Julia and Sarah are both in grade school now, no more Kindergarten :). We need to walk to school since we live too close for the bus to come and I don't have a car yet. It's only a mile walk and it's actually really pleasant; they see things along the way that they get excited about and we talk. When they fight I don't get as stressed although it's still annoying, slows life down a little bit.
Julia's teacher seems really nice, their are a lot of books, building blocks, a big calender and what Julia was most excited about was a computer. Sarah's teacher seems fun; there are lots of Dr.Suess books lined up with Dr.Suess stuffed animals. There are phones in the reading corner (old style rotary phones) so the kids can read aloud into them and hear their own voices. There is even a class fish :)
I can't wait to hear about their days. Right before we got to school they told me their teachers wont be like Miss Hannigan from Annie; very random but funny. I know they will have a great year, learn a lot and make wonderful friends. Can't wait to hear about their day!
Monday, August 27, 2012
Monday, July 30, 2012
Some kind of Summer!
It's been a good one and I can't believe it's almost over! We had the best party in Sarah birthday party history right before we left. Great start for the summer, moon bounce, pool, lots of food and donuts for desert. Everybody had fun and only minor injuries so pretty good.
After that was a whirl wind of packing while sick, seeing our favorite peoples off and getting to the airport. I wasn't sure we would get to go on the plane once we got there because our layover was originally Canada and we didn't realize we'd need passports. The coordinator understood our mistake and gave us a layover in California instead. We made it!
We stayed with my friend for a few weeks and luckily we're still friends haha. I honestly miss her now and definitely am grateful for our friendship. After 4 years of sharing space with my parents it is nice to have a place to call our own. I know my parents are happy to have room and peace back, they are amazing. As soon as we moved in I put everything in it's place; I've never been that productive in my whole life.
The girls finally have their own room; first thing Sarah told Julia was that she wasn't aloud in her room. A few days later they were taking turns playing in each others rooms. We started using positive reinforcement this past week as an incentive to do chores, listen and work on reading. Things are going very well and once the girls start school I will start the job search. Hopefully I'll have a car before that time comes!
I really do like being home with the kids and am definitely appreciating that this is the calm before the storm; juggling school, home life, social life and work. How do people balance it all? I'm sure they just find a way to make it work as I know we will. Enjoying this fresh start and excited for this part of my life. Dann and I were talking about what things would be like in another 10 years for us; I'll be 41, he'll be 40 and Sarah will be 18. It'll be our last year with her and second to last with Julia. These past 10 years flew by and I know the next 10 will too. Life is precious.
After that was a whirl wind of packing while sick, seeing our favorite peoples off and getting to the airport. I wasn't sure we would get to go on the plane once we got there because our layover was originally Canada and we didn't realize we'd need passports. The coordinator understood our mistake and gave us a layover in California instead. We made it!
We stayed with my friend for a few weeks and luckily we're still friends haha. I honestly miss her now and definitely am grateful for our friendship. After 4 years of sharing space with my parents it is nice to have a place to call our own. I know my parents are happy to have room and peace back, they are amazing. As soon as we moved in I put everything in it's place; I've never been that productive in my whole life.
The girls finally have their own room; first thing Sarah told Julia was that she wasn't aloud in her room. A few days later they were taking turns playing in each others rooms. We started using positive reinforcement this past week as an incentive to do chores, listen and work on reading. Things are going very well and once the girls start school I will start the job search. Hopefully I'll have a car before that time comes!
I really do like being home with the kids and am definitely appreciating that this is the calm before the storm; juggling school, home life, social life and work. How do people balance it all? I'm sure they just find a way to make it work as I know we will. Enjoying this fresh start and excited for this part of my life. Dann and I were talking about what things would be like in another 10 years for us; I'll be 41, he'll be 40 and Sarah will be 18. It'll be our last year with her and second to last with Julia. These past 10 years flew by and I know the next 10 will too. Life is precious.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
These Hawaii Burdettes are almost Maryland Burdettes!
I can't believe the day for us to move is almost here! It's amazing, so many changes have happened with the girls between ages 2 and 4 to 6 and 8, how did the time go by so fast? I'm really glad that they got a chance to live here and know their other half of extended family. Now when my parents or grandparents visit they will know who their grandparents are and I'll be able to send the girls to Hawaii in a summer or two from now and they would feel comfortable, probably even connect with their old school friends too. Really will be a home away from home for them. The experience of living here has been great and needed for all of us and I owe my parents everything for that gift.
