We are still alive and well on this last day of 2008

Whew! The past 2 weeks have been a blur. Between finals and holiday parties/gatherings, shopping for gifts, preparing to travel...well, it has just been overwhelming. To say the least. Let me see if I can summarize it all without writing a novel!

Finals: I can only blame myself if I fail to pass those. I studied. I studied hard. But, not LONG enough. I took a class years and years ago when I was a freshman in college on study skills. I KNOW what I need to do for long-term retention and understanding of any class content. I have been able to squeak by without doing that though through all of my adult education. As a result, I have decent grades but no real retention of the subject matter I've covered. If I've used the information then I remember it. If I haven't used it, then it is pretty much gone from my brain.

Anyway, with that said, I feel pretty confident that I did well on my Acu 2 final. Herb 2 and Physiology.......I'm hoping for a miracle. I need at least a C to pass and not have to take the classes over again. Of course I'm hoping for that but at the same time, I'm wondering if having to spend the money again to repeat a class will encourage me to make better use of my study time. I will need that skill as I get to the more advanced classes. Something to work on for next semester I guess.

Christmas: We shopped and planned everything down to the minute to fit it all in to the time we had. We traveled on Christmas Day so we opted to open our gifts from my family and from us on Christmas Eve. That worked out well. Christmas morning the kids slept in and barely had time to see what Santa had brought them before we were running out the door to the airport. It was chaotic, frustrating and exhausting but we made it through all of our flights without incident and landed safely in Rochester around 9:20 in the evening. It wasn't snowing at the time but there was lots of snow on the ground and the kids could hardly wait to play in it.

We were big slugs for the first 2 days. C's dad, TM, had been very sick with upper respiratory issues. His mom, KM, had been fighting her own bug but took such good care of us those first few days as we were so wiped out. We slept and ate, and ate, and ate some more then took naps. It was much needed rest and relaxation for all of us. However, now we have all strongly returned to our night owl ways. We are rarely in bed before midnight and it is often an argument to get the kids to go to bed even then. Then we sleep most of the morning away often getting up no earlier than 10am. It doesn't bother me as much as it bothers C. We had a big discussion about it the other night. He kept saying that it isn't normal for kids to stay up as late as our kids do. I say they are just doing what their bodies naturally want to do. They are getting enough sleep just at a different time of the day. If we were to homeschool the kids (which would definitely push me over the edge!) I would keep the same schedule because it just suits us. Yes, when we get up earlier we get more done, I agree. But when we sleep when we are tired and wake when we are not, we are all much happier people. It is difficult finding a happy medium between the two.

Anyway, just know that we are for sure getting our R&R covered while we are at T&KM's. I've seemingly fought off a cold virus and C seems to be doing the same. TM is doing much better but still has the cough that keeps him from sleeping well. KM seems to be losing her fight with the bug as I found her this morning sitting in the recliner to sleep. You know how it is when you are coughing and congested and it is so much easier to sleep sitting up. The kids have been totally unscathed by the cold virus. Amazing. We have all also avoided some rampant strain of pink eye that has been going around the area. Knock on wood we will continue to avoid that for the rest of our trip. Hopefully we can get back to Houston without bringing any bugs with us. Now THAT would be amazing.

So, we have taken full advantage of C's sister's in-laws when it comes to food. Her mother-in-law got together with some friends and relatives and had a baking day before Christmas. They made a ton of cookies and a huge variety of them to boot. It seems that no one wanted to take them all home so she brought a huge box of them to us. Well, we certainly took care of them! And they were good! I had forgotten how much I love 7 Layer Magic Bars with the graham cracker crust, sweetened condensed milk, chocolate chips, butterscotch chips and coconut. I leave off the nuts and so did KF which made them all the more irresistible. I think we sustained ourselves in those first few days here on 90% cookies and 10% "real" food.

The remainder of our trip involves visiting several family members and friends. We are having a great time here. This morning it is snowing and that is a welcome sign for us. Over the weekend it warmed up and rained and literally washed the previous snow accumulation away. Now we have a few inches on the ground and it looks beautiful. Ask me later how beautiful I think it is when I have to go out in it!

Happy New Year to all of you. Here's to health, happiness and all the best in 2009. Kisses all around.

Weekly Recap

O got a new do.  He kept trying to make his too straight, too long hair stand up.  So, when he went for a haircut on Friday he asked for something "messy".  This is what he got along with a $12 tub of "Wacky Wax" for styling.  I think it is cute however, I'm disappointed that she didn't texturize it a bit more.  While his hair is fine it is heavy and I think it needs some shorter strands to hold up the longer strands.  But, he likes it and it looks great on him.  Now he needs a few more minutes in the morning to style his hair.  

