fear, disappointment, critical attitude?

Specifically, what does each child need, at this phase of his life, from me to encourage with life-giving words, to build up, to love, to train?

I struggle with being a "not fun mom," with being tired and cranky a lot, and with having a frustrated tone when I answer the same question for the tenth time, the fifteenth call of "mom," or sometimes, even the first call of "mom, come here!" I know that it gives the kids a message that I don't want them to have, that they are annoying, that I don't have time for them, or that there are other things that are more important. Every day I wake up determined not to do it, but every day, it happens. For example, this morning, Mac walked downstairs and said to me "Mom, Miles is awake." I was tired, frustrated from staying up late to get work done and then getting up early to get other stuff done, so my response was a grumpy "Of course he is." 

That is so, so, wrong. 

Not the first thing I should say to Mac, with whom I have been struggling lately. And not the way I should feel about my precious little guy being awake.  I quick righted myself, changed my tone, and kept it cheery for the rest of the morning, but I am ashamed of how I acted. And even though I can rationalize it away (I was tired, I couldn't find my coffee measuring scoops, I spoke without thinking), the truth is that it is a pattern that I need to fix. And the questions in the post mentioned above articulated exactly what has been dancing around in my head, and exactly what I needed to think about this morning.

It was the right message at the right time. I hope that I don't forget it.

**I don't really know anything about this blog other than the post I read today, so I am not necessarily endorsing it in any way.

*** I'm sure that this self reflective crap will go away soon and I will get back to posting pictures of the kids. I thrive on not thinking things through too deeply. Denial has been my best friend for 38 years! But sometimes it helps to write it out, so here it is.