Creativity

EDITED -- I fixed the link to Ree's Pioneer Woman Site. Go there. You won't be disappointed.

I was reading the blogs of some of my favorite fake friends (Ree has to be my #1 fake friend who I have never met) and I am just amazed at the creative writing abilities that some of these women have. They can sit down and type out a story about their lives EVERY DAY and I will spend hours and hours reading the archives. Sad, I know. And yet I sit down more than a week after my last entry and I am STUMPED. My biggest news was that they moved Jillise's ballet class back an hour and it screwed up my teaching schedule. But it was resolved in 15 minutes and all is well again.

When I first started blogging I actually had a little sticky note by my computer where I would jot down "blog ideas." Maybe I need to start that up again. I could copy Ree and add photo caption contests and recipes (complete with mouth watering pictures -- though I doubt fat free mashed potatoes or zucchini flax muffins are going to have you running to your kitchens). Lots of people post their original poetry, but when I "wax poetic" it is strickly in the figurative sense.

So until my creative juices start running again I suppose you will all be stuck with boring weekend updates and weightloss frustrations.

Last Week

Okay. I'm ready to update, though there really doesn't seem to be much going on.

I have survived my first week of students and lived to tell about it. I was really worried because Jillise doesn't even get home from school until 2:30, then I have students some days from 3:00 - 5:00. I was worried about never seeing her, or having time to get things done. But having all that free time in the day while she is at school really helps. Most of my chores are done by the time she is home, so all I have to do before bed is make dinner. Everything else is finished after the kids go to sleep. I have even managed to get up at 6:00 most days to get in some exercising. I am finding that I look forward to it. I like the way it makes me feel and I like the results I have been getting. Remind me of this when I hit my plateau and it the sun doesn't start coming up until 9:30 and all I want to do all day is sleep and eat. Our ward primary program is next Sunday and I am in charge of writing and making sure it comes off without a hitch, so once that is over I think I will have smooth sailing until next year. Ha!! If only...

Jillise is doing much better at school. We have had no tears at dropoff the past few days and she is making friends. Still no "Natalees and Beccas" (her best friends from kindergarten), but I am hoping that it is just a matter of time. I have driven to the school and spied on her at recess and she isn't off by herself, so I am not worried. And she loves the learning part of school. She likes her teacher. I am just hoping that the curriculum picks up soon. I don't see her enjoying "counting the eggs in the nest and writing the number on the line" for much longer. She has had her first soccer games and the second one was a marked improvement from the first. She even scored a goal!! My friend Shannon's son is on her team and she brought her camera, so I can thank her for these nice action shots.

Stealing the ball

Going for the goal (I love the look of anticipation on her face!)

Celebration!!

Gatorade Break

Joelle started preschool this week (I am such a bad mom for not posting these pictures in a more timely fashion). She got in the car after her first day and said, "Teacher Jill is SO SO nice." She loves snacks and play time and hopefully she will learn to love the time they spend LEARNING. She has class with some of her bestest friends, so life for her is good. She still doesn't quite know what to do without her big sister around to play with, but I think she is enjoying the time on the computer and with the Barbies without someone else dictating how she should play. Both the girls start ballet this week so they will have that to look forward to in the afternoons.

Hanging up her backpack

With Teacher Jill

At the end of the day.

Jaren had his first meeting with his physical and occupational therapists. He charmed them with his endless babbling and story telling. We laughed that he can pretty much do all of the things he wasn't able to do six weeks ago. But they agreed that they should keep coming until he is walking so we can make sure everything is working properly. The PT did say that he is right on track with everything right now, so except for not crawling until 12 months he is totally within "normal" range. Woo hoo!! He has a cold right now and is grumpy as all get out, but this is really only the second time he has been sick, so we feel blessed.

I'm here.

I just realized it's been a full week since posting. I have soccer pics I am hoping to get up, and an update on Jillise and school. Voice and piano lessons started last week and I am pleased to say that my schedule is MUCH more doable than I thought it would be. I have time to make dinner and still spend some time with Jillise. And the two girls who are coming over to play with my kiddos make a WORLD of difference. So I will update later when I have some pics. But in the meantime, check out my weightloss tracker -------------> :)

Week One

I'm down three pounds. Woo hoo!! Can I go celebrate at Dairy Queen?