The weekend was busy with social events.  O and C went with M to the birthday party of one of her dance class buddies on Saturday afternoon.  Sounds like they had fun.  It was at one of those places that has a food buffet, lots of games, golf, go carts...  A kid's dream and an adult's nickel and dime nightmare.  It is fun to do occasionally though so I'm glad they all had a great time.  

I was busy working.  It was a busier week for me at work than it has been in a little while.  And coming right before the holidays, it was much appreciated.  I have the best clients in the world!

Saturday evening found us in Galveston doing our annual Festival of Lights at Moody Gardens.  This year the set up was much different because they only have power to half of their property.  It was a bit eerie walking amongst the twinkling lights of Christmas happiness while across the canal there was nothing but dark, hurricane damaged buildings.  While the displays they use are the same every year (last year they did some updates), it is still a fun time for only $4 per person.  It rained on us a bit this year but we stuck it out and enjoyed ourselves.

Sunday was another party day.  O and C took off for the b-day party of one of his baseball teammates (the only girl on the team).  M and I attended a performance of the Nutcracker put on by older students at her dance school.  Her teacher danced one of the lead roles and M's eye's sparkled watching her dance.  She wanted to go up on stage and dance with her.  She was happy to go and give her teacher a big hug after the performance and LL was so excited to see her.  I just sat there wondering if dance would continue to be an important part of our lives as M grows or if it will be replaced by other interests.  Will M be dancing one of the lead roles 15 years from now?  Hmmmm...stay tuned to find out!

I think most every other major event from last week was covered by earlier posts so no more news there.  I have my last classes of the semester tomorrow evening, a final on Wednesday, a final on Thursday and my last final next Tuesday the 23rd.  We leave for Rochester in 10 days (on Christmas Day) so next week will be filled with packing along with studying and final Christmas preparations.  This is O's last week of school before the holiday break.  His class party is on Thursday and he is out as of noon on Friday.

So, lots of stuff coming down the pike at us.  Have a great week everyone!

Kisses to all.

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's...the Space Shuttle Endeavor??

C called from work yesterday right before noon.  He said sorry for the short notice but he just found out himself.  Seems the Space Shuttle Endeavor that was piggy backing its way from CA to FL would be flying over our heads at any moment.

I grabbed the camera and ran outside.  I saw the amazing thing twice through the trees (not picture material nor enough time to register in my brain fast enough to take a picture) the pilot was flying so low.  But I managed to grab these two lame shots on the one pass that I could see it.  They turned out ok once I cropped them.  It was an amazing sight to see!

Spacemonkey has great photos here.  

We have really been spoiled these past 24 hours with snow and a front seat to a shuttle fly by.  Wonder what else can happen this week?  

What a difference 7 hours makes

Without realizing it, C and I took similar pictures of the snow.  He took a set around 11:30 pm after the kids and I were fast asleep.  I took my set when I got up around 6:45 the next morning.  You can see the difference that 7 hours of warming Houston temperatures makes.  I was actually surprised that there still was snow on the ground when I got up.

The morning commute was terrible for many people but we were fine here.  I guess Mother Nature decided that since Hurricane Ike couldn't bring down Houston she would try the freezing route?!

Here are great pics from Spacemama and a pic from Spacemonkey.  

We Have Snow!!!

These pictures say it all.  First rain turned to sleet and I thought that was all we would get.  Then around 6:15-ish big fluffy flakes started flying!  I quickly ran around taking photos then uploaded them and planned on finishing this post later.  The kids and C were playing outside so I headed back out and realized that it was still coming down really hard and snow was accumulating so I took more photos and those are what you see below taken approx. 2 hours later.  It is now nearly 9 pm CST and the snow is still falling.  What a lovely treat for the middle of our week here in Houston!

C is now playing with the camera and the tripod out front so we'll see what he comes up with.  I'll post those later.

Hope you all are warm and toasty tonight and enjoying the magic of the season.

Lack of Motivation

I really should be studying.  I have 2 finals next week and one the following week.  I have lots to do.  Yet I sit here obsessively checking email, blogs, cnn, local news websites...just so I don't miss anything.

