What happened to January and February?

Published March 2, 2014 by Angela

Image I will NOT complain about the heat, I swear! Just make this white junk melt already 🙂

March 1st. Still freezing cold in Michigan, and the country as a whole I would have to say. So, in anticipation of the coming warm weather, (I mean it can’t stay like this forever, can it? CAN IT?? 😦 ) I am going to think warm and fuzzy thoughts!

Complaining about the snow should qualify as an Olympic sport, and I am pretty sure I would medal out on this one! So, no more complaining for me, I promise!

Looking forward to Spring, and especially Easter, I am going to brighten up my kitchen and bathroom with some warm, sunny, pastel colors. I redo my bathroom every year (small bathroom; new shower curtain and rugs, soap dispenser and trash can, a couple pictures for the wall, and a few towels to hang up and I call it good!).

I feel like I am looking forward to Easter as much as I did Thanksgiving and Christmas. Easter is actually my favorite holiday of the year, yes even before St. Patrick’s Day! I am looking forward to warmer weather, flowers blooming, and birds chirping. I am making a promise to myself that I will not complain one single time this year about how hot the Summer is. And they are already predicting higher than normal temps this year. Why not, right?

How have you been dealing with your snow and having cabin fever? I have read so many books it is ridiculous, and my Statistics class is now officially stressing me out! I make no promises about not complaining about my college classes, but I am pretty sure if I can get through this class with a solid B (which is what I need in order for my employer to pay for this class) the rest will be smooth sailing. If I have to pay for a class that did nothing but stress and upset me: YES, I am going to be pissed!

Here’s to a Happy March and warmth and sunshine on the way!

When Everyone Is Sick

Published February 24, 2014 by Angela

Image

Except me, that is. And thank goodness for that! I have no time to be sick, although laying in bed for a few days reading would be a-m-a-z-i-n-g!

This is a yearly ritual I go through with my 16 year old. Constant sore throats, difficulty breathing, the whole nine yards. I have yet to convince our Doctor to take her tonsils out, but I really do think it would help. I feel terrible for her but I know the ritual. Go to Dr.s, spend a lot of money, get told to buy couch medicine. Go to med-center, pay an even more ridiculous fee, and go get cough medicine.

As a note, I am really not a horrible person or Mom, and she will be getting checked for Strep tomorrow.

I really wish the sun would come out, stay out, and melt this muddy snow that is everywhere. Not likely anytime soon though, as highs this weed in Michigan will be less than 20 degrees.

Do you have any tricks for comforting a sore throat? I think if she gargles any more salt water she will be sick!

8th Grade Options

Published February 19, 2014 by Angela

Since Erin and I have been experiencing some difficulty with her homeschooling (it is beyond difficult getting her to complete her daily assignments, on a daily basis) I am looking into a virtual school for 8th grade. I think this type of set schedule will definitely keep her on pace better than I have been able to, and the social aspect will definitely help her. She certainly isn’t entirely to blame for this; I seem to be a poor motivator (threatener, punisher, reward-giver, and whatever else I have tried).

I can enroll her in March, and as I know she is not ready to go back to public school at this point, I think this is the best option for both of us. I am working on my Master’s degree, online, and will be for a couple of years. I think her being in the same school-type environment as I am will be good for her.

Have you done a virtual school for your child/children? Did it work for them?

Why Yes, I Am Getting Another Pet

Published February 10, 2014 by Angela

For me, that is. My girls are at the point of being pretty much self-sufficient (yes, I still cook for them, help with homework, etc). So I figured it is time for a pet, for me! This was not a spur-of-the-moment decision, and is something I have thought about for quite some time. Do you remember this post? https://parenthoodandotherhorrorstories.com/2013/08/29/another-pet-really/

By-the-way, I am pretty much taking care of Mufasa full-time now (your welcome, Erin!) even though he tries to bite me every time I put my hand in his cage. And I have to say, he has made contact more than once 😦

2 Hairless Sphynx Cats

2 Hairless Sphynx Cats

So after researching extensively on a cat breed that was unique, I have decided on getting a Hairless Sphynx. I am super-excited to be able to have a pet of my own again, and cannot wait to bring my little boy home! One is on the way, but they do not leave their mom until about 12-16 weeks of age.

