Burnt rice and pecans in the shoes

My kids are creative and intuitive. They are also onery and downright rotten, which makes them about normal...I think. And I love them for all they are, even on the days they frustrate me.

Maybe because there's so much drama with Abby at school or because I'm working full time outside the house again. Or maybe because I'm older and wiser and have the gray hair to prove it. I don't know why, but I didn't completely lose it this morning when I smelled something burning right about the time we were getting ready to leave for school.

I couldn't immediately find the source. And while I was searching for appliances that might be to blame in the kitchen, I saw a blur of colors zoom right past the window...on the outside of the window. To their credit, the kids had backpacks, lunches and jackets neatly lined up on the sidewalk while they were running around and hollering in the front yard at 7:30 a.m. I called them both in so I could question them on the burning odor. Abby quickly admitted that she "did it" and then moved the kitchen garbage can aside. Behind it: a old Winnie the Pooh plastic bowl full of burnt rice. She wanted to make white rice for her brother, and according to her story, there were no directions on the box. (I doubled checked. There are.) I think she didn't add any water, and it was a black, stinky mess. We cleaned it up together, and I quietly thanked God that once again her mishap wasn't disastrous. We talked about having adult supervision in the kitchen, which is tough because she can make a lot of things on her own. But, even though she can, doesn't mean she should do it while I'm in the shower!

Later in the day, after the kids were picked up from school and we began settling in to evening routines, I found a trail of mulch on my bedroom floor near my son's shoes. Not unusual. Except one piece is literally the size of a pecan and as hard as a rock. I couldn't walk around with a pecan in my shoe all day. I'm relatively sure that I wouldn't last 30 seconds, and I'm not willing to experiment and see if I can. But I'm keeping the mulch...just like I do every day. We're planting a flower garden, and the school playground is funding the mulch! :-)

Harry Potter spectacles, please!

So, I picked up the kids from school today -- something I miss terribly already -- and Ryker immediately begins jabbering, which is A. weird. He never recounts his day and B. hilarious. He only talks about recess, as if it was the highlight. Well, I suppose it probably was.

Turns out his new group of recess buddies are still a mix of genders but also play Harry Potter just like last year. What's different is that his new friend, whom I don't know but love based solely on his ability to get my stubborn son to relent, insists on being Harry Potter. And Ryker who believed last year that he WAS Harry Potter and asked us to call him as much, has allowed it, graciously agreeing to the part of Ron Weasley. (He might be more accommodating based on who is playing the part of Hermione, but I don't have all the details as the boy rarely tells me much!)

Today, he's excited because we're on our way to the eye doctor. And the new Harry Potter told Ryker if he has to get glasses then he'll let Ryker play the part of Harry Potter for the rest of the year! Whoa, whoa, whoa! (He couldn't verify calendar or school year, but this is big news nonetheless.) Frankly, I was sort of pulling for Ryker to get glasses simply because the story was so cute, and I wanted him to turn into the triumphant hero in the end.

I figured he would try to intentionally "throw" the examination like Abby did last year. I gently reminded them both that no amount of fudging could fool the doctor. Ryker appeared to "try" to fib, but alas -- like his mom -- he just does not have a poker face. I thought Abby learned her lesson after last year, but she lied straight through her eye exam for the second straight year.

Either one of them would look adorable in glasses. Seeing as their parents both are nearsighted, and mine is pretty bad, I figured one or both would end up in them eventually. Turns out, both are just slightly nearsighted. Nothing our doctor recommends glasses to correct yet, and it's nothing either have ever complained about. So we'll check in again in another year. In the meantime, I might have to hit Amazon and get Ryker some Harry Potter costume glasses so he can play the part at recess sometimes. 'Cause I love my little Harry Potter!

First day ... and second ... at work

Well, the first day at full-time work in nearly eight years was fine and no different than any other day. Frustrations were running high by day two. It doesn't help that my transition is going hand-in-hand with the start of the school year. We're tired, cranky, whiny and irritable. And it just goes downhill from there!