This Monday we will be back in Maryland and I'm ready to enjoy the thunderstorms in the summer and lightening bugs, leaves changing and spiced cider in the fall, snow and winter parties, rain and new growth. I need to eat crabs too as soon as possible! See if I can get a crab cracking get together like we used to have growing up in Bowie once we're settled, although that might have to wait until next summer. I'd love to take the girls fishing and crabbing at Solomons Island one day, another Madden tradition from my childhood.
I had this ideal home pictured for us with lots of space and a huge yard; might have to wait until we sell our town house but I'd be happy with anything. As long as we're all together in our space ready to start a new adventure. It's kind of funny how it worked out though; two weeks ago, my friend and I started talking about how we both wished I was there and then she said I could stay with her. Started out as a joke and the more we talked about it the more it seemed like a crazy, fun, unreal, fantastic idea! Originally Dann and I were going to wait until he got a job and a place but the more time that went by the more I felt it was time to go; he was looking on the internet earlier that day for plane tickets anyway so it was on his mind. So he got the ticket that he was wishing to get earlier, we were excited about this happy-go-lucky decision, then it sunk in for him and he was freaked out with not having a job, a place, etc. Things have a way of working themselves out because this past Tuesday and Wednesday he had an interview with the same company on both days and an offer from them today! He didn't accept it though because he has another interview on Wednesday but the offering position will be there for him until next Friday. Either way he will have a job by next Friday, this is phenomenal timing and can only make me think that all this is meant to be.
Life is good!
This Monday we will be back in Maryland and I'm ready to enjoy the thunderstorms in the summer and lightening bugs, leaves changing and spiced cider in the fall, snow and winter parties, rain and new growth. I need to eat crabs too as soon as possible! See if I can get a crab cracking get together like we used to have growing up in Bowie once we're settled, although that might have to wait until next summer. I'd love to take the girls fishing and crabbing at Solomons Island one day, another Madden tradition from my childhood.
I had this ideal home pictured for us with lots of space and a huge yard; might have to wait until we sell our town house but I'd be happy with anything. As long as we're all together in our space ready to start a new adventure. It's kind of funny how it worked out though; two weeks ago, my friend and I started talking about how we both wished I was there and then she said I could stay with her. Started out as a joke and the more we talked about it the more it seemed like a crazy, fun, unreal, fantastic idea! Originally Dann and I were going to wait until he got a job and a place but the more time that went by the more I felt it was time to go; he was looking on the internet earlier that day for plane tickets anyway so it was on his mind. So he got the ticket that he was wishing to get earlier, we were excited about this happy-go-lucky decision, then it sunk in for him and he was freaked out with not having a job, a place, etc. Things have a way of working themselves out because this past Tuesday and Wednesday he had an interview with the same company on both days and an offer from them today! He didn't accept it though because he has another interview on Wednesday but the offering position will be there for him until next Friday. Either way he will have a job by next Friday, this is phenomenal timing and can only make me think that all this is meant to be.
Life is good!
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Worry Less & Enjoy More
Worry less & enjoy more; that is my new found life long mantra. Since having kids I have been worrying too much. Will they be happy balanced people? Will they have a good education? Will I be a good mother? Will I be able to provide for them? Can Dann and I make all of this work?
A week of quiet time has really given me time to think about it and I hit an epiphany. I can worry all the time from one thing to the next but it does nothing but stress me out and if I am stressed that will only make things harder for them.
Then I finally came to the conclusion; when my kids are grown and don`t need me as much I am not going to say to myself "I really wish I had worried more." I am going to say "I wish I had enjoyed it more." So many people have told me it goes by so fast and enjoy it. So I will keep telling myself worry less and enjoy more.
A week of quiet time has really given me time to think about it and I hit an epiphany. I can worry all the time from one thing to the next but it does nothing but stress me out and if I am stressed that will only make things harder for them.
Then I finally came to the conclusion; when my kids are grown and don`t need me as much I am not going to say to myself "I really wish I had worried more." I am going to say "I wish I had enjoyed it more." So many people have told me it goes by so fast and enjoy it. So I will keep telling myself worry less and enjoy more.
Monday, April 9, 2012
Julia's 1st big party
We had a big party at the park this past Saturday; we brought paint, chalk, kites, balls and it was lots of fun. The kids ran around the playground, lots of tree climbing, , some painted a little and towards the end all the girls had chalk drawings on their faces. The balls were a hit but I didn`t have the sticks for the kite but a few kids enjoyed running around with it while the ribbons trailed behind. We had vegetables, fruit, crackers but the most popular food was the sea weed. Julia passed out the cupcakes with really bright frosting and bunny ring toppers and then playdo that we made as the goodies to take home. Every one seemed to have a good time and Julia said a very enthusiastic thank you to me on the way home. Will definitely do this once a year!
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Happy New Year! Warning! I'm complaining a lot in this one.
