Monday, November 27, 2006

Happy Turkeys

I am so frustrated. Honestly. You'd think I wasn't working two jobs, doing laundry, cleaning the kitchen, and taking care of two kids. I'd love to sit around a library all day, or in class, learning. Taking notes. Learning. What a concept! If we could switch, that would be awesome.

I'm not asking for much. Just fold the clothes when you do the laundry. Don't just dump them on the lounger and let them sit for 3 days. Empty the garbage when it's full. Put your cereal bowl in the dishwasher! Geez! You're 28 years old! You know how to open the damn dishwasher. I am not your mom!

Who, by the way, decided to clean the kitchen when she came for Thanksgiving. Hubs asked her TWICE to stop wiping up the counters and sink - WITH. A. SPONGE. of all things - but she said she didn't have anything else to do. Um, try playing with your grandsons, you old cow! Good Lord! I even sent the boys outside so that she would get out of the house and let Hubs cook in peace. But NOOOOOOOO!!!! I thought I was going to lose it. Really.

There. I said it. And yes, in my previous post, I remarked about how I am greatful for such generous in-laws. And I am. I really am. But I need her to NOT clean my counters. with a sponge. Did I mention she used a sponge???? The nastiest germ-carrying option. Does she not watch Oprah? NO. She's too busy cleaning my kitchen!

Okay, I'm done.

And tonight my mom was on my case about wanting to make sure that Cheeseboy goes to Sunday School every week. Does she not get that Hubs is studying to be a pastor? And that we are VERY involved in our church? And that my child's walk with Christ is the most important thing in his young life? She was actually giving me a hard time. And accusing me of accusing HER of being a bad grandma. I said no such thing. Nothing!

But does she not remember skipping church A LOT when I was young? We hardly ever went. She thinks this is all Hubs' doing. "You sound like your husband!" she says. Like it's a bad thing that God is important to us. You'd think a parent would be proud that her daughter is so committed to walking with the Lord.

Whatever. I have more things to rant about, but I have a ton of papers to grade that are leftover from my Thanksgiving "break" from school that wasn't really a "break" because I was working 40 hours at my other part-time job that I have because Hubs is in school and incapable of working. Did I mention that my mom is on his case for that too? It's been a fun week.

Monday, November 13, 2006

Getting Into the Spirit

Having been sent over by BooMama to A Broad In Athens, I was inspired to make a list of the 20 things I'm most thankful for (in no particular order):

1. I'm thankful for those two sweet little boys who still like to cuddle on the couch with their mom.
2. I'm thankful for my job, even if I don't always like it.
3. I'm thankful for my students, especially when they have an "a-ha" moment.
4. I'm thankful that my car is still running.
5. I'm thankful that the Hubs didn't have a complete breakdown during his last depressed episode.
6. I'm thankful that my mom lives nearby and is willing to watch my kids almost any time I need her.
7. I'm thankful that my sister, her husband, and my niece live close enough that the boys can get to know their cousin.
8. I'm thankful that for the most part, Colby is doing a great job at school and is learning so much!
9. I am thankful that we found such an awesome in-home daycare for Bennett, and that it is right up the street!
10. I am thankful that I get to be surrounded by books at my "other" job in the bookstore. How blessed am I!
11. I am thankful that my dad cares enough about his grandsons that he is willing to drive 6 hours to come visit for a day.
12. I'm thankful that my cousin was admitted to the bar in SC. This may prompt his mom (my fave aunt) to come live here. She is DREAM with the kids!
13. I'm thankful for the new friends I'm making at church.
14. I'm thankful that these new friends have kids almost the exact same ages as Colby and Bennett. Built in play dates!
15. I'm thankful that every Sunday, I get to help lead the congregation in worshipping the Lord. Every Sunday!
16. I am thankful for my wonderful husband who has the courage to follow his call and become a pastor.
17. I am thankful for the Internet, without which I would not have such a great relationship to my extended family. Thanks be to God for myfamily.com!
18. I am thankful that I will be getting my very own classroom again in January! Patience pays off!
19. I'm thankful for my in-laws (there, I said it), who are willing to write a check to their son and daughter-in-law because we are in financial difficulties.
20. I am thankful for my mom's partner who is so generous, that she buys us groceries. She also loves me, and my kids, like we were born of her own flesh. Sometimes, I think she loves us more than my mom does.

So, what are you thankful for?

Thursday, November 09, 2006

Every Day, Like the One Before

The pictures from Halloween are still on the camera. There is still candy in the kids' buckets. Spiderman is well and good. The little elephant is too.

I have been working my ass off this week. (not literally, unfortunately) As I've mentioned, I have started a new job at a local bookseller. Fun! I love books! Well, I USED to love books. Now, I think that Stephen King needs to get a life already! Please, somebody, make him stop writing!! If for no other reason than I'm tired of shelving his damn books! There's, like, a million of them! Anyway, this bookseller is getting ready to open a new store near my home. Sooooo, we've been getting everything ready for the grand opening. It's been pretty interesting. It went from totally empty but for the shelves, to being completely full of books in about 24 hours. So cool!

I've met some really neat people this week. Really, it takes all kinds, right? There's a couple of us teachers, some college kids, and some people for whom part-time is a way of life. And the managers! Yowza! One of them is brilliant. No really, she is. She speaks like 9 languages, fluently. Including Latin! Odd but true. She could be anything. And she chooses this? To each their own!

This week in kid news has not been terrible. Well, except for the red card for Colby yesterday. Because of the other kid's bloody nose. Yes. Bloody nose. They were playing "monster", and there was a ball involved. I don't think Colby meant to hurt the other kid. I hope not anyway. But either way, the ball was thrown. The other kid ended up in the nurse's office with a bloody nose. I was SHOCKED. And MORTIFIED. I just wanted the earth to open up so that I could JUMP into the crack and stay there forever.

Wit's end. I'm at my wit's end.

Bennett won't eat. He doesn't like hot dogs, chicken nuggets, spaghetti, green beans, mac'n'cheese, nothing. He used to LOVE those foods. Now, nothing. We can't get him to sit still long enough to ingest anything. And he's not exactly the world's chunkiest kid to begin with either. In fact, my sons are known for their skinniness. (is that a word?) They are tiny things, with no tummy or bottom to speak of. Poor Bennett is just wasting away! Well, not really, but he's not putting on weight. He's always been pretty small, but still! He did eat some of the spaghetti SAUCE tonight at dinner, so that's something.

That's about all for now. I'll have to write some other time when I can just ramble. Oh wait. That's what I'm doing now. Whatever.
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