I need a magic wand!

I used to think it would be so easy, stay at home, run a law practice out of my home, and keep up with life. Ha, who was I kidding? There are days when I feel as if I don't get much done around the house (because I really didn't!) but I got a lot of work done. Then there are days when I feel like I am swimming in housework (because I am!) and can't see the end in sight! The past week has been one of those weeks! January is crunch time for a lot of stuff, business taxes, CLE reports, and the list goes on. Oh, and to top it all off, we have to relearn the schedule that we got out of for the two weeks the kids were out of school for Christmas/Winter break!
But it isn't the kids that have to relearn the schedule, it is me! For example, yesterday I was a few minutes late picking up Amber from school. But there were other kids still getting into cars. Yes, I was the last parent in line, but I didn't feel bad about being late. That is until Amber told me I was late. When I told her I wasn't that late, she told me she had gotten out of class, looked for me, and couldn't find me. She told me. I hadn't realized how much she relies on the routines we had already set up many months ago! So, back to clock watching for me. Time is of the essence here.
Now, if only I had a magic wand to take care of everything. Just wave the wand and poof! the dished are done. Wave the wand and poof! all administrative tasks are taken care of. The possibilities would be endless if only I had a magic wand. The girls have a book called "Alice the Fairy" where Alice changes things with her magic fairy wand. Okay, so it is only in her imagination, but can't I have one in real life? I think I would rather have a magic wand over a money tree!
I sound like I am complaining (I am!) so now I'll quit. I just needed to get it out of my system and now I'll be okay!

Oops, my mistake!

The other day Amber was so excited to tell me that Emma's nursery teacher (Sharon) read a story to her at school. I was so confused. I just thought Amber didn't know what she was talking about! Emma's nursery teacher doesn't have any kids in school, so why would she be at the school, reading books at that? Little did I know. So I just went on my way thinking Amber was dreaming or just plain confused, but didn't know how to fix the problem! What do you say to a child when you think they are wrong but they are adamant that they really are not crazy?!
So, ha ha, funny thing. I was at the school today helping out in Amber's class, then I went to get Emma from her Preschool class. We were walking back to the Gym (where Amber's class was) and passed by the library! As we passed by the library I noticed Sharon sitting at the desk! Surprise, surprise! So I talked to Sharon for a few minutes. Turns out Sharon substitutes in the library. It really was Sharon that read a story to Amber. Okay, so I really want to stick my head in a hole now! But I guess I need to humble myself and apologize to Amber for not believing her and thinking she was crazy! Oops, maybe next time I should believe her, hard as it is sometimes to believe a 5 year old. I guess parents don't always know everything!

Timothy's New Game

I am so grateful for laughter. Without laughter life would be so melancholy. I am also very grateful for the simple things that make me laugh. The other day I think we laughed for at least a half hour because of Timothy's new game. He has started throwing his sippy cup and at first I thought he was just dropping it because he wasn't coordinated enough to get it back down on the table! Ha, he fooled me! The first time I saw the gleam in his eyes I knew he was throwing the cup on purpose. Once he realized I had caught on, he added a little laugh to this game. So I thought I would capitalize on this opportunity to laugh. I sat there giving his cup and telling him he better not drop it. Then he would laugh and drop it. We went back and forth like this for some time! It wasn't the most exciting game, but it was so much fun to see Timothy laugh. Everybody was laughing. It really lightened the mood in my home and reminded me that we can laugh over the simple things and it doesn't matter. Amidst any struggles that we may have, we still have the ability to laugh and be happy. I just needed Timothy to remind me how to laugh.

I have a video of us playing Timothy's new game, but alas I do not know how to upload it to my blog. So I will let your imagination run wild as you imagine what it was like for us to play this new game!

Hairsylist I am not!

I have finally come to the sad conclusion that I am not a hairstylist. Yet, I will continue to curse my children with bad haircuts while they are young. A few days ago I tried my hand at cutting Timothy's hair! What an adventure. I should have listened to Andrea and cut his hair while he was sleeping. But I thought I was better than that! If only I could distract him I could simply snip off the long ends and it would look okay, right? Ha, I wish. Distracted he was, sit still he did not! Luckily he is still young enought that he doesn't care what his hair looks like. Does he even really know he got a haircut? Probably not. Okay, so now I am feeling better about the whole adventure.

Here's some pics. Of course, he wasn't too cooperative with the pics either. I had to take one of the pics while he was walking away from me.

Thanksgiving

It seems to me that we have a couple of budding artists in our home! Amber has ventured into the realm of mural painting. The white wall next to Amber's bed became the empty canvas! For a few years now it has been bugging Amber for a little creativity. So, when the opportunity presented itself, Amber filled her empty canvas. So now, we have a mural, complete with Amber's signature. I had to take a picture, just in case Amber is rich and famous one day!





