Farewell Preschool

Posted on May 24, 2013 by blogadmin

sun shining through toys at the park

This was our last week of school. The last day of for the kids was held at a nearby park which was really fun except that another school was already there with all of their kids and parents as well – oops!

Crowded and hectic, it was still a nice way for the kids to spend their last morning together; sliding, running and saying goodbye until the fall.

Today is our first Friday with no preschool. I am exhausted from working almost every night this week. I think Lou is a little out of sorts from the routine change, allergies and heck, it’s Friday.

Everyone is just kind of “done” by Friday sometimes.

I’ve been dreading summer break but although I don’t have a real plan for us yet, I’m feeling slightly optimistic.
Continue reading →

Operation Summer Break

Posted on May 13, 2013 by blogadmin

Children playing at a park with fountain in a city

I realized this morning as I looked at my son’s calendar that today marks the last full week of school before summer break begins.

Gulp.

Time seems to be moving at light speed lately, I guess that’s how the end of the school year was able to sneak right up that way. Needless to say, I don’t feel ready for summer and I am nervous about how to keep Lou busy, entertained and happy for the next three months.

Wait – three months? I have to check those numbers. Can that be right? I’m going to need an assistant. Can moms get assistants? Ok, I mean moms that can’t afford real nannies or assistants.

Sigh.

We really feel in love with preschool this year, both my son and myself. It’s only a half day for three days a week but wow, how sweet it has been.
Continue reading →

Finding The Good Parts

Posted on August 2, 2012 by blogadmin

ice cream for lunch

I’ve written before about the struggle I’ve had with finding things to do with my son over the summer. He’s just a tad picky. At least, that’s how I’ve felt at times. But getting frustrated and feeling hopeless about the situation did absolutely nothing to help.

I was stuck and changing my attitude and outlook was the only way out.

Obviously, trying to force the usual, standard activities that other kids enjoy and then repeatedly hitting my head against the wall, wondering why he wouldn’t just like them was not working for anyone.

Lou is definitely an individual. Even at three and a half, he has very strong opinions.
Continue reading →

Summer – Friend or Foe

Posted on July 18, 2012 by blogadmin

This kind of summer heat requires some big time shades

It’s mid July, another 100+ degree day with high humidity and I am officially ready to break up with summer.

I can’t believe I’ve previously made it through two pregnancies during summer months while living here in Missouri, although I do feel this summer is a little different with our weeks of record breaking high temperatures and drought conditions.

It’s harsh. It could be worse but man, this summer has been harsh.

I’m not much of a hot weather person anyway so it’s not unusual that I feel this way but with some willingness to find the brighter side of things, I thought it would be interesting to make some lists (I do love the lists!) and do a little comparison.
Continue reading →

Summer S.O.S.

Posted on July 2, 2012 by blogadmin

Beach towel, sunglasses and flip flops - images of summer

I’m officially sending out a cry for help, from my blog to you.

I need your help as I am wading my way through a kind of summer labyrinth, a maze of mood swings and unusual, unpredictable dislikes from the toddler.

Let me introduce you to his current list of disdain.

#1 – Movies
soda and twizzlers at the movies

Some of our local theatres are showing FREE kids matinee movies this summer. I researched the schedule and let my son know that we could go see Puss in Boots the following morning because it would be too hot for the park or outside play (106 degrees that day). He was all excited and in to it.

That morning, he wakes up in a horrible mood and says no way is he going to any movie. He actually wakes up “in a mood” fairly often and then snaps out of it later so I didn’t pay much attention and off we went.

45 minutes in, I’m embarrassingly walking out with my son after he won’t stop yelling (in between mouth fulls of popcorn), “Bad Movie! Let’s Go. I’m going home NOW!”.
Continue reading →

In The Ebb And Flow

Posted on June 14, 2012 by blogadmin

Lou walking accross a bridge at the park play area

I was kind of surprised when I realized a week had passed since I’d written a new post.

In the past, this is something I would get upset, feel badly about and possibly beat myself up over. I would worry, will everyone forget about my little space here? Will people think I’ve abandoned my blog?

But if I’m really honest, I can admit much of my discomfort came from comparing myself to others. I have not been at this very long but I still don’t understand how some have time to post every single day without fail and still others – several times a day!

I have to remind myself not worry about it and remember what I’m doing this for, what it’s really all about, what’s important to me today and what I can control (which is very, very little).

Because I do have weeks when things just jive. I can’t stop writing and my blog is consistently up to date, offering up new content and brimming with ideas. But some days and weeks, not so much.

Just as there are good times and bad in life, easy days and really difficult ones, the ebb and flow are natural and never ending.
Continue reading →

Memories of Summers Past

Posted on June 3, 2012 by blogadmin

Monday Listicles time again, this one with a summer theme! Perfect for the week I’ve had here.

But first, in last week’s list (husbands and homes), I’d mentioned that the last house we lived in was haunted. It seemed like people were interested in hearing about what happened there from the comments I received so I decided to post the story.

It’s a long one, too long for a single post in my opinion so I split it up.

You can start reading Haunted Part I now but maybe you should start with a happier, lighter post first. Something like what some of my past summer memories are. I started with childhood and worked my way to the present. Hope you enjoy!

10 Summer Memories
Continue reading →