Day 88 - To-Do List

I am the (self-proclaimed) Queen of To-Do Lists. I have binders and notepads full of them. I've learned that I don't use them the conventional way...I do it more as a method of head clearing. Most of the time after I've written it out it never gets looked at again. Which means a week or two later, I'd write out another very similar list because nothing would get accomplished.

So, I decided to try a new approach - the micro-manage type of list. Instead of giant areas, I picked small problem areas to work on.


I am even attempting to cross things off before I make a new list. We'll see how long this lasts.

Here is one of the things I get to cross off the list today - I cleaned the toy cubbies. If I was thinking ahead I would have taken a before picture, but maybe that would have been too embarrassing to share. Anyways, for now, the bins are organized.

Elise is really starting to get around. Not only can she roll to get from place to place, but she has recently mastered the 360 move...which means her head stays in generally the same place, but her feet can swing around for changing directions. Crawling is just minutes away and our house is not ready!

Day 87 - Craving Normal

Okay, this is getting old. I'm craving normal today. I want him to come back so we can get our lives back on track. There is a fine line between wishing away time and trying to enjoy each day.

I know a year from now, this will all seem like a blink of an eye...but each day is getting longer. And as Chris starts telling me of his upcoming duties overseas, the worry is starting to set in. We are not even at the hard part yet.

Today I'm down because I'm feeling bad for my kids being stuck with a grumpy, overextended mom. I'm jealous of other families getting to do normal weekend types of things like going to movies, yard work, and baseball games. I'm tired of my main form of adult interaction being Facebook.

Feeling sorry for myself is not one of my normal traits, so hopefully this is just a short phase and will move out quick. Soon the baby will wake up to distract me so I can get on with my day.

Day 86 - Luke the Artist

Luke has come a long way in art since his early kindergarten scribbles. He used to despise drawing, coloring, or anything else that involved sitting down. He's made great strides...


It's a slow day around here. Elise is napping, and Luke and Maria and I are just hanging out making messes. For some reason I thought it would be a good idea to let Maria do finger paints today. Notice how I didn't take any pictures of that?

Day 85 - Spring?

You would think that after the miserable winter Mother Nature dealt us this year she could at least make it up with a decent spring. Not so. Today I really started wondering if I had put the winter gear away too early. It was so cold and rainy today. Another day to hibernate.

We broke out the craft stuff today and the kids worked on these plastic things. Luke made a dog and Maria made a butterfly. They followed the patterns and then I ironed them which fuses the beads together. It totally killed a half-hour today. One less episode of Sponge Bob than usual.


As for the weather, it better get here quick! Luke only has 4 days of school left!

Day 84 - Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Luke tried to leave school today. He had a pretty ugly outburst and wanted to leave. He ended up with a one way pass to the principal's office.

"Mom, can you come get me?" Uh, "Nooooo way. You'd better fix your attitude because you're going to be there for another 2 hours."

I thanked the principal which is code for "sorry for having to put up with my child" and immediately called the pediatrician.

I get the OK for a prescription change that I hope will be miracle #2. Concerta (miracle #1) did work wonders at first, but lately his behavior is challenging. Time to tweak.

I wonder how much of this is ADHD, how much is his Dad being gone, and how much is just Luke. I know I can't blame my perfect parenting skills. (ha!)

So, Strattera, I need you to work. Really, really work. Because I just might make it if you don't.

Day 83 - Craft World

The other day my purse maker friend Karin from A Window into Whimsy offered to take some of my cards to her weekly market booth to sell for me. I looked at my stash of cards from last year and was surprised to see it pretty much depleted.

Time to get my craft on.


Between loads of laundry, feeding the kids their meals, and picking up toys, I've been sneaking away to the kitchen table to try to work. It's a controlled chaos situation. But, somehow, I've managed to get some finished by tomorrow's deadline.


We'll see how many more the kids let me complete tonight!

Day 82 - Memorial Day

Chris is on his way back to Camp Pendleton today. We get 2 more visits before he heads overseas.

I just wanted to show you our refrigerator. Among all of the report cards and colorful school projects lives our daily reminder of some young lives cut short by war.

I never really thought about the price of freedom until I married a Marine. I'm thankful for that.