Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Doctors....

I took all three kids to the doctor yesterday. The older two for check-ups and Chad based on a referral to see about low dosage trial to treat his ADD. I'm not too big on using the medicine to treat it and we are making diet and behavioral type changes as well. We'll see how he does on the medicine though for the next month. Maybe it will give him a kick start kind of and he won't always be on medicine. The older two were fine. Clay had to get his DTP shot.....he was not overly thrilled by that. Chelsea had blood drawn to check her iron and what not and those came back normal. So by the grace of God I have three healthy children for another day!!!

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Movies, Movies, Movies....

This past weekend we watched four movies. They were:

Unaccompanied Minors - This is about some kids traveling at X-mas time alone that get stuck at an airport. Most are kids from divorced parents going from one parent to the other. It was kind of sappy at times but it did have some really good laugh out loud moments. Overall I'd give this movie a B since I probably would watch it again.

2012 - This is a movie about the end of the world. The action and special effects was neat but it was a very sad movie. Kind of hard to watch a movie that has that many people dying in it and not be a little depressed. At least the dog survived. It was interesting though and actually a pretty good movie. I'd probably give it a C because although it was a good one to watch I wouldn't go out of my way to watch it again.

New Moon - The second movie in the Twilight saga. I could not get into the books. The first movie was good but this one in all honesty I hated. I was jumpy watching it and the ending was horrid. Definitely not my cup of tea. I'll go with a D-.

The Blind Side - This was my absolute favorite movie of the weekend. I would watch it many times over given the chance. I read the book and they did an excellent job of making that book into a good movie. This one is about the Touhy family taking in Michael Oher off the street and what Michael was able to do with the opportunity he was given. Most definitely an A+ movie.

Friday, March 26, 2010

I just finished reading a couple of books now that I picked up by chance in the library. One of the authors I had read before the other I had never heard of. The books are "Made in the USA" by Billie Letts and "Between the Tides" by Patti Callahan Henry. They were both excellent and after thinking about it they actually have a common theme. They both address how events in your childhood can have a profound affect on your life. The characters in "Made in the USA" were younger, 15 and 11, but the girls mother died when she was 6 and she felt it was her fault. This affected her self-esteem and her ability to bond with others. In "Between the Tides" the main character is older, probably late twenties or early thirties. For her it was when she was 12 a family friend that was 2 died. Again she thought it was her fault but what compounded the problem was her family moved away within days of it happening and she had believed it was because of her that they had to move. In both books they were wrong. The deaths were tragic but in no way their fault. Not only does this make me consider my life and how events may or may not have affected how I live now but I also look at my kids. How is what they have gone through in the past going to affect them later? How can I help them understand that not everything that happens is because of them so they don't carry any unnecessary burdens?

Thursday, March 25, 2010

I'm running late today but I'm trying to stay in the habit here so I'll go ahead and write a quick post and tomorrow maybe write more. I got my bike fixed last night and can now shift gears again. Woo Hoo!! I get such a feeling of satisfaction and pride when I figure something like that out. Turns out the issue was how the cable was getting connected. The internet is such a handy tool...

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Yesterday we went and got some stuff for cleaning and lubricating the bike chains. I was thinking of getting new chains for the bikes but after finding out how much that will be.....maybe not. Plus, the kids won't be riding theirs very much. I did try working on my bike to get it to shift but no success. Last night I did find some stuff on the internet though so hopefully I'll get my bike tuned up and shifting right tonight.

Not much else is going on so I guess that's it for today. Friday Chelsea is going on a bike ride with her boyfriend......oi, I'm not sure I'm ready for her to be dating........

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Yesterday I was naughty and got on the computer after work. I really shouldn't have and it definitely made it harder to get everything done last night that I should have done. I did play outside a little with the kids and referee a few fights. There are a lot of boys in these apartment buildings and they do like to wrestle with each other. The only problem is as soon as one gets hurt they go tell and then everybody is in trouble. It's a little frustrating because you never see some of these other parents outside watching their kids but yet they want to pass judgement on what happened based on what their kid said because lord knows they would never lie to cover their own tail end.....lol

My goal today is to do some research on collaborative problem solving and also some research on tuning up our bikes for the Spring....woo hoo!!!

