Birthday Let Down

Yay!  Happy and Hot!!!

Is it too much to want your house immaculate on your birthday?
Is it too much to want your kids to stop whining on your birthday?
Is it too much to want your husband to be home on your birthday (so he can watch the kids)?
Is is too much to want it to only be 90* instead of 105* on your birthday?
Is it too much to want to be skinny on your birthday?

I'm feeling like a selfish brat today.  Yes, I have some very nice new gifts, on which I'll post later (when I'm not being a drama queen) but I feel like complaining, and then having someone watch my kids for the rest of the day so I can clean, exercise and get a mani/pedi.  Seriously, is that what my life has come to?  Yuck. 

Time to get over it (or get under my caloric intake).

Make It Monday (on a Saturday...)

Okay- give me a break.  It was the fourth.  I was being lazy at the beach and I forgot to post!  But I did really do my Make It Monday!  Anyway... I decided to do this and this for my post.  I figured even though they are two separate projects, I did them on the same day, and they are similar, so it should only count for one!  

So, I went to Michael's and they were having a sale.  Love when that happens and I haven't planned it!  Anyway, I picked up some shadow boxes.  I still wasn't really sure how I was going to decorate them.  I'm creative, but I don't really have the artistic follow-through.  So- I decided to buy some of the foam letters.  They're pre-shaped, different colors and if I messed up, I could peel them off and throw them away!  

Shadow Boxes and Kid Stuff (right from the shoeboxes where they were stored!)

Then, I selected the letter colors that I needed and measured how to best present them in both boxes (this took WAYYYY longer than expected!)

Looks like they letters are getting bigger- but they're not- I was trying to take a picture with a baby on my hip!

Then, I placed all of the things out before gluing and pinning.  

I still needed to pick up photos from Wal Mart, so they get added at the end!

 Final product was pretty impressive, especially for my not so artistic self!   When I finished these, I was inspired to do the memories box.  I don't scrapbook, so I always feel bad throwing away momentos from games, shows, museums, etc.  This is a nice way to collect them.  I think I'll try to fill a box each year.  (Who knows if I'll really be able to keep up with that!)

This was the finished product:

Add stick on letters- and you're done!

Worthwhile

Sometimes we get caught up in the drama.  and the MONEY.  and the time.  and EVERYTHING.  sometimes it's okay to get caught up.  But every now and then, you need someone who brings you back.  Tonight was that night.  

Our teacher contract ends in my district on Saturday, and we'll begin working "status quo."  Not much will change, but hopefully things don't start getting ugly.  I don't want to work the contract.  I don't want to hurt the kids.  I don't want to not do work at home.  But, I want to make sure that my family is taken care of and that I don't need to take on multiple jobs for the rest of my life.  I've gotten wrapped up in that ugliness.  On both sides.  But why are we here?  

We are here to teach.  We are here for the KIDS.  We are here because we love to watch the a-ha moments and help them through the pain.  We love to parent- even when it's hard.  even when they're NOT OUR KIDS.  Because- they're all our kids.  They are our future.  

So I went for a run at 9:00 tonight.  My kids were in bed and I was feeling fat.  I decided to run and lose my mind for a half hour.  About a mile and a half in- I heard a tall middle schooler yelling my name.  Because I live in the district I work, this is not uncommon.  There are a few students in my neighborhood- but I chose not to teach those kids.  I thought they were saying hello- until I realized it was him.  The student who struggled ALL YEAR.  He came from a seemingly perfect neighborhood.  Until I saw in the newspaper that his father was in jail.  for a HORRIBLE HORRIBLE crime.  Boy's behavior was BAAAD, and he was giving his poor mother a run for her money- when she was trying to hold it together- inside AND out.  

So- since this situation is not in the "how to be a good teacher" handbook- I did what I thought was best.  I gave him tough love.  A LOT OF IT.  He hated me for awhile.  But that's okay.  I knew I was doing what was right. 

He ended the year on a good note.  Dad was sentenced and away in prison.  Mom said that things improved when I talked to her at the end of last summer.  And time passed.  When Boy told me his mom was inside my neighbor's house, I told him to tell her I said hello.  He texted her and she came running out.  "Some people have that one person in their life that changed them.  You are that person to my son.  Thank you for saving him."  What?  Seriously?  I had NO idea.  She raved about what a fabulous sixth grade year he's had thanks to me.  She went on and on about how much I loved and helped him through the most trying experience of his life.  

I was on cloud nine.  or ten if there was one.  How sweet!  All too often in every business we only hear the bad.  In education, we see more success than other jobs, but it's hard to let go of some kids and not see their outcome.  This mom made a decision to tell me what I difference I had made in her son's life.  Amazing.  Simply amazing.  I cannot believe what a profound difference we make everyday- without even knowing it.  Makes me feel like all of my frustration and work is worth it.  Even when I want to shake them and hug them at the same time.  Even when I want to give them the answers- but can't.  Even when I lose sleep over them at night.  It. Is. Worth. Every. Minute.  