I am aware of the extra care this breed requires, such as bathing, ear cleaning, and a raw diet. They also seem to be a bit more genetically inclined to have HCM (a heart issue that all cats can get). So with all of this in mind, I am slowly preparing my home for another forever pet, and have to say this little guy will likely be the most spoiled animal, ever!

Do you have pets that are like children to you?

On To A New Week!

Published February 10, 2014 by Angela

I feel like I have been falling behind on several things since 2014 began. I would like to blame college but that 1st class was only 3 weeks long, and it ended a couple weeks ago.

I really think the lack of sunshine is making me so tired (and yes, bitchy! Remember that last post?) I have stocked up on some Vitamin D, hoping this helps. Normally I would go tanning, or fake-and-bake as we say here in Michigan. As much as I love the look of a nice tan, I have stopped doing this a couple years ago due to concern about the safety of it, as well as skin cancer. Being red-headed, fair-skinned, and full of freckles, I should have never had a tan, ever 🙂

I feel like I have been getting off-track on the homeschooling. If Erin is getting behind, it is because I am not pushing her hard enough. And I am not talking about making her do school 8 hours a day (although I wish she would!) I am talking about making the time I need to in order to make sure she is understanding everything, and what she has questions on. Checking her work every day is just not enough, and what used to be hours a day discussing her work feels like less and less.

So as each day here in West Michigan gets a bit longer with more sunshine (even though we don’t see it), I am refocusing on staying on task, and keeping Erin on task. I would like to wrap up her 1st year of homeschooling on a positive note, having accomplished everything we planned out last August. My intention for her 8th grade year is to enroll her in online school. I think that will help keep her on task and more focused. She sure gets distracted easily! And yes, she gets it from me 🙂 Online schooling takes a special kind of discipline, and since I have been going to college like this for more years than I’ll tell you, I think this is definitely going to help both of us with homeschooling.

 

What The Hell Is Wrong With Me?

Published February 7, 2014 by Angela

No, this isn’t a hypothetical question. I have seriously been asking myself this question pretty much since the beginning of 2014.

I would like to blame the non-stop snow that has been gracing Michigan since the end of October/beginning of November. OK, so maybe that can take some of the blame. I really do not like being cold. At all. But I have been very, very grouchy. And angry. And bitchy. the small things that I have shrugged off for the past several months are suddenly huge boulders of problems that I am carrying around on my shoulders. No, it isn’t that these small things are just happening over-and-over again and I have finally had enough. It is the little things that would not bother any normal-mood person (including me) are now enough to set me on edge.

 

I have been feeling incredible for the past several months: I have made some positive changes in my life that have really been a huge improvement on my quality of life, for myself and my 4 girls. I have a wonderful job (no, really, it IS wonderful) that allows me to take care of my girls without any help from anyone, a nice home, my health, 4 healthy girls, a wonderful group of friends and co-workers, and a church family that help me stay grounded.

So why can’t I shake the bad mood? Is it really SAD? You know, seasonal affective disorder? It shouldn’t be. I just know this, without going into all the details 🙂

So why don’t I feel as great now as I have been for the past several months? Believe me, I am not sitting around saying “Poor Me”. I truly know how lucky and blessed I am, and I say thanks for that every, single, day.

I am just tired of the little stuff feeling like huge things. It’s not. It isn’t any bigger than it would have been if it happened last November.

So since I have only lost about the first week of February (we won’t even discuss January), I really need to get it back in perspective, and quit sweating the small stuff.

I know I need some “me” time. My girls and I have been stuck in the house together due to -20 wind chills and non-stop snow. Along with too many snow days to even count. No house is big enough for that much estrogen for that many days without some space.

