I want to wish all my Jewish friends a happy 8th night of Hanukah tonight.
We went out for dinner tonight with some friends. I picked MAC up from her after school program and we headed to the mall. We found a parking spot a short walk from the middle entrance. It really wasn't as bad as I had expected.
Our church had our cookie exchange and work has just settled on a date. MAC is bringing home an interim next Friday, has a "gig" this Sunday, next Thursday and the winter concert on Tuesday the 21. The dining room is overflowing with the multitude of Christmas gifts that have been purchased for our families and friends.
We took a short ride through the different neighborhoods to look at the lights. I heard my first commercial for Zoolights at the national zoo this afternoon.
I tried to get MAC interested in the lights tonight but she was really more interested in telling me how much she wanted dessert tonight and how she thought I should have allowed her a shake and dessert. Mom and Dad are coming back tomorrow to watch my nieces play and help to celebrate birthdays. It has been quite a full day and the weekend will be packed too.
I love this time of year: we are looking to the future, people are excited about being able to buy gifts for others and the festive lights are going up everywhere. I hope one day MAC finds the wonder in it all too...
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
It isn't just me!
We had dinner with friends this evening. My friend SG has 2 boys: one is a year older than MAC and the other is 4 years younger. They have a lot of fun playing on the Wii together, not doing homework, and I have a wonderful time talking with my friend.
After dinner tonight we sent the kids upstairs and SG and I began talking about her older boy and MAC and how the homework gets done, it just doesn't get turned in. (Really, how hard is it to hand the completed work to the teacher?) We also talked about how we have been the ones to call the teachers in middle school. (At least in elementary school we only had 2 teachers, a guidance counselor and 1 principal to talk too...now we have at least 7 different teachers, hopefully only 1 guidance counselor but it depends on the day, and 1 principal and up to 3 vice principals to talk to!) Trying to schedule an appointment with the teachers has been a nightmare, the core classes really want to talk to you as a "team" and the encore classes are on different schedules. (I only earn 160 hours of leave a year; it takes at least an hour to get to and from the school, and I'm lucky if the appointment actually starts on time, they are usually around 20 minutes, so by the time all is said and done one appointment with the core teachers can use an hour and a half of leave, then multiply that times 3 more groups and 2 to 3 appointments each quarter...you can see where this is going...)
It felt good to know that I wasn't the only one who had the homework problems, the teacher issues, and the worry of being a working parent. As always, thanks for a wonderful evening SG!
After dinner tonight we sent the kids upstairs and SG and I began talking about her older boy and MAC and how the homework gets done, it just doesn't get turned in. (Really, how hard is it to hand the completed work to the teacher?) We also talked about how we have been the ones to call the teachers in middle school. (At least in elementary school we only had 2 teachers, a guidance counselor and 1 principal to talk too...now we have at least 7 different teachers, hopefully only 1 guidance counselor but it depends on the day, and 1 principal and up to 3 vice principals to talk to!) Trying to schedule an appointment with the teachers has been a nightmare, the core classes really want to talk to you as a "team" and the encore classes are on different schedules. (I only earn 160 hours of leave a year; it takes at least an hour to get to and from the school, and I'm lucky if the appointment actually starts on time, they are usually around 20 minutes, so by the time all is said and done one appointment with the core teachers can use an hour and a half of leave, then multiply that times 3 more groups and 2 to 3 appointments each quarter...you can see where this is going...)
It felt good to know that I wasn't the only one who had the homework problems, the teacher issues, and the worry of being a working parent. As always, thanks for a wonderful evening SG!
Monday, December 6, 2010
Socialness?
We had a really good morning today! She made it downstairs and had her lunch packed before I got out of the shower. The rest of her day seems to have been pretty good too. They had a false fire alarm on Friday and apparently today the fire department had to do an inspection of the school so they missed first period.
She did her homework when she got to R's house and when we got home we had a nice dinner. She was disappointed that I had a meeting tonight, but when I was able to sit and watch 2 episodes of Yu-Gi-Oh with her she was much happier. Also when I told her we were going to SG's for dinner tomorrow she got a great big smile on her face.
At my meeting, I was told that she had a really nice conversation with a long time church member yesterday. The spouse said that his wife had been very happy when she and MAC had their conversation after Sunday School. It felt good to know that between the donuts and hot cocoa she is at least being social with others.
She did her homework when she got to R's house and when we got home we had a nice dinner. She was disappointed that I had a meeting tonight, but when I was able to sit and watch 2 episodes of Yu-Gi-Oh with her she was much happier. Also when I told her we were going to SG's for dinner tomorrow she got a great big smile on her face.
At my meeting, I was told that she had a really nice conversation with a long time church member yesterday. The spouse said that his wife had been very happy when she and MAC had their conversation after Sunday School. It felt good to know that between the donuts and hot cocoa she is at least being social with others.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Movie Night
It has been quite a day. We went to church and then a quick run to the grocery store. When we got home we had a little lunch and then she started playing Wii. She changed the game to a single player game and Hubby went upstairs to get some sleep.
I started the laundry and some cooking and about a hour later when I came back she said that her wrist hurt her. I told her that she could stop playing and she looked at me, laughed and said no way!
This evening was Mom'n'Daughter Movie night. Instead of watching "My Neighbor Totoro" we watched three episodes of "Yu-Gi-Oh". I think she has gotten through the first 3 seasons now, and she still wants to read all of the mangas.
