Winding Down.

Today is November 29th - the end of the semester is in sight! Unfortunately for me, I am a wee bit behind on a couple of projects. Nah, let me start that over. One teacher just gave me a project, so it is not really that I am behind, I just had no idea it existed. I am behind on the other project. It is a six hour observation of a child ages 3-6 years old. I started a little late, ended up with sick kids, and then school was closed for illness. So, all in all, it knocked me out of three weeks.

I would lie a little for this project, but the mother of the child that I am observing wants to read my paper. So, my mother sympathy will not allow me to fib to another mother who is interested in having a peek into her child's day while she is at work.

Needless to say, I am going to spend alot of time at Pre-K tomorrow, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.

Other than that, lotsa nothing else is really going on. I have tons of homework due over the next two weeks. I am at the point of the semester where I say, "Hey. I hate school. I want out." I know that I will have about a four week break, I will be refreshed soon and be ready to go... just so very tired now and I can't wait for this mess to be over.

Next semester, I only have two classes. Two classes that equal 12 hours. Now, that doesn't seem so bad, really. My books are about 400 for these classes. One is a nine hour class, the other is a three hour class. I will go to school on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8 to 11 for the first 7 weeks. After that, I will be placed in a school to work Monday thru Thursday from 8 to 11 and on Friday, I will go to class to discuss my feelings (!) from 8 to 11.

Wondering how the workplace will take my absence....

Wondering what all kinda feelings I can talk about.... does it just have to be about school, or my life in general?

Just kidding.

My other class, the three hour class, is on Wednesday night from 6 -9 p.m. This was the only class I could take that would not interfere with my workday. Instead, I am going to miss church.

This should be interesting.

Getting Ready for T-Day.

This year has passed by SO fast. It just seems like yesterday, it was Christmas. We were in the other house, preparing to move. Boxes were everywhere. Now here we are, in our newer house (since Februrary 1) and boxes are everywhere. We still haven't unpacked it all. It is a slow process.

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So, tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day. We will go to The Sadler Family Shindig tomorrow afternoon, where I am sure that one of my kids (guessing...um, Tripp) will grab, touch or throw something he is not supposed to.

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I guess we are lucky -or maybe not - that we only have one family to visit. I think that we will have dinner with my in-laws on Saturday night. But other than that, my main objective is to go to have one afternoon dinner tomorrow.

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On Friday, I am venturing out with my sister in law Shana at 4 a.m. and Black Friday Shopping. The only things I want are $2 DVD's and $3 pajamas from Walmart. So Dave asks me why I would get up at 3 a.m., drive 30 minutes, wait in line and the pushing and shoving over $5 worth of merchandise and get the total savings of $5?

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It is all about the thrill of the hunt.

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Hey Dave, why do you get up at 4 a.m. and put on those stiff, smelly green clothes and go out in the rain, carry a heavy pack after driving for 30 minutes, walk thru the woods then CLIMB A TREE, in the cold, cold environment, hoping that maybe, just maybe, an animal will come into your sights and you can kill it? And why, when there is just a viewing of a animal, that your day is still deemed successful?

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See what I mean?

It is all about the thrill of the hunt.

Where Have I Been?

Whew.

In a mad rush to get all of my homework done last week so that I could have a little relax time with Dave, I neglected my blogging.

Something has to give.

Regardless, I am back. And I am tired. I am always so exhausted by the end of the semester. I always feel lazy, but I just got an email from one of my AWESOME education teachers wishing me a Happy Turkey Day, and she also said that she is experiencing "end of semester exhaustion." And it hit me that this aggravation that I feel IS NORMAL. Just hanging on until about the 5th of December. After that, when my two major projects are done, I will be just fine.

Oh, about were I have been since Sunday.

The Beta Convention.

With 6000 Students.

At the Opryland Hotel.

Eli played the lead singer of Guns and Roses in a campaign skit.

See how he looks with eyeliner (and no sleep)?

Doesn't Dave look proud?

Overly Sensitive.

First, I will tell myself, "Get over it." My mother in law is quick to tell me, and sometimes I say it to myself just so she doesn't have to.

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Oh, I remembered what I was thinking about today.

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So, we ALL know that Tripper has had The H1N1. His fever went away on Sunday - and promptly came back on Monday. He had a temp of 101. I had a hair appointment. It was Monday. I knew there would not be anyone there. So I took him with me.

