Airport Shuttle

On my way to pick Nate up from the airport!  I'm going to be tired tomorrow but he's worth it. 

Soccer Mom

And just like that, I'm a soccer mom. Currently at a parent's meeting, paying dues, buying a sweatshirt, and looking at a game schedule that will keep me busy through April. 

Lightsaver

Shoulder!

I can touch my right shoulder with my right fingers!  It's been almost 6 weeks since I broke my arm and fully bending my elbow is the last thing that's still not back to my usual range of motion. Almost there!

Taxes and Bribery

Let Korra chose a movie to watch and gave her an amply supply of snacks so I could get the taxes done.  Lion King, pop corn, and a good sized refund!  Not a bad night!

Style

Korra dressed herself. 

Spoiled

Ok, so maybe my father in law spoils me too.  I really enjoyed my breakfast of cinnamon raisin bread from the Mennonite bakery that he brought.  And he's taking us out to dinner tonight...

Texas

Nate landed safely in Texas where he will spend the next couple of days at the Penny Arcade Expo. My father-in-law is here to take care of (read: spoil) Korra while I'm at work. Tonight Korra's sleeping in my bed. I'm already anticipating a less than restful night but I'm happy she wants to snuggle with me. 

Applications

Filled out 2 job applications today (one in the mountains, one at the coast).  I've just got the itch.  I've gotta know what else is out there.

Naps, Plural

Took 2 naps today. Feeling much better. 

Sick

Woke up with a sore throat and headache. Probably could have pushed through but I have plenty of sick days and I know it's a quiet-ish day in the library. 

ISO: Parenting Win

We need a good day with Danny and soon. You know, one of those days that reminds you why you chose to become parents?  Yeah, I need one of those ASAP. 

Insurance Good News!

Got the call that the "investigation" into the "life event" of adding Danny to our insurance has been resolved and he's officially on our insurance!  Finally!

9 years

According to Facebook, Nate and I made an offer on our house 9 years ago. I never would have guessed we'd stay this long or that some of the most meaningful friendships we've ever made would have come as a result of being part of this neighborhood. And even though we're still $15,000 underwater on our mortgage (ouch!), I'd still say it was one of the best decisions we've ever made. 

Leftovers

Pet peeve time.  Every night after dinner, we put leftovers into individual portion containers, making lunches much easier for me.  Danny eats an extra meal at about 10 PM every night.  The problem is that he eats 1/2 to 3/4 of a container of leftovers and then leaves the rest.  Eat it all or leave it alone!  It drives me nuts.

100+

Korra counted to 100 ( and kept going) totally unassisted!

Visit from NA

NA and his mom stopped by for a short visit this morning. It's hard to believe it's been 5 years since he was part of our family- our first long-term foster child.

Moody Teen

We're making Danny go on a church trip for the day while we are at a baby shower. He really wants to stay home alone all day. That's not going to happen so he is very sullen. Oh teenagers. 

Compliment

Is there anything quite so nice as having a teacher say how smart and pleasant your child is?

Korra's teacher said she is "Miss Montessori."  Day made. 

Parent-Teacher Conference

Got to sleep in 45 minutes this morning because we have a conference with Korra's teachers. I'm looking forward to taking my girl to school and hearing all about how she's learning and growing.

5 years ago

5 years ago today I drove to the DFCS building with NA and left without him because he went to live with his new adoptive family. He's 17 now- just 6 months younger than Danny. I can't list how many things about all of that feel crazy. 

18th Birthday

Enjoyed some cake and conversation with Danny and a couple of our neighbors tonight after dinner. It's reassuring to hear others give Danny some of the same advice we've given.  It was also nice to have an excuse to laugh and eat cake. 

Crying at Work

Bad news from the dentist.  Another $2000 to get crowns for Danny's teeth.  Cried because I feel overwhelmed by parenting in general.  I need someone else to be the adult for a couple of hours.

Birthday Cake

Baking a second birthday cake for Danny. His actual birthday is January 2nd but his birth certificate says January 21st. This year we will celebrate both. 

2021

I just got my teaching certificate renewed for another 5 years. Five years doesn't seem that far in the future but the year 2021 seems ridiculously futuristic. 

Superlatives

The 8th graders used my computer lab to do a superlative survey for the year book. I think today I deserve Most Likely to Fall Asleep Before 9PM. 

Library Night

I've got a Friends of the Library board meeting tonight at the same time that Nate is taking Korra to another room in the library for the Venomous Snakes show. I'm jealous.  Not that I don't enjoy being a part of the board, but the snake show is going to be a lot more exciting...

Breakfast Date

Before heading up to Atlanta, Korra and I had a breakfast date at Cracker Barrel. 

Live Dream

Dreamed I got lice at school and then had to tell the 2 friends I'm meeting for lunch today. Talk about a bad dream!  Thankfully Korra and I are on our way for a fun day catching up with friends (and parasite-free!)

The Martian

Nate and I rented The Martian last night. It wa really good!  I highly recommend it. 

Phone Bath

My phone fell out of my hoodie pocket and into the bath when I was getting Korra out. Thanks to my case, quick reflexes, and an overnight in a bag of rice, it's still working!

BOB Books

Got a set of beginning reader books from the library this morning. She read the first two before we even got home!

Party Puker

We were at a neighbor's birthday party. Korra ate so much she vomited. Yuck. 

Recycling!!!!

We got our curb-side recycling bin today! No more storing cardboard boxes and milk jugs and then dragging them across town twice a month!

Broken-arm Zumba

3 weeks post fracture and I'm back at Zumba. Didn't notice much different but that's probably because I'm so uncoordinated that it's usually all I can do to get the foot movements sort-of right. 