I started the laundry and some cooking and about a hour later when I came back she said that her wrist hurt her. I told her that she could stop playing and she looked at me, laughed and said no way!
This evening was Mom'n'Daughter Movie night. Instead of watching "My Neighbor Totoro" we watched three episodes of "Yu-Gi-Oh". I think she has gotten through the first 3 seasons now, and she still wants to read all of the mangas.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Family Day
I have had a "most excellent" day today. I am hoping that everyone else had too. They both have gotten very good at hiding their true feelings!
MAC didn't want to get up at all this morning but when I reminded her that we were going to the Peeps Store she jumped right up. What was very funny was that she even told me yesterday afternoon to remind her that we were going to the Peeps store if she told me she didn't want to get up this morning. We had the talk about Christmas and how we were not going to spend a lot of money when we went to National Harbour Mall today.
We got to the Peeps Store when it opened at 10am and had planned on going to Elevation Burger for lunch before heading to my mother-in-law's new house for dinner. We didn't expect to have to wait almost a half hour for Elevation to open. We were able to actually walk around the other stores while we were waiting. There were several new stores open and they were having a Christmas Market happening along their main street which was fun. MAC found that she really likes Alpaca, because it is REALLY soft and fuzzy!
We took a trip to Hubby's old house, saw his elementary school and even saw where he used to go sledding. We had a very nice time at the mother-in-law's and came home with left over’s of Hubby's favorite dinner: Chile Quillies.
Family day has been nice and relaxing. Yeah to togetherness!
MAC didn't want to get up at all this morning but when I reminded her that we were going to the Peeps Store she jumped right up. What was very funny was that she even told me yesterday afternoon to remind her that we were going to the Peeps store if she told me she didn't want to get up this morning. We had the talk about Christmas and how we were not going to spend a lot of money when we went to National Harbour Mall today.
We got to the Peeps Store when it opened at 10am and had planned on going to Elevation Burger for lunch before heading to my mother-in-law's new house for dinner. We didn't expect to have to wait almost a half hour for Elevation to open. We were able to actually walk around the other stores while we were waiting. There were several new stores open and they were having a Christmas Market happening along their main street which was fun. MAC found that she really likes Alpaca, because it is REALLY soft and fuzzy!
We took a trip to Hubby's old house, saw his elementary school and even saw where he used to go sledding. We had a very nice time at the mother-in-law's and came home with left over’s of Hubby's favorite dinner: Chile Quillies.
Family day has been nice and relaxing. Yeah to togetherness!
Friday, December 3, 2010
More appointments
I got a call at 2pm on Thursday asking if I could bring M in for an appointment with her talk therapist. The doctor had to cancel our appointment next week and due to the fact that it takes us so long to get to the office and the only appointments available are at 11 we have only been able to schedule one appointment a month for the next few months. She continues with the group sessions on Fridays so the feeling is that things are under control.
I had to think about how to work things so that we could make the appointment because she had after school activities. I called the school and asked them to pass a message on to her to NOT get on the bus because I would be there to pick her up. I then asked the secretary what time PVA plus stopped and was told 3:30. I left work at 3:15 and realized when I got to the school that 3:30 was the beginning not the end of PVA plus!
The appointment went well and the doctor was very happy to hear that I had spoken with the Italian teacher and that things seem to be going better. The only bad thing about a late appointment is how late it is when you leave. We arrived home around 7:30 and then had some dinner. MAC was so tired she went to bed right after eating!
I had to think about how to work things so that we could make the appointment because she had after school activities. I called the school and asked them to pass a message on to her to NOT get on the bus because I would be there to pick her up. I then asked the secretary what time PVA plus stopped and was told 3:30. I left work at 3:15 and realized when I got to the school that 3:30 was the beginning not the end of PVA plus!
The appointment went well and the doctor was very happy to hear that I had spoken with the Italian teacher and that things seem to be going better. The only bad thing about a late appointment is how late it is when you leave. We arrived home around 7:30 and then had some dinner. MAC was so tired she went to bed right after eating!
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Glee and the Science Fair
Last night was when everything that she had typed the night before ended up glued to the poster board. She had to complete the "notebook" which had all her notes from the websites she had visited getting information and making sure that everything was ready to take in tomorrow.
Of course, she had a deadline. She really wanted to see Glee. It was sectionals night and they had some really good songs. Glee started at 8:00, she finished the notebook around 7:50. Every time she would complain about how tired she was I would just say the word "Glee" and she would pick up the pace.
The new CD came out yesterday but because we were so busy with the science fair project no one stopped to get it. I told her that we would go get it tonight if she finished all of her homework by the time I got to the house to pick her up. She was hugely excited and finished her homework by 5:20 when I got to the house.
We listened to the CD on our way home from the book store. She loves it and I love the fact that she was able to put her mind to something and was able to complete her project.
Of course, she had a deadline. She really wanted to see Glee. It was sectionals night and they had some really good songs. Glee started at 8:00, she finished the notebook around 7:50. Every time she would complain about how tired she was I would just say the word "Glee" and she would pick up the pace.
The new CD came out yesterday but because we were so busy with the science fair project no one stopped to get it. I told her that we would go get it tonight if she finished all of her homework by the time I got to the house to pick her up. She was hugely excited and finished her homework by 5:20 when I got to the house.
We listened to the CD on our way home from the book store. She loves it and I love the fact that she was able to put her mind to something and was able to complete her project.
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