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So, Tripper and I stopped at McDonalds on the way - I figured that chicken nuggets would make him better. And he would get a new toy to play with. So, with Happy Meal in hand, we went to my hair place.

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There is a girl that works there who is kinda snooty. (Who am I kidding - everyone there is snooty). This girl happened to be there yesterday. Tripp and I go in. Tripp is carrying the Kids Meal in the bag. I had his drink in my hand. When we walked in, she looked me up and down. And she stared at me, like I was somewhere I didn't belong.

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I thought that maybe she was offended by the Happy Meal. There was not one other person in there. So I told her I was there for Cindy. And she says, "Well, Cindy is not here yet." And she continues to stare at me like I live over by Food Lion or something. And so I said, "Do you care if he eats in here? He is hungry." And she says, "Yes, he can eat in here. But we use coasters under the drinks on the table. If you don't, it will leave circles on the wood."

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I analyzed this all afternoon. I did have a hoodie on. And jeans. I did have some makeup on. And it had only been three weeks since my last haircut - so I didn't look that trashy.

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In my head, I thought, "Doesn't she know who I am? I could eat her breakfast and her lunch."

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Wouldn't you just know that the magic of chicken nuggets caused Tripp to come out of his fever induced quietness.... and he spent the hour walking around and exploring. He knocked an unlit candle over. I was unable to discipline properly because I had a wet head of hair with clippies in it and I am against spanking kids who are sick.

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At the end of the appointment, Cindy waxed my eyebrows.

Then, Tripp spilled his drink. All. over. the. floor.

I had a topic - now it is gone.

Several times throughout the day, I will think to myself, "Hey! I know what I can blog about!" Then it dissapears. If I find the good one I was thinking about today, I will be back.

Conversations.

More Emma Conversations -

Last night, I was studying and Emma comes up and says, "Mommy, when I am a Mom and I am in school, will I like it?" Before I had a chance to reply she says (to herself),"No, I won't. Because I won't be in school when I am a Mommy. I already know how hard it is."

Ouch.

Earlier in the day, she and Tripp were playing house. Her converstation to him (he was the kid and she was the parent) goes like this: "Tripp, you have to hurry up. We have to get home because I have lots of homework to do and I have tests to take."

Ouch X 2

Prayers.

Emma has the best prayers EVER. I love how thoughtful she is.

Here is her prayer from bedtime tonight.

Dear Lord, Thank you for this wonderful, beautiful day. Thank you for all you have blessed us with. Please watch over Momma, Daddy, Eli and Tripp. Please be with those who have the H1N1. Please watch over Mr. Thomas. Please watch over those with cancer. Please be with those who have diarrhea. In Jesus Name, Ah-men.

H1N1 Update - Day 3.

Lotsa crying today. Crying. Crying. Fighting between the two kids and crying. Fighting.



Tripp's fever is low. I think it is about 100 most of the time. I have only taken it a couple of times today. He is very sensitive. He cries because I ask him to brush his teeth. He cries becuase he is mad. He is mad because his blanket is not right.

Whew. Long day.

Dave and Eli went to a buyers show is Gatlinburg. I have been in the house - pretty much - for the past 2 1/2 days.

I am gonna do one more. Well, maybe Monday, too.

I think I posted earlier in the week of missing Dora, Dora, Dora the Explorer and lunchtime and naptime.

Well, I got it. And even though Tripper is sick, I am liking this time in the house. Emma and I made a cheesecake awhile ago. I think we are going to bake cookies.
AND MY LAUNDRY IS CAUGHT UP!

Conversations.

Setting: Emma and I are lying in the floor talking.
Tripp is sleeping.
We need to wake him up.
We both don't want to.

Emma: Momma, What time is Tripp gonna get up?

Me: Well, Emma, we probably need to go get him up now.

Emma: Why, Momma? It is just gonna start all over again.

Me: What, the crying?

Emma: (nods, looks sad)

Me: Emma, to tell you the truth, you kinda pick at him and make him cry. And he doesn't feel good. You are being mean to him.

Emma: I was mean to him BEFORE he had the flu.

At least she is honest.

Friday Night.

Ok. - Day 2 of the H1N1 outbreak in our home.

This is what it looks like when a baby with the flu naps. He was like this for a while, then I felt sorry for him and put him back on the couch.

And, how about those pink socks? The doctor ended up taking them off to look at his feet.

In my defense, they are clean. That is all that matters.