So- thank you S- for finding me tonight.  And picking my tired soul off the ground and giving me wings to fly again.  Another year in the books- and many more ahead. 

Midweek Confessions

I'm linking up with Ashley at the Pollock Potluck again for Midweek Confessions!

• I may have gotten completely undressed in front of my washing machine to ensure that EVERY ARTICLE of clothing that was dirty was washed last night.  Thankful that the washer is right near our bedroom :)
• I may have cheated a teeeensy bit on the sugar detox.  The chiro says I have to start over... what?!?!?  
• Okay- I cheated a LOT this weekend.  I gave up.  I am getting back on track.  Instead of trying to detox (we've already proven I can't do that) I'm cutting back.  I can do that!
• I have been exercising and running more- YAY!
• I may have had a mini-meltdown pity party on Monday.... for lots of reasons

Okay- what do you confess???

Make It Monday!

This week, I decided to remove the wax from a cool jar candle.  But... I didn't take a picture of the candle before. This is what the candle look liked before.

Like the greenish candle in the front!

I liked the jar, but any other time, I would have thrown it in the recycle bin because it has junk in it!  NOW- I know how to fix it!  This pin may be the saving grace of my bathroom!  :)   So- I started cleaning it out (and even though I have an iPhone- I failed  to take pictures!)- and here is the finished product:

Finished product with cotton balls!  

Now- I just want to go buy more candles so I can re-purpose then when I'm finished!  Don't forget to check out Ashley's Make It Monday Post!!!

Justified.

Saw this link today while looking around online.  Makes me feel even more validated!  But- my little psycho girl who was hitting, kicking, scratching and bed wetting last night is spending the weekend with her grandparents.  And of course, five minutes after she left I wanted her back!  Ugh.  The grass is always greener.  We had a nice lunch with my mother in law at Talula's Table in town and went to the farmer's market.  A nice way to spend a steamy hot Friday afternoon.  Miss my love bug- even if she isn't always lovey! 

How can you not miss this crazy kid?!

Losing it.

Funny how this title accurately describes how I feel tonight, yet only makes me think of this book.

photo courtsey of amazon.com

I loved reading it.  I never thought I would have anything in common with Valerie Bertinelli, but I guess so!  Tonight- I thought I was going to lose it.  I had a great morning- Mason woke up early, I fed him and he went back down.  Mackenzie slept until 10:30!  I got tons of work done.

For lunch, we went to one of my student's houses.  As I got ready, Mackenzie mentioned that she wanted to stay in Mason's crib to play with him.  I indulged her.  How wrong.

That would be my sweet little Mason's face.

Seriously- before you call CYF- PLEASE LISTEN!  I didn't do it!  I was in the bathroom trying to apply deodorant (did I ever finish doing that?) and I heard Mason scream.  I turned the corner into his room to see MacKenzie smacking the crap out of him.  Yikes!  I went and grabbed him, and I found them.  Poor baby.  He sobbed for a good ten minutes.  It was like the devil arrived.  So- needless to say, we were a few minutes late to lunch.

Lunch went well for the most part.  Mackenzie was shy and didn't want to play with the other kids- but eh.  Whatever.  At least she didn't kill anyone!  When we got home, it was far past nap.  I couldn't stop thinking about how said Mom and I discussed how hard it is to have kids and raise them right (she obviously has a lot more experience- 4 girls- oy vey!).  Everyone always discusses how hard it would be to be pregnant, how much weight you gain, labor, birth, etc. but never really how hard it is AFTER the baby is born.

I honestly don't know if I ever really suffered with post partum depression, but I was never diagnosed.  Diagnosed with anything or not- it's still hard.  Some days, you are just DONE.  Over.  Cooked.  Exhausted.  Crazy.  Mental.  Psychotic.  Whatever you want to call it.

so true!

Trying to keep things in perspective is hard.  Trying to remember that every day will not be your smiling, skinny self holding an adorable baby or toddler, sipping Crystal Light and strolling through the garden to pick your veggies for dinner.   Sometimes, you are just. done.

I love that this image is from thejoyfulmotherclub.com

And that's okay! Thank GOD for social media- I vent.  Especially when I feel alone.  Or especially when I feel like my husband doesn't get it.  And thank god for this, and this, and this and this and this and this.  Even though those moms don't even know me- they keep me sane.  Reading and writing proves that I'm not the only one!  Then, you need a blog to make you laugh.  Like this one.  Lord knows I know a lot about teaching, but not much about clothes.  Thanks to my sister- I can laugh AND learn!    I don't know if I would be human if I didn't talk about it.  Okay, I would be human, but I may look like this:

Yes- I'm not a chef.