Day one had a chaotic night. We knew in advance it would be madness! I get off at 5 but needed dog food -- there were a few scraps in the bin, and the wrath of the puppies isn't one I want to face! Dan picked up the kids from ASP, dropped Ryker off at voice lessons, went home to put together the homemade pizza with the crust I made two days earlier -- which failed to rise, and no, I didn't forget the yeast, though it might have expired as there was no date on it -- and had 20 minutes before he had to swap Ryker for Abby. Then he had 25 minutes to feed Ryker, dress him in full football pads and get him to practice. I hit Wal-mart for the dog food, milk, cheese and chicken for Tuesday night's dinner (I could have saved us all a lot of hassle by skipping the chicken -- more on that later) and went straight to a client's house in Athens to drop off a photo order and then to pick up Abby at voice. Abby and I got home, ate pizza and changed into our "workout clothes" for a bike ride. That's about the time I remembered I had milk, cheese and chicken in the back of the Jeep that had been there a good hour or so! Abby whined through a two-hour bike ride and then convinced me to buy a tow-behind bike that will attach to my bike. Not a bad idea, and so when we went to see the end of Ryker's football practice, I got on my iPhone and ordered it. $89 and delivered in two days -- perfect timing for our bicycling event Saturday if we get the hang of it by then! We got home, and I went for another bike ride -- or should I say a "real" one -- while Dan contended with crabby kids some more.


Dan, meanwhile, had the living room turned upside down form the last piece of the fireplace he ripped out earlier. He had to cover up a spot that was churning attic heat into the house, not to mention clean up for the Boy Scout meeting that was now an hour away. Finally at 6:12, we all strolled out of the house into the Jeep with nary a plan in hand. The tank was beyond empty, further cramping our schedule. Dan's ingenious idea -- the corner gas station 10 minutes away that had a Subway. Perfect! Everyone loves Subway. So the $5 chicken turned into $25 sub sandwiches. But Dan and Ryker made it to Boy Scouts on time. The downside: we had to drop them off so they would get there right at 7 p.m. I was going to leave my cell phone so Dan could call when they were done. Guess what? I forgot. Then Abby and I walked across town to get ice cream cones and I left my cell phone behind! We were nearly home an hour later when I realized I hadn't brought my cell phone. Then I realized that it hardly mattered since he didn't have his phone -- I was supposed to leave mine for him! It was still about 30 minutes to the time when Dan thought the meeting would end, so I cleaned up the kitchen. We headed out with 15 minutes to spare, so I figured I was doing pretty good. Then the boys spotted us and hollered about halfway to the park. They didn't try to hitch a ride; they decided to enjoy the evening on a stroll home. Ryker was happy. Abby said it was the best night of her life. I guess chalk one up for the parents, but we'll definitely need another plan. Subway for dinner every night will break us!! And don't even get me started on the Amazon shopping. That web site is very dangerous!

I'm back!!!

I miss blogging! And I apparently need another hobby, so why not? Perhaps you detect the sarcasm??? I'm starting a FULL-TIME job on Monday. I'm excited, inspired, enthused, honored and...scared! I've worked part-time jobs or home-based jobs since Abby was 10 months old. I went back to my full-time job when she was 3 months old, and I lasted 7 months. (And I thought I was bad at math!) She will be 9 this year, and it was exactly eight years ago that I left my full-time position as health reporter at the Herald & Review in Decatur. Gee...time really does fly!

So, what am I thinking? Well, specifically I'm thinking about college savings and a 401k. We've made some headway on our finances the last few years, but we want to move forward on Dave Ramsey's baby steps. Unfortunately, my photography business is stagnant -- I've made $8,000 a year all four years! Of course, I never took out a loan, and each year I invested more and more to make my business better. :) It's been great to us, allowing me grow in my skills and even get fantastic art of my own children during these years that race by so quickly. And I've learned a ton about marketing, which is the field I'll be working in! I'll actually be working at Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital in Lincoln, where I've spent the last three years working two days a week. I love the people there and everything I do, so it's definitely something to look forward to!

