Sanity Protection Program

I'm going into hiding. My brain is so full of other peoples junk that I can barely see straight. (why didn't I choose a DROP OFF preschool????)
I'm hoping I survie the weekend. Wish me luck.

Service v. Servant

I like school and have always been involved. Usually I really enjoy it. However, last night I had an interesting experience and I'm not quite sure how I felt about it.
Last night was "Meet your Teacher" night. It is a very informal come by and say hi kind of thing. In years past the PTA has had a table with committee sign ups and cookies. This year, the PTA was asked to put on a Hotdog dinner. Okay, fine. We did and it went well. What I thought was interesting that not one teacher offered to help. Now as a former teacher, I understand that they were getting their rooms ready before the dinner, but afterwards no one came to pitch in and help with the break down and clean up. At the school I worked at, it was just a given, help the PTA whenever possible. Sometimes it seems like our PTA's sole purpose is the give teachers money and do the grunt work. PTA should be more than that, so I guess I have my work cut out for me.

Summer wind down

This has been an interesting summer. It seemed like every week there was a new "adventure" (aka crisis) and the weeks zipped by all too fast. Next week Ben heads back to school and I have mixed feelings. Ben and Sam are easy kids. They play together, they play alone, they play with their friends. I don't mind having them around at all. Some of my friends started the back to school count down at 12:01 pm on June 17. Not me, I like the lazy days of no schedules and hanging with the kiddos. However I do love Fall.
I woke up the other morning and it smelled like Fall. You know that crispness in the air that perks up instantly. The skies also look a little different. They just seem to be more richly colored. My favorite days are those that are cool and crisp, but also sunny. I hope our sun lasts a while here. Grey and gloomy is usually what we get November to March, so here's hoping global warming has some perks. Sorry, Al.
As I did my morning stroll across blogland, I found it so interesting that many of the blogs I read have the same theme of itching for Fall. We all seem to be tired of our fading summer gardens and can't wait for pumpkins to replace petunias.
Since the age of 2, I have had a "first day of school". As a student, a teacher and a mom, September always means a fresh start. There is something so fresh about that crisp fall air and beauty of the changing leaves (yes, even in the "Evergreen State" we still get a little fall foliage) that inspires me to revamp.
On the Fall to do list:
I will continue to work on my domestic skills. September first I will once again join the ranks of "flybaby" in an attempt to keep the house under control.
I will continue my quest for finding meals my family will eat, are easy to make and will be somewhat healthy :0)
I will find the time to take care of myself. I need to move more. Our family is going to do our local Thanksgiving day "turkey trot" so I need to be ready.
So, so long summer. It's been real. See ya next year :0)

Roller Derby: Alive and Kickin'

Last night I went to my first Roller Derby match. It was very interesting. My dear friend Maura (aka Mo Matorium) was skating for the Tacoma Trampires. We had no idea what to expect, we had no idea what we were watching, but we were there to support Maura.
When Maura told me she was trying out for Roller Derby, I thought hmmmmm interesting. However, it seemed like a "very Maura" thing to do. Maura is the kind of friend/person who is always having adventures and taking the road less traveled. When she turned the big 40 she was needing something that was totally "hers". Everything in her world is focused on service, family, school, church, the list goes on. She just needed something that was all about her and the fact that she would get in shape and kick some hiney was just a bonus :0)
So last night we made our way down to the shady part of town and crowed into a tiny skate rink to watch the Trampires and the Hellbound Homewreckers battle it out. It was a close battle. Lots of torn fishnet stockings and whatnot, but in the end the Trampires won. I guess it would be a little cheesy to say I was a little choked up watching Maura push and fight her way through the pack. I was so proud of her. Not only because she did an awesome job, but that she had the courage to something a little "out there" and completely for herself.
Way to go, Mo!!

a vacation to recover from my vacation

This is me after our lille getaway.
7 kids aged 2-9
We were a live action birth control campaign.
It's good to be home.

On the road...

Maura: we need a girls weekend
Me: Yes, we do!
Maura: We should go camping.
Me: Sounds great.
Maura: You, me and Sarah.
Me: Can't wait.
Maura: I know a great KOA, the kids will love it.
Me: Kids????
My two very dear girlfriends (and all the kiddos) are hitting the road for a little camping at the beach. The plan is to wear the kids out so the they go to sleep early. That is when the real fun will begin.
I wish the picture of above was of my own little trailer, but it is "Clementine" from the "Cowgirl Caravan". Fans of HGTV's Country Syle might recognize her. I love these little trailers and my plan is to have one of my own someday.

I love lists :0)

Okay, so it might be a form of "active avoidance", but I am a chronic list maker. I like my lists to be success orientated so I put things on it like "get up" and "shower". Before I can do anything I make a list, of course, I usually lose the list in the process of trying to accomplish the goal which required said list. I don't care, I still make them. I probably make 3 or 4 a day.
I also LOVE to read lists, especially checklists. I love FLYLADY and all of her checklists. (I have them printed off somewhere) Right now we are gearing up for back to school and I am trying to find a couple of lists. I have been searching for "essential back to school clothes", "healthy lunches" and of course, "well stocked pantry" (I always love to see what is in everyone else's pantry).
Anyway, I have not been very successful in my searching lately. Sometime, "Googleland" is just too huge. My girlfriend shared that she had once found a site for the "ultimate mom's lists". I'm just not having any luck. If anyone out there is reading this, and you know of a fun list site, would you please send me the link. I could use a burst of inspiration like only a checklist can provide :0)