Here is a picture of a healthy Emma. This was Wednesday (I think). I loved all the leaves outside. So I made her go sit in them. And she posed. And posed. And posed.

We are supposed to get our 2009 pictures back tomorrow. I can't wait.

I will have plenty to show.

Oh, I almost forgot. For everyone who is interested, Eli wears a size 4 in juniors. :)

I am happy to announce that I purchased my son his first pair of girls skinny jeans.

OK, it is not as bad as it sounds.

He is "playing" that lead singer of Guns and Roses in the Beta Convention

at Opryland Hotel next week. And he needed "the look." Boy, did he ever get the look.

I will have pictures of that next TUESDAY. You do not want to miss it!

Sickness.

My little Tripp has the flu.

Just this Wednesday night, he got up and he was crying - It was somewhere around 1 a.m. I was tired and I vaguely remember. I let Dave "handle it." So, I was dozing, Tripp was crying, Dave was talking him down and the next thing I knew was there was a hot little body in between us. And Dave says, "Hey Mel. He just threw up. What can I give him? Pepto?"

No, silly goose. No Pepto for small children. It has aspirin-like stuff in it and that causes other diseases. No aspirin for kids.

So, to save Tripp from other diseases, I got up.

Crying, crying, crying. It was pitiful. When I asked him questions, he replied with "yes, please" and "no, thank you" and "yes, m'am."

I knew right then we had to get him to the doctor. Because if Tripp is using manners, there is something terribly wrong.

We finally got him calmed down. His temp was about 102. When the sun came up, and it was time to start our real day, he was still hot - following doses of Motrin and Tylenol. I made the decision not to send him to school. :) It was time to see Dr. Mark. So, we got ready.

Tripp told me he didn't feel like walking, putting clothes on, or buckling his car seat.

After an hour-long wait at the doctors office (which he slept through) we got in a room. They took his tempature and it was 104.5. Now, I will tell you, I am not panicked at this. I reserve my angst for temperatures over 105. For some reason, both Emma and Tripp run fevers that are high for simple things like ear infections.

They swabbed him for the flu and it came back positive.

Needless to say, it was a stressful day. He has slept on and off. We have started Tamiflu, and it is washed down with Motrin. All the other kids are on flu medicine also.

He slept with us last night. He is so sweet when he is sick. And although I love the fact that he cuddles me, holds my hand to his little chest, and uses such politeness....I want my mean boy back.

A Secret.

During the 8th grade year, students take a practice ACT test... I forget the name of it exactly. It tells what "direction" students should go in high school. It tells whether they are college bound. It gives a projected ACT score.

Eli took this test a couple of weeks ago. He didn't even tell me he was taking it - I found out on Wednesday night at church services from another mother. So I asked him the day after the test and he said it was "fine" and "easy" and that it was "no problem."

The test is somewhat different than a regular ACT - scores range from 1 -25, with 25 being the highest score possible.

Today, I got an email from a guidance counselor at his school.

It seems that Eli got a 25. There has never been a 25 at LMS before. Out of the whole test, he missed three math problems.

So, Eli runs in the house this afternoon. He is ecstatic. He is bursting open with possibility. He is talking Harvard. :)

We are so proud of him.

Right Now.

1. Right now, I am supposed to be in class.
2. Right now, my teacher is lecturing on septic tank systems and contamination of such things.
3. Right now, I would rather be at home doing laundry, washing the dirty dinner dishes in the sink, and listening to Dora, Dora, Dora the Explorer go off.
4. Right now, I would rather be getting my kids lunch ready. Lunch time was always at 12 p.m. followed by 12:30 naps.
5. Right now, I am blessed beyond anything even if I am not getting to do what I want to.
6. Right now, I am the mother to three healthy children who are all at school.
7. Right now, I am the wife to a husband who makes me laugh. He is so entertaining and cute.
8. Right now, my mind is on the bulletin I have to finish by tomorrow morning and the clothes I need to get Eli to wear so he can be the lead singer of Guns and Roses next week at the Beta Convention. I am also thinking about the tests I have later in the week and my scheduled appointment to register for Spring 2010 classes at 6 p.m. tonight SHARP.
9. Right now, I am wishing it was Saturday morning, so I could be at home with my kids and be in my jammies, instead of getting ready to go back to a job that does not make me happy and rejoining a class that is teaching me about water contamination.
10. Right now, I am going back to class.

Goodbye :)

Date Night.

Yesterday, Dave and I travelled to Knoxville to watch UT play..