We had a very good Thanksgiving. The party started at my dad's house with our traditional dinner, complete with the addition of celery filled with an absolutely disgusting cheese spread. Kay made some really yummy rolls, I could have feasted on those alone! :) Cori made some apple crisp to die for. I think I need her recipe. Mine just never turns out the same. I made pumpkin cheesecake and a regular old pumpkin pie. Yum . . . we were all set. My dad did the rest. Of course, it wouldn't be a large family gathering if the marshmallows on top of the yams didn't get burned. Thanks to everyone for distracting Dad so he could burn those marshmallows. We all had a laugh over Jeff and Greg fighting over the marshmallow residue!
After dinner we all enjoyed a game of "Ticket to Ride." As a first time player, I enjoy bragging rights for a while now!
Towards the conclusion of the game it became extremely evident that we were no longer welcome at my dad's house! It is so sad that we (my dad's children) can wear out our welcome so quickly. Despite this little glitch, we continued the party at my house down the street. Greg, Kay, Cori, Jeff, and Kim all joined us at my home for a rousing game of Disney Pictionary. At times we thought the game was a little too advanced for our simple minds. We couldn't guess "doorway" when it was on the DVD! Hmmmm . . . simple minds like to think too complex I think!
Everybody left having had a very good time together. Now, we are moving on to Christmas plans. Our tree is up, the nativity set is out, but we yet to pull out the music. I just can't do it! A little Christmas overload at the moment!

Here are some pictures from our activities last night!

Random thoughts!

I have had quite a few random thoughts and/or questions in the past few weeks. I thought I would share a few.

1. Kindergarten didn't go to school on Thursday or Friday last week. Then they turned around and only went to school Monday and Tuesday this week. I think it would have made more sense to keep them in school the two days last week and keep them out for a full week! I realize that this wouldn't work because of the schedule of the older grades, but hey, I'm just looking for ease of my own child's schedule!

2. SEP conferences in Kindergarten are an absolute waste of time. I already knew everything Amber's teacher told me and more. I only wish there had been more time to discuss things that really mattered to me! 15 minute appointments, what can you discuss in 15 minutes with a teacher who doesn't really listen?

3. Having three sick kids at the same time is a godsend. At least they get it over with in one fell swoop and hopefully we can all move on at the same time! None of this months of illness for me! Yay! So it isn't all peaches and cream, but we are getting through it. Besides, this is the one time all three kids will actually take a nap! :)

4. Timothy is finally plumping up. He was so skinny for so long that I was beginning to think he would never have meat on his bones. Yay, 12 month clothes finally fit him. That was my hope, that by Christmas Timothy would fit into 12 month clothes! I'm afraid he will grow out of everything way too fast now!

5. Imagine buying a home for less than $100,000. Less than $50,000. John told me about one that sold for $29,000. Hmmm . . . that is just about what my parents paid for their house 32 years ago! Tempting to sell my house and move to where the houses are almost free!

6. Lastly, I have a lot to be grateful for. Luckily it is Thanksgiving this week and we have an excuse to be grateful for things. But really, I am grateful everyday for so many things. I am so blessed.

Okay, there is the end to my random thoughts for the week! Enjoy the random photos!







Oops, don't know where Emma was. I guess she was hiding from the camera!

The tale of 39!

Trouble was brewing last night at the McAuliffe household. Only, Jessica was the only one that knew it. John spent the day in complete oblivion, thinking that all birthday celebrations had been had the night before! Little did he know. Jessica was deep into celebration plans, but hush,hush was the biggest plan! Planning a surprise party was a difficult task at best. John was always around. But with the enlisted help of Kim and Greg, everything came together nicely. Kim made the phone calls on Saturday night, leaving messages with some.
Sunday morning rolled around, with inspiration hitting Jessica! What a wonderful idea. Invite people over for dinner and John won't suspect anything is going on later. It worked.
The rest of the family showed up at 6:45 p.m. I had previously sent John downstairs to supervise the kids. Jaime had come for dinner. Our kids were all entertaining each other in the playroom, but I needed an excuse to get John downstairs. The family showed up, driving up without lights, and shutting car doors quietly! When it comes to a surprise, everybody played it up so well! We all trooped downstairs, singing happy birthday! John seemed to have lost his ability to talk.
It seems that this was not all to be. John donned a happy birthday hat while Greg, Jessica, Kay, and Cori worked on serving up cheesecake and sherbet. Yum. We proceeded with the daunting, but not impossible, task of putting 39 candles on one piece of cheesecake for John. He got his cheesecake, complete with a ball of fire and a wax coating! Lighting 39 candles on a piece of cheesecake is no easy venture! Fortunately Greg and Kay were willing to be the pyros for the night. They took care of the candle lighting. Jessica carried the burning ball of fire downstairs without setting off the smoke alarms. Somebody must have taken the batteries out :) Time to blow out the candles! This reminds me of a story that goes like this. "He huffed, and he puffed . . ." Yet, John only need to huff and puff once. The candles were out. Hopefully he made a wish!
What would a party be without gift opening? So John got to open his gift (compliments of Jaime)! No amount of shaking or guessing could have prepared John for what he found inside. Depends, preparation H, potatoes, obituaries, etc., etc.
The night was full of laughter, good conversation, and friendship. A big thank you to all who helped the party go off without a hitch! Kim made phone calls, Greg and Kay made the cheesecake, and everybody else showed up as planned.
Next year?!?! John should be scared!