My kids spent most of the summer in "school" at the Montessori Children's House, and LOVED it -- the structure, the learning, the adventures. That convinced me the timing is right. There are some things that scare me more than others, such as the day they turn 13 and can no longer go to "camps" and the church after-school program. I mean, this is the age they are bound to get into big-time trouble with time on their hands. For the school year, Dan will be home minutes after they get home. So that pretty much solves that dilemma. And a friend of mine said she still hired a high school or college student to ferry her kids places when they were this age. I know I won't leave them to an empty house! And I've got a few years to write a plan. Frankly, if I can't figure it out, I also have no problem leaving the workforce and returning home either. I love that type of flexibility!

I hope I'll find the time to blog -- maybe late at night since I don't watch television -- so I can share my adventure, keep family up-to-speed on the craziness of this life, inspire you with stories about money, faith and raising an ADHD child, and maybe even make you laugh or smile from time to time.

Stay tuned....

Teeny weeny

Ryker came bounding in my room this morning and shouted, while laughing, "I have a teeny weeny tiny little weiner!"
"What?!" I said. And then, of course, he repeated verbatim.
"No you don't," I replied, as a mother should. "It's just right."
"You're right, Mom," Ryker said. "I love you."

My hero is turning 5 and then going to kindergarten!

Can hardly believe this is my baby...um, er, my hero. He fights villians by night, which must be why he's so crabby and moody during the day! :-) Invites have been ordered; can't wait to see how they look in my hand! I LOVE my job!!! Oh, and this has inspired me to start a birthday club for kids. Photos 6-8 weeks before their birthday that can be used for invites, guest books at the birthday party, beautiful decorations/centerpieces. What could be better???

Slumber party

“Just jump in.” That’s my husband’s philosophy on the best way to acclimate one’s self to cold pool water. I’m the annoying one who parks herself on the ladder dipping in one toe, then two and slowly creeping in one inch every few minutes. I do prefer this. It helps me prepare for what’s to come. I feel more at ease.

When it came to hosting a sleepover – a first big slumber party actually – for our daughter, I decided my well-planned efforts of slowly adjusting to my new environment would work in this scenario, too. I had an agenda, a schedule, a very well thought out plan. Yes, I knew there could be chaos, but I would be prepared, my plan would put me at ease. There would be swimming and pizza, movies and popcorn. That would be plenty to keep them occupied and satisfied….happy even.

Informal invitations went out and after a few agonizing days and then a couple early “no” replies, we thought we would be nursing a certain 6-year-old’s damaged self esteem. However, we ended up with six girls – armed with PJs, pillows, suits and towels – on our doorstep one recent Friday evening.

After the first two arrived, it occurred to me that while we had enough frozen pizzas to hold a block party, there was no dessert. No self-respecting mom withholds sugar at a slumber party, so I sent my husband out with a list: ice cream, sprinkles, strawberry syrup, whip cream. My plan already crumbling, I was still determined this could be a slumber party that all kindergarten slumber parties would be compared to…it would be the measuring stick. My husband, the rational one, wanted to know why I would make the party so inviting that they’d all expect to come back. Duh! It’s obvious he’s never been a 6-year-old girl!

The girls hit the pool first, jumping and splashing, kicking and diving. Naturally, I shot photos since it would take me too long to get into the pool, and my husband kept the peace in the pool. We took a break for pizza, and they naturally wanted to go back in the pool right away. But the “lifeguard” needed to eat (I think he wanted a break), so they were stuck playing in the backyard with our two battery-powered Jeeps and the play set. After a few minutes (literally), one of the girls came up and asked, “When are we going to do the fun stuff?”