My sisters-in law (Terri and Jamie) graciously kept my children because my in-laws are 3700 miles away.

We had a blast! The only negative thing about going away from the kids is that you have to come back. I know that sounds bad, but when we do get away, it is hard to come back to reality. We usually have such a good time talking and listening to music and just being together, well, it is difficult when you jump back into temper tantrums, fighting, baths, teeth brushing.....

When we come back, it takes me a couple of hours not to be sad and wish for just a couple more hours alone with Dave.

So, anyways - last night. We had such a good time. We left at 2'ish, drove to knoxville and then we stopped and ate. Then he "let" me go to Target. You know when Dave stops for Target, he is feeling extra special :)

We went to the game, and started back home around 9 p.m. I seriously coulda rode around all night. We sung songs, we talked and laughed.

We are going to the Beta Convention with Eli and LMS Beta Club in TWO WEEKS. My in-laws are watching the small kids. I am looking forward to more alone time.

Lane Kiffin - hottie!

Forming the Power T!

The Band.

Me and Dave.

Updates.

Today, Dave and I are leaving aound 1 p.m. to go to the UT game in Knoxville. I am excited to get some alone time.

I think I will do a confession this morning, it will help me feel better for the game if I purge all my crazy thoughts in my head.

Here goes....

SATURDAY MORNING CONFESSION TIME

1. I have lots of homework to do. Lots.
2. I made a 61 on a test. For the first time. In Geology.
3. Mallie fell asleep on the couch last night. And I left her there.
4. There is someone that I don't like at all, and when I look at them, all I think is - you are a big. fat. liar.
5. I am getting kinda excited about Christmas this year. I am ready to start shopping. Except that my kids don't need anything.

To Be Continued...

Kid stories.

#1.
I was driving the kids to school this morning... and for some reason, I felt the need to express my excitement about my kids lives - to them.

So, I look at Eli and I said, "Eli, aren't you just excited about your life? You have so many great things that is going to happen!"

And Eli replied, "I guess."

So then I said, "No, really, Eli. Wonderful things are in your future. For example, I know that next year you are going to high school. And you are going to do great! Then, you will get a scholarship to college and you will go out and study and make friends. Then, you will graduate college and just fall into a wonderful job. THEN, one night, you will be out with a group of guys, and you will meet a girl and you will know that she is the ONE. You will fall in love, and you will be so excited to spend the rest of your life with her. You will get married to her, and travel, and do things. And one day, you both will decide it is time to have children. Then, you will become a Daddy, and it will be the greatest thing in your life. EVER."

And Eli looked at me and said, "Am I a pick up today?"

#2
Tripp learned to make fart noises with his mouth. And it makes him laugh. Alot.

#3
At dinner tonight, Emma snapped her fingers and said, "Oh no, you did-unt."

Oh yes, she did.

Hoping for a better November.

I am loving the colors outside.

Yesterday, I had to go to the big school and talk to my advisor about my schedule for next semester. I got to choose which block of classes I want to take.I am going to do my Reading/Literacy block. It is exciting because I get to do a practicum for five weeks - Monday thru Friday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

I think it is exciting until I remember that I also work full time and that I can't be two places at once.

How is this going to work out? Who knows?

I am also going to do an Intersession. I will start another semester on May 10th and it will last for two weeks, with a start time of 8 a.m. in a classroom until 12:30. Then, at 2:30 I will be at Tech in class from 2:30 to 8:30 p.m. If I do this for two weeks and four additional Saturday's - I will finish ONE WHOLE SEMESTER. Just like that.

Except I work full time.

Anyways, I learned years ago not to base my life on my job. We are all disposable. I have to get outta school. I need to start teaching and get a schedule that is regualar while Emma and Tripp are still small. I also want to graduate college before Eli. That is my main objective :)

I will say that the past four weeks (give or take a couple of days) has SUCKED. My mother in law tells me that God is allowing me to be tested. It is not really the amount of school work that I have, or the kids, or Dave - I have a GREAT balance with homework, housework, playtime and Davetime. It is other factors that happen when you deal with the public.

I wish some people had shut off valves like gas pumps - when their mouths start to lie or spew unkindness, a switch kicks in and they are instantly no longer able to speak.

Anyways, please pray for me and Dave and our little family - I know that God has a solution for me. Usually, when I have situations that I am faced with, I learn a great lesson from them.

I am waiting on my lesson.

Stress.

Ugh.
People are crazy.