Cleats Update

Asked the coach at our school and he let me borrow a pair of cleats!  Granted, they are football cleats but I think for training and try-outs they will work!  No driving for us tonight! (Except for the trip to Walmart because he needed gym shorts and also because kids always seem to need something)

Crochet Indecision

I have started and pulled apart the baby blanket I am working on at least 4 times. I just cannot decide in a pattern I like for my godchild's blanket. I better decide soon because he or she will be here in March!

Cleats

Danny wants to try out for soccer next week. We were hoping to wait until he actually makes the team to drop $60-150  on a pair of shoes that can only be worn for one purpose but it turns out he has to have them to even do training and try-outs. Our Walmart only sells kid's sized cleats. So this afternoon we will make the  65 mile round-trip pilgrimage to the shopping Mecca that is Opelika, Alabama to hopefully purchase inexpensive soccer cleats. Fingers crossed he makes the team. 

Teen Read Week

Celebrating Teen Read Week here at our library this week.  I'm going with the theme Reading Is Super.  I have a super hero quotes quiz (match the quote with the hero- includes a couple of teachers as well as Oprah and Abe Lincoln alongside Batman and Spiderman).  I have a photobooth set up on one of our ChromeBooks with super hero props.  I also have super cheesy posters all over the school (think "Batman Returns... his library books" and "This looks like a BOOK for SuperMan!") 

Return of the Yogi

I went to yoga tonight. My excellent friend/neighbor/yoga instructor promised to help me modify our practice and it was really good. I still have limitations in my range of motion but I feel so much better having stretched and tested my arm's abilities. 

Cleaning, Mending, and a New Bed

Cleaned an apartment that our church owns for a new resident who is moving in this week. Mended a pile of shirts, socks, and pants for a friend. Got Danny's new bed all set up in his room and the futon temporary moved into the living room (anyone need a futon?) Rounded up the family to sweep, vacuum, clean the bathrooms, etc. Today was a much more productive day than yesterday which wasn't setting the bar very high since we didn't leave the house (or really even the couch) all day. Glad we had a weekend that included a lazy and a productive day. 

Preschool Snacks

Our week to provide snacks for Korra's preschool class is coming up. Honestly, I've been dreading it. Not because it will be expensive or a lot of work but because I'm irrationally worried about standards set by some of the stay-at-home moms. I'm talking about elaborate  Letter of the Week themed snacks.  I know it's silly and that no one cares if my snacks aren't decorated or coordinanated but still... But good news- the letter of the week during Korra's snack assignment is "I". Besides ice cream (which would not be a good low sugar snack), there aren't any snacks that start with the letter I. I think I'm off the hook (and yes, I'm aware it is a hook I made for myself). 

More Fiber

Korra and I made some high fiber granola  balls this afternoon (oats, flax seed, coconut, peanut butter, honey, grape nuts, chocolate chips, chopped pecans) and she is currently eating some chocolate pudding with prune purée mixed in it. I am determined to help this girl and finally stop talking about poop all the time!

Reading!

Korra just read the following words:

Mom

Korra

Sat

Mat

Rat

Yes

No

I am so proud!

Kauai

With our good friends safely landed in Kauai, Hawaii, I added that location of my phone's world clock (they are 5 hours behind) and to my phone's weather app (the high today there will be 75*).  Makes me feel a wee bit closer knowing their time and weather (and also a wee bit jealous!)

Coloring

Korra and I are watching Monsters Inc and coloring in the new coloring books we got for Christmas. 

2 of her favorite things

Left Korra alone with my phone for 10 minutes while we took down Christmas decorations the other day and she found a video on YouTube of Elsa and Anna singing Shake It Off.  She's crazy about it because it combines 2 of her favorite things: Frozen and Taylor Swift songs. 

So Sleepy

I am really struggling to power through my naptime.  Those 2 hour long naps in the loft at the cabin with my little girl were glorious and I miss them terribly right now.

Bra Update

Because I know you're dying to hear this news, my range of motion has increased enough for me to type and hook my own bra but not enough to brush my teeth or eat right handed. 

Goodbyes

Had a last shared dinner with some of our eat neighbor-friends.  They are moving to Hawaii on Thursday. We are so happy for them, but I'm going to miss them like crazy. 

Flat

Left work to discover I had a flat tire. Then learned from the tire place that it had to be replaced because apparently it was flat yesterday and I drove on it to and from work without noticing. How do I train myself to be more observant about these things?

Pretend

Korra: Pretend I'm a T-Rex and you're a stegosaurus and that I'm sleeping but then you wake me up and I eat you. 

Good News

Doctor says my fracture is healing. I don't have to wear the splint anymore and I get to ditch the sling in a week. New goal is to work on range of motion with the hopes of going back to yoga in 2-3 weeks. 

Bra Pass

I'm going back to work this morning. Teacher work day. I've got my doctor 's appointment for my arm this afternoon. I'm hoping he'll write me a pass saying it's socially acceptable for me not to wear a bra since I can't put one on for myself. Nate really prefers to be woken up with a request to take my bra off, not put it on. 

No cooking

If you have to break your arm, Christmas break is a pretty good time to do it. My parents, sister, and in-laws have done so much for me in the past 10 days. One of the biggest things I can't do is cook and I haven't had to. But now we're home and I'm having to turn all the cooking over to Danny and Nate. And most of the housekeeping. Most people would love a break from those chores but it is so hard for me to ask for help. I feel like a burden. I like to be busy. And also I like things done a certain way.  I'm pretty sure I should be learning some lessons from this but I make no promises. I'd usually read over and edit this but even this much typing one-handed has me frustrated. Stupid arm. 

Unpacking

The chore of unpacking is so loathsome it almost makes me wish we never went anywhere. Almost.