Plans for getting things done

I had hoped to spend the 5 day weekend going through boxes in the basement, doing some scrapbooking and getting the kids to clean up and organize their bedrooms. Did I accomplish any of that? Nope. But, I did get caught up on laundry...well, yesterday anyway...and I did some reading and a lot of nothing. I just wanted to veg. I even almost took a nap (I never do that). So...maybe on weekends and Christmas break we'll get more done. Then again, the basement is cold...could wait 'til spring. :)
I need to decide if I want to fork out money to see Twilight with my older girls...not full price...matinee. Any recommendations from those who have seen it? Maybe we'll just go see Igor for $1.25 instead. :-P

Thankful for Family

I got to spend time with 3 of my siblings and their family's yesterday as we celebrated Ethan's 6th birthday at Chuck E. Cheese. It's nice to have the opportunity to get together and talk. (And to share a photo of my mom's hot ex-boyfriend). =-)
We then got to see each other again today, along with my dad and grandma, for Thanksgiving.
Andy-Thanks for mashing the potatoes.
Matt-Thanks for helping Ethan out. ("I'm just a kid. I'm too young to die!)
Amy-Thanks for the jump. :)
I'm hoping that my other siblings had an enjoyable Thanksgiving as well.

Unnamed daughter strikes again

Yesterday, in Sunday School, my daughters class was told to write a note of appreciation to their moms. "Just write what's in your heart," she told them. What was in my daughters heart? Her Christmas wish list. Do I at least give her credit for writing, "oh yeah, I love you, mom" at the end? I'm thinking a note of gratitude for all we've done for her is a good stocking stuffer for her, maybe with a little scare that there are no presents for her under the tree.

Why I usually make my kids shower on Saturday

Because Sunday mornings can get too crazy, I almost always have all of my kids bathed or showered on Saturday. This past weekend that didn't happen. One particular daughter, who shall remain nameless, said she would prefer to shower on Sunday morning. So, I took my shower and then told her to get up and take hers. Did she get up? No. Hubby took his shower and unnamed daughter finally got up and ate breakfast. She finally got in the shower while I was busy sorting photographs. With 1/2 an hour 'til time to go, I warned her that she needed to hurry. "I'm almost done," was her reponse. I was busy helping the younger kids get ready when I looked at the clock again. Twenty minutes had gone by and she was still in the shower! Now, I understand that shaving ones legs can take time, but over thirty minutes!?! And so, when in the future she refuses to shower on Saturday I will hide her razor and be sure to run the dishwasher and washing machine while she showers on Sunday morning.

Ethan says...

"A boy in my class is rude. He says mean things. I have a hate crush on him!"

Procrastinating

I've finally decided to start sending query letters to agents. Have it narrowed down to 11. But, I am avoiding sitting and writing (and re-writing, and re-writing...) the letter and revising my synopsis. I can take rejection...am even expecting it...it's a given. But, I just can't seem to focus on getting it done. Maybe now that I've researched the agents I'll finally break down and do it. Then I can start on book 2 that Ashlei is begging me to hurry up and do.

Appreciative

Even though Ethan tries my patience every day, it is nice to see him wait in line at school while 3/4 of the class is running around. And, this morning, I was in charge of the childrens class at our Super Saturday. Wow! Some of those kids were sooooo active. Ethan might need multiple reminders and guidance to do what he is supposed to do, but at least he isn't running around, throwing things and climbing on everything.
I have discovered a way to keep him occupied for a good length of time, too (besides video games which we have all but banned lately). He LOVES to cut things out. I can't believe sometimes how long he will keep going-I can give him the coupons from the newspaper or an old magazine or catalog and he is busy for a good 30 minutes or more. And he hasn't cut up anything he's not supposed to. :)
Writing, on the other hand, he hates. He was writing the alphabet and got to about g or so before he started scribbling and saying, "skip, skip, skip...".
He has definitely improved alot over the past year or so. I am so glad we didn't cave into the pressures of medicating him.

Daddy's Little Helper

Normally hubby doesn't take kids with him when he runs errands, especially little Mr. Handful. However, last night I needed him (son, not hubby) out of my hair, so I sent him with his dad to run to the grocery store. When they got back, I asked Ethan if he had been good. "It starts with 'of course'..." he said. "And what does it end with?" I asked, thinking he wouldn't have an answer because he had said the whole word and not just the first letter of it. "Yes!" he shouted, without hesitation. I did not ask hubby for confirmation as to his opinion. Ethan's satisfaction that he felt he had been good was enough 'because when you're naughty you have the devil in you'. Ethan likes to use this explanation when his sisters are bad, but never himself. I'm sure it is a scary thought to him as he probably takes it more literal than the rest of us.

That's more like it.

Ethan was playing doctor today and gave me a pretend shot, which he said would make me die in ten days. I asked him who would take care of him if I died. He quickly realized that he needed me around and got very serious as he said that I wouldn't die for as many days as the biggest number in the universe. :)
On another note...I hope the lines aren't too long when I go to vote later.