Monday, March 22, 2010

The weekend was nice. The weather was cool but not cold and the sun managed to come out both days. Friday night Chelsea had a date and went to the movies. It's hard to believe sometimes I have a 16 year old daughter. She's pretty smart people wise though and I trust her quite a bit. It's the other people, boys mainly, I have trouble trusting...lol. Saturday I did laundry and pretty much lazied about all day playing on the computer and such. Chad spent the night at a friends who lives right next door. Yesterday we went to Church and cleaned up a little. I also took the kids, plus a couple friends, to the park up in the neighborhood here. We played a little touch football, catch with the frisbee, and a fun game of follow the leader. I really need to exercise more because the walk was rough on me. Or maybe it was more the game of follow the leader.

For church we did try a different church. It was interesting and all but I think we'll be going back to our regular church next week. It was funny because it almost felt like through the sermon at this new church I was being told to go back to my regular church. That maybe I need to move on from the divorce and it's me that is focusing too much on the fact that I am divorced. I need to start focusing on my future and looking forward rather than back........definitely something to think about.

Friday, March 19, 2010

Now today is Friday.....yay! It was a little tougher getting up this morning because I stayed up late reading a book. I'm almost done with it so it's hard to put it down, even though it makes me cry. Last night went well. The group was a little smaller but that actually helped I think because those of us there could really talk about what's going on and offer each other some understanding, if not a little advice. I always feel better after those meetings. I'm considering checking into another group that meets a little more often at the Y called Circle of Parents. If nothing else it's free pizza every once in awhile...lol.

I'm also considering checking into a different church. This is a little tougher for me but I think it's something I have to try. I struggle with the divorce and my own religious beliefs where marriage is concerned but the Church we're members at now is really harsh on that topic which makes me feel even worse. Then I don't want to go at all which is not what's best for the kids. I understand, believe me I do, where there coming from but it just isn't what I need right now, well at the same time I feel like I need to go to Church.....

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Another beautiful day is in store weather wise today. Kind of odd for March in Minnesota but definitely a nice break after the long snowy winter we had. I guess starting tomorrow it's supposed to cool off again but we'll see. Anyways last night I got a little more cleaning done....the bathrooms, ick...and then me and the kids played a few rounds of the game Whoonu. So far I'm liking my new routine and I don't feel nearly as tired all the time. Not sure if it's because I'm keeping busy and not moping around as much or what but I like it. Tonight me and Chad get to go to our support group thing. I'm surprised how much I look forward to it but it is nice to have a chance to talk to other parents who have some similar issues and some totally different issues. Work is going pretty good although there is still a chance for more layoffs. I guess we're going to find out by mid-April whether or not our department will get hit by the "reduction" or not.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Last night was a really nice evening. I kept pretty busy cleaning up and helping kids with homework and getting dinner ready. Part of my new strategy is to not sit and watch TV in the evening until at least 7 o'clock and to stay off the computer. I was able to do both and the weather really cooperated yesterday. Then I watched NCIS and NCIS Los Angeles which are two of my favorite shows. Bed time was a little frustrating as the boys had trouble falling asleep which means everyone was kept up a little late. Tonight will be an early night for those two for sure. Oh well, better run.....

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Two days in a row...woo hoo...I am on a roll!!

Maybe if I put in writing some changes I want to make it will be easier.....or maybe make me try harder...to make the changes. First off I want to start getting up earlier in the morning and ease into the day a little. Typically I would sleep until the last possible minute and then rush around getting ready for work. Now I want to get up about an hour earlier, do my computer stuff in the morning while I eat breakfast, and just start the day off a little calmer. Then after work I am going to try not getting on the computer but rather getting other things done and maybe doing more with the kids. I believe my computer addiction is pretty bad though because last night it was hard not sitting down at the computer. I will live though....lol

Monday, March 15, 2010

Alright it's been awhile but I'm going to try this again. I am not a huge fan of New Year resolutions so I like to start changing things around March, when the weather starts to change and things just seem to be getting better. This has to be a quick post because I'm leaving for work but hopefully every morning I'll get a chance to put a little note in my blog just for the fun of it or maybe to vent sometimes.