So here’s to February, and hopefully melting snow in March, and flower buds in April, and a better attitude than I have had. Here’s to being happy, just because I should be!

What Do You Mean You Can’t Read or Write in Cursive?

Published January 30, 2014 by Angela

How did I not know that my 9 year old, 4th grade daughter cannot read or write in cursive? What else have they stopped teaching in public schools? It’s bad enough they changed how they teach math that I am no longer capable of helping her. But to stand behind her while she is on the internet and she tells me she cannot read the text because the font is in cursive. WHAT???

What happened to this?

What happened to this?

She “learned” it in 3rd grade, her 4th grade teacher has not once mentioned reading or writing in cursive. I fear that we are getting to the point where kindergarteners are going to learn how to type on a tablet, and they won’t even know how to write or what a pencil is.

How my 4th grader feels about cursive writing

How my 4th grader feels about cursive writing

So, my solution is I am going to teach her cursive reading and writing. And then I am going to wait for her to tell me what her teacher says when she turns in her spelling words written in cursive.

Does everything in our lives have to change or disappear because of technology? Can’t they coincide and get along???

What are your kids not being taught anymore?

Why Not? Let’s Have Another Snow Day!

Published January 28, 2014 by Angela

ImageIt’s pretty bad when they can only show 1 warning at a time!

School is closed by 6pm for tomorrow. Wind chill warnings and non-stop snow until at least Wednesday. Warned by police to stay off the roads unless necessary, I am sure my employer will find my attendance at work necessary 🙂 It is becoming difficult to find things for my girls to do that keep them quiet during the day while I need to sleep. They are burning up their laptop and the Wii, but have been getting along rather well. I fear the number of days they may have to go to school into their summer vacation due to this cold snap that seems like it will never end.

OK, let’s be honest, them going to school through the summer would honestly make me happy 🙂 There, I said it!

I know the feeling!

I know the feeling!

Even my online classes are having connection difficulties! We are hunkered down, taking it a day at a time. I stop to the store each morning buying what I think we may need to get through a couple days if we end up completely stuck in the house. The worst is yet to come, so I need to be prepared.

Yes, I think 3 gallons of milk in the fridge is enough (actually, I ran out of room). I guess I could buy more and keep it in my snow bank! My girls are tearing up the latest boxes of cereal I bought, therefore the fear of a personal milk shortage.

What are you doing to keep yourself and your children busy when it’s too cold to leave the house?

Enough Is Enough!

Published January 26, 2014 by Angela

ImageHow I felt when winter came early this year!♥

I have been more than polite about it, even enjoyed it coming early in November and embraced it all through the Christmas Season. I didn’t even say on December 26th, as I do every year, “OK, Christmas is over, you can melt now!” I didn’t complain yesterday when my co-worker had to push my car out of a snow drift for me, or when it took 10 minutes to get into my driveway at home. I have been enjoying the snow on a daily basis, embracing the beauty of it, no matter how much I have had to shovel at work and home.

But now I feel I have been quiet long enough.

How I am beginning to feel about this Michigan weather

How I am beginning to feel about this Michigan weather

Honestly, after some jerk stole my snow shovel, I was ready for Winter to be over. But nope, I went a bought another shovel (safely stored in my house, dripping snow and salt all over my foyer floor), and Thank Goodness I did. But this is just ridiculous. I knew we were due for a bad winter here in Michigan, but I didn’t think a couple mild years were going to be made up for in a matter of less than 3 months.

My kids have been home since the middle of December more than they have went to school. They are getting serious cabin fever, and I ran out of ideas to keep them occupied about 2 weeks ago. They even ran out of books to read. Yes, they ran out of books to read in my house!!

Does anyone out there have some sunshine they are enjoying right now? Can you share? PLEASE!!!

 

 

Here's what us West Michiganders can expect today!

Here’s what us West Michiganders can expect today!