Trying to keep my New Years resolution. All the laundry was clean for about a day. Then I kept cleaning and folding but not putting away so now I have a clean laundry mountain by my bedside. Every time I look at it I feel guilt and so it must be all put away.
I know things are going to be a lot easier for getting ready in the morning once everything is organized and that means no things on the floor. This will be an amazing feat but I am determined to make this happen!
The girls couldn't find anything to wear and Sarah has gotten to the point where she is very picky about clothing and will only wear jeans. So I've got to keep those jeans clean and folded away! Might as well put the rest of the clothes away for now because she ends up taking them out of the drawers and not putting them back to look for her jeans.
Their recent art building material is foil too so they keep getting huge sheets of foil and making cool things but the things get smaller and smaller until there are just tiny foil bits everywhere. So I put my foot down for the final time this morning and told them no more foil! Seriously; it's all over their bed before they get in and I have to clean it up every night, all over the floor and all over our tables. So tired of cleaning up foil even if it keeps them busy.
Although they do things that drive me crazy I need to keep accountable for my own mess and the fact that they are having a hard time because I'm not making anything easier by being so disorganized. When they start making huge messes I need to redirect there activity and make sure they clean up when they are done. I need to keep the kitchen clean after cooking and meals and not let it sit. I really need to start getting rid of things because I'm not going to do it all right before I move when I'm already stressing about moving. I've gotten rid of a few things but no where near where I need to be at this point. I told Dann we should just get a company that takes all your junk at once and then we wouldn't have to think about it. I should take pictures in my progress and post it to my blog and shame myself into getting this ridiculousness under control because I know in a couple of months this is not going to be cute. We did nothing to help our messy situation over winter break but we did have a good time so worth it but time to get the ball rolling!
I know things are going to be a lot easier for getting ready in the morning once everything is organized and that means no things on the floor. This will be an amazing feat but I am determined to make this happen!
The girls couldn't find anything to wear and Sarah has gotten to the point where she is very picky about clothing and will only wear jeans. So I've got to keep those jeans clean and folded away! Might as well put the rest of the clothes away for now because she ends up taking them out of the drawers and not putting them back to look for her jeans.
Their recent art building material is foil too so they keep getting huge sheets of foil and making cool things but the things get smaller and smaller until there are just tiny foil bits everywhere. So I put my foot down for the final time this morning and told them no more foil! Seriously; it's all over their bed before they get in and I have to clean it up every night, all over the floor and all over our tables. So tired of cleaning up foil even if it keeps them busy.
Although they do things that drive me crazy I need to keep accountable for my own mess and the fact that they are having a hard time because I'm not making anything easier by being so disorganized. When they start making huge messes I need to redirect there activity and make sure they clean up when they are done. I need to keep the kitchen clean after cooking and meals and not let it sit. I really need to start getting rid of things because I'm not going to do it all right before I move when I'm already stressing about moving. I've gotten rid of a few things but no where near where I need to be at this point. I told Dann we should just get a company that takes all your junk at once and then we wouldn't have to think about it. I should take pictures in my progress and post it to my blog and shame myself into getting this ridiculousness under control because I know in a couple of months this is not going to be cute. We did nothing to help our messy situation over winter break but we did have a good time so worth it but time to get the ball rolling!
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Advent
We have been preparing for Christmas day by sitting down after dinner and tearing a day off of the Advent Calender and then lighting an Advent Candle and letting the girls blow it out after ward. It's been a really nice way to wrap up the day and settle down for the night.
The girls did their Advent Walk on Saturday and for Julia's there was a harpist who accompanied the ceremony; it was so relaxing with the lights off and the candle glow. Her teacher told the parents that this is to show that each child carries and brings their own special gifts to this world making it brighter. After they all took turns setting down their lights they sang an Advent song about carrying a light within themselves.
Sarah did the walk with her class an hour later and her music teacher accompanied their walk with the flute. Her teacher told a parable that in the end had one coal that lit up a whole castle and did not go out. It was a beautiful ceremony and the class sang Silent Night to close it.
I love the concept of having that inner light shine to share with the world. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
The girls did their Advent Walk on Saturday and for Julia's there was a harpist who accompanied the ceremony; it was so relaxing with the lights off and the candle glow. Her teacher told the parents that this is to show that each child carries and brings their own special gifts to this world making it brighter. After they all took turns setting down their lights they sang an Advent song about carrying a light within themselves.
Sarah did the walk with her class an hour later and her music teacher accompanied their walk with the flute. Her teacher told a parable that in the end had one coal that lit up a whole castle and did not go out. It was a beautiful ceremony and the class sang Silent Night to close it.
I love the concept of having that inner light shine to share with the world. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
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