1st Grade Ain't for Sissys

Poor Jillise. She did really well her first day of school, and there were only a few misty tears yesterday on the 2nd day when I dropped her off. But when I picked her up yesterday afternoon she burst into tears and said, "Today wasn't such a good day. Michaela broke up with me!!" Michaela was a little girl who was all alone on the first day of school so I invited her to each lunch with Jillise and I. Then she and Jillise played at recess. Yesterday when I dropped Jillise off, Michaela came running up and said, "Hi!" and was very nice. But evidently by the last recess she had decided that she wanted to be friends with someone else and told Jillise she didn't want to be her friend any more. Jillise is just so tenderhearted that it destroyed her. I remember girls doing that in school, too. So does Brian. I think that in life you are either the dumper or the dumpee. Jillise is a dumpee. She said she went and played with her other friends instead, so I don't think she was left alone on the playground, but my heart still breaks for her. There is no one in her class from last year (well, there is one boy, but boys don't count) so she is starting fresh -- something I had to do lots of times growing up. I think I was in high school before I felt really confident about being the "persuer" when it came to making friends. Jillise is naturally friendly, but I don't see her walking up to a group of girls and asking to join in.

So this morning I dropped her off in front of the school. She was crying. Again. She wanted me to walk her in, but I know that I can walk her in today, but she will just cry in her classroom when I go. Even if I drop her off in front of the school for the first time four months from now, she will still cry. So I had to just do it. A very nice duty aide took her hand and walked her to the front of the school. I waited where she could see me and blew her a kiss. I'm sure she is fine, but it is hard to see your kid struggle and know it is something they are just going to have to work out for themselves.

I am going to go surprise her at lunch today. She is having hot lunch and Joelle and I will go join her. And I think I might bring a fun treat for her to share with the other NICE girls in her class. Couldn't hurt to solidify some friendships, right?

First Day -- UPDATE ADDED

Jillise is off at school. She was a bit emotional this morning -- crying and not wanting to get out of bed, too nervous to eat much for breakfast -- but she got more excited as the morning went on. We said another prayer this morning to help her feel more relaxed. I drove her to school and we went in and found her desk. Three very cute girls were already there and they also looked scared, so I helped introduce them all and we got some pictures and I left. She was a bit teary, but when I peeked around the corner a minute later she was fine. No all out sobbing, so that is good. I think her biggest thing is just that school is so LONG. I will go to lunch today so that should help break up the 6 hours. I will post an update later, but here are the pictures from this morning:

Crying at breakfast

In front of our dead flowers in the front yard (I had meant to rip those out yesterday).

Close up. I really can't believe how old and mature she looks here. *sniff*

Found her desk!!

With her teacher, Mrs. Lake:

UPDATE: She is now home and eating a monster cookie and watching Wow Wow Wubzy! She said 1st grade was fun. I haven't asked her if she is excited to go back tomorrow, though. She said her favorite part was "all the recesses" (they get three short recesses instead of one loooong one). I did have lunch with her and I helped her find some little friends to sit with so hopefully tomorrow she will be outgoing on her own. She teared up again when it was time for me to go, but since I left right before recess she was better in no time. So, WE SURVIVED. And while she was gone I did laundry, made a trip to the dump to get rid of stuff we have been storing (untouched) in our garage since we moved in, made beds, and even watched a little TV. I think I am going to like this scheduling thing. AND -- I woke up at 5:55 and exercised today. Go me!! AND -- look what came in the mail today:

I won it on http://www.thetwilightsaga.com Woo hoo!! I'll wear it with pride. :)

Change is Upon Us

Tomorrow I lose my bestest helper to the 1st grade. I really can't believe what a big girl she has become. She is still prone to her usual hormonal/nervous breakdowns, but aren't we all at times? Jillise is bouncing off the walls tonight. She has so much nervous energy about tomorrow that I don't think she knows what to do with it. We had Family Home Evening tonight and talked about tomorrow and what to expect and how she can be a great friend to other girls who are more nervous than she is. Brian gave both girls Father's Blessings and they are off to bed. Tomorrow morning is going to be tough. Everyone has been sleeping in until at least 8:00 lately and that is what time school STARTS. Yikes. My plan is to ultimately get up at 6:00 and exercise, take a quick shower, then get the girls up. This week I think I will just start by trying to get mySELF up at 7:00, though.

I will post more tomorrow when I have pictures and more info. I am going to go eat lunch with her in the cafeteria since she says her biggest fear is not having me there at lunch. Hopefully this will help her a bit. Now I'm off to walk the dog since our bbq'd ribs had WAY too many calories and fat than my diet allows.