Good start to the week!

Yesterday morning I had the delight of sharing my profession with Emma's preschool class. I stewed over what to tell a class of 3-5 year olds. How do you tell a 3-5 year old what an attorney does? I struggled with finding a simple explanation. I shouldn't have worried. It was so easy. I told them that I get to talk to lots of different people, I get to write, and I get to read a lot. They enjoyed the picture I showed them. I had found a coloring page online depicting an attorney holding a gavel. Okay, so it wasn't entirely correct. Attorneys do not hold gavels. I had told them the picture looks like me when I am at work. I shouldn't have said that. They asked me, "Is that you?" They were so excited to see a picture of me at work. Hehe, I then had to explain it was just a random picture but I thought they would like it. I should have made copies so the kids could color the picture. I didn't think that far ahead.

Mrs. Park (Emma's teacher) asked me to tell them what kinds of tools I use in my work. So I told them I use a computer, pens, pencils, paper, stapler, etc. Basically anything you can find in the office supply sotres! It was entertaining to listen to the kids. They all wanted to tell me their stories. It was so fun. There was one little boy that sat right in front just enthralled with what I was saying. Of course he had to tell me he likes to read and wanted to tell me all about the books he reads. Okay, so I don't think they understood, but it was fun for me. I had to actually think about what I do!

I got home just in time to watch Obama's inauguration speech. As much as I don't care for Obama, I felt his speech was full of hope for our country. It was what most people needed to hear, especially when all we seem to hear lately is doom and gloom and the country is going to fail. The speech allowed Obama the opportunity to connect with the American people. I realize his speech was probably written by somebody else, but I was glad that I had the opportunity to listen to it. This is the first inauguration speech I have been able to listen to. It was well worth my time to listen.

Monday evening we had the pleasure of having Jaime, Bryan, and their kids over for games. Actually just one game-- UNO flash. Jaime had bought the game but wanted more people to play it. It is really more fun when there are more than two players. We had just gotten started with the game when my brother and sister in law showed up. They had actually come over for different reasons but we convinced them to stay and play with us. It was so much fun. I am grateful for the opportunities we have to spend time with friends and family.

Why I am grateful for Book Club!

We've had our moments this week! More like our hours, days, whatever. It seems that we have been angry at each other all week long. Frustration reigns! Arghh! Does it ever end? Well, no, but there is some reprieve.
I am so grateful for the people who have listened to me rant and rave! I am especially grateful for the Book Club. At about 5:30 last night I thought I was crazy hosting the book club at my house! What was I thinking? YW basketball game, John in school, kid's bedtime? Okay, so when I agreed to host the book club I didn't know the YW basketball schedule. I also did not know John's school schedule as he had not signed up for classes yet! However, as everything landed on the schedule, it still took me a few days to realize, Oh my goodness! Everything is on the same day! To top off the craziness, I forgot to pick up Emma from Preschool! I was leaving to pick up Amber at 11:40 when I realized, oh no, Emma is at preschool and I was supposed to pick her up at 11:15! Luckily she is just at the elementary school so I could run in and get her real quick. Her teachers were good about it! I feel so bad. How did I forget about Emma? Oh my, I don't know about this!
So, back to the reasons for being grateful for book club. I tried to get the kids in bed before people showed up for book club. But that didn't work. The girls have a routine-- which includes getting in bed, a few seconds later deciding they need to go potty, say prayers, annoy each other, and then conk out on their pillows! Last night they were just finishing the "I need to go potty" stage when people started showing up. Finally the kids were all in bed! But Amber kept calling for me! I told the ladies I was going to ignore her. They didn't have a problem with that! They also listened as I vented a couple of frustrations and didn't make me feel as if I was a horrible mom for feeling the way I do. I was able to vent frustrations, then laugh and have a good time. It was so good to laugh with other women. Even though I felt my day had been very challenging, I went to bed feeling like I could handle another day.

Ummm . . . strange . . . here I am again. (Go ahead, I give you permission just for a few moments to think I am an annoying pest!) Okay, permission rescinded. I told you it would be just for a few moments!

So, here goes. Another peek into the happenings of the McAuliffe family.

The other day the girls were playing on Timothy's bed. I don't remember why I thought they were being so cute, but I took a few pictures. I got the biggest kick out of this picture. Check out Amber's eyes. They are so huge! I don't even know what to compare her to, maybe a monster!

 

Here's just an adorable picture of Timothy. He was trying to run to the camera in hopes he could weasel it away from me. No such luck for him! Mission unsuccessful!

 

The pics for the slideshow are from the Super Reader Party. During the month of November Amber and Emma read (or had read to them) about 20 minutes per day! They were rewarded with a big party at the State Fairpark. They had tons of fun. There were so many activities for them to do. I was shocked that Emma actually touched the snake. Amber would have nothing to do with the snake!

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.