Excuse me? What? Did I go to the wrong party? Was I in someone else’s back yard? I mean…pizza, swimming, swings, slides, motorized Jeeps. I didn’t even tell them I had planned to set up a sundae bar or that afterwards we would watch a movie and munch on popcorn. And yet, it wasn’t entertaining enough. The other girls chimed in with agreement. All the evidence I ever needed that children are irrational beings who cannot be completely satisfied was standing right in front of me, all 50 pounds of it, wet with chlorinated water and sticky with pizza sauce.

After more swimming, I set up for sundaes. There were two kinds of sprinkles, hot fudge, caramel, strawberry sauce and whip cream. I even got out fancy tall glasses to build their sundaes in. They loved it; they really did, but the complaining ensued after the last one finished making her culinary creation. Someone had more sprinkles; one didn’t get enough whip cream. By the time I was done running around trying to meet needs, I headed for the sticky, sprinkle-covered kitchen table to wipe it off. But I was cut off by a plea to end the boredom. OK, better get this movie going and pronto. It seemed I could not move fast enough to keep everyone happy.

I enjoyed a few minutes of peace when one became thirsty and then another and another. There was a need for more popcorn and did I have any candy. I suddenly wondered how kindergarten teachers maintain any amount of sanity. What was definitely clear was that I had not been able slowly acclimate myself to this slumber party. No amount of mental or physical preparation helped me avoid the inevitable. You know it’s true, every time you try to adjust to icy pool water slowly, you’re in full concentration when you’re unexpectedly splashed by child who’s plotting your doom and strikes maliciously just as the water reaches that mid-torso point that makes your face scrunch into a wrinkled ball.

Yes, my husband’s philosophy definitely applies. Not just to acclimating to the water temperature, but also to acclimating to the child’s temperament. Yes, they are greedy and demanding. They require immediate satisfaction; they are keenly aware when they are treated unjustly (“She got more ice cream,” spoken in more of a squeaky whine than a comprehensive voice.) And when you think you can prepare yourself in a way that will circumvent this, you are slapped in the face with reality. Kids will be kids, and while it’s hard to comprehend that they’re enjoying themselves through all the complaining, they really are. The one who complained the most will probably talk incessantly about the party for days. And if you decide instead to jump right in, you’re bound to have fun, too. Just be prepared to need a nap the next day.

Bill paying

OK...so Dan and I are trying to kill our debt this year. Took off wonderfully, but it's slowing mostly because business is slow for me in the winter. Anyway, we have paid so far ahead on our car payment that they send us statements with a zero balance. They've locked us out from paying online because I would send two extra payments a month online whenever I got paid. They won't let me establish an online pay account, and when they send us our statement, they don't include an envelope. I just had to share because it's another example of how companies try to MANIPULATE us consumers into creating more debt. Don't let them hold you over a barrel. It just makes me laugh because we are still faithfully hammering away at our debt despite their little tactics. It hasn't stopped us one bit. I am so thankful for all we've been able to do, and I give all the credit to God, who has given us a wonderful tool in Financial Peace University.

Ryker-isms

This morning he mouthed something that he said I would just know what he was saying. I could tell it started with "I love you," but it went on and on. "I have no idea," I said.
"Mom, I said, 'I love you, and I just want to take your head right off,'" he explained.
Ohhhhh-kay....I said walking into the kitchen, a little frightened. ;-)
"And bounce it on the ground, but not the hard ground, the soft gound," he continued. Glad he cleared that up!

Last night he was playing with a balloon he's had since mid -January. It hit the light bulb and busted, and I never saw such crockodile tears! We all had to take turns saying "nice things" about the balloon. Then Abby helped him put the busted latex somewhere "safe and secure," where Grandma can't find it, 'cause Ryker was sure she'd throw it away without even asking. ;-)

My assistants

Abby is usually a great help to set up the studio for sessions. This is her modeling for something I wanted to try with a client, see my blog at www.denneyphotography.blogspot.com to see how it turned out. Dan has also been a HUGE help in the studio, holding props, lights or getting kids to react. Hopefully they're having as much fun as I am!!