Instead of studying I'm sitting here trying to analyze WHY I'm not studying.  I have the time.  I have the resources.  I have no motivation.  Where does that come from?  All my life I cannot do anything to benefit myself except at the last minute when I have no choice but to do it or fail.  But let me tell ya, I can do things for other people.  Why is that?  I've made study sheets and emailed them to my fellow classmates.  Maybe it is the teacher in me?  Maybe that is how I need to learn--by doing and teaching.  Hmmmmmmm.  

Ok, it is cold (very cold:  36 degrees with 83% humidity; even colder than my home town of Cheyenne, WY at 44 degrees and 40% humidity.  I know because I just checked the weather) and dark and dreary and all I want to do is eat and sit.  Eat and watch tv.  Eat and waste time.  However, were it 80 degrees and sunny outside, I'll bet I'd still want to just sit and waste time.

I have class tonight from 7-9.  One class.  It takes me 45 minutes to drive to school and 45 minutes to drive back.  Note to self:  don't ever sign up for one class alone unless it is at least 3 hours long to make it worth the drive!  Do I really need to make that drive tonight in the wet and possibly slick conditions that are forecast to exist around driving time?  I mean, we are talking about the Urinary System.  We started it last night in class and it was quite painful mentally for me to sit and focus.  The teacher said something about how we generally think of the urinary system as blood in and urine out but it is more complicated than that.  After class a fellow student commented, "I still prefer the blood in and urine out idea of understanding!"  I couldn't agree more.  

I should be studying herbs.  That teacher requested last class that we know all the herbs from memory in each category so we could do a good review for our last class tomorrow evening.  There are 104 herbs and 7 categories for this class (one of three we have to take to learn all of the 300+ individual chinese herbs).  I'm a bit more worried about remembering those than I am about understanding the intricacies of the urinary system.  But it doesn't motivate me to study them right now.

And what about my acupuncture class?  In 2 semesters I've (supposedly) mastered the locations of 361 points on the body.  All I can think about is, will I ever be able to insert a needle into someone's throat to stop their cough?  Before I do that, will I be able to convince people to let me insert needles into their throats??  Oh, and can I get paid to do it too?  

Too much anxiety.  Everyone says that this is normal.  The first 2 years or so you are learning the foundation but have nothing really to relate it to.  Once you get to year 3-3.5 then everything starts to come together.  I have faith that that will happen but that doesn't comfort me much right now.  I should be studying.  But I'm not.

So I just keep trucking along.  Making my way through each day, each week, each class with the hope that some day it will all be crystal clear.  Ok, not necessarily crystal clear because there will always be that patient who will stump me.  No one ever knows everything there is to know.  But I want to at least feel like I am getting a handle on it all.  Perhaps that would motivate me to learn more, to study more, to want to go to class.  Because right now, today, it isn't there.

I think I'll skip class tonight and spend the evening with the kids.  Focus on them.  Make pizza with them and play games.  Maybe that is what I'm missing--some balance.  I get pulled in so many directions and my mind is never really where my body is.  I need to practice living in the now and enjoying it.  

Now I have my homework for tonight.  Those herbs will have to wait until tomorrow.  

 

Things that made me smile recently...

After the kids spent Friday night with our wonderful neighbors, the Bs, M came back with some of AB's clothes and with her hair in piggytails.  She has worn this night shirt every night since then and won't let me wash it.  She loves her hair and loves to pose.  She looks a bit like AB too!

Do you recognize this pretty lady?  Yes, it is Julie Andrews with C in a photo taken about a year ago.  She was in town promoting her new book and I got C a VIP ticket to meet her and see her lecture.  He is a long time fan and was thrilled.

We finally finished decorating our taller tree this weekend.  M is in front of the smaller tree (now downstairs) in her photo above.  We actually didn't bicker too much!  Happy family, beautiful tree.

O teaching M how to run the train that loops around the base of the tree.  It is a bit touchy but she is getting it and enjoys playing with it as much as he does.  Dress from AB.

I love how Brody lays right in the middle of things all spread out to take up the most amount of room just so he can be included.  What a social dog he is.

The kids hanging ornaments.

O reading a story to Brody.  It is a story about a car race where the dog wins and the cat loses.  O thought Brody would like it since the dog wins the race!

M snoozing before dinner in more hand-me-downs from AB.  Yesterday she and I had a chat about her thumb sucking.  She thought that if we were to find very special band aids to put on her thumb so she would remember not to suck it then that might work.  We went to 2 stores and settled on Hello Kitty pink band aids.  Keep your fingers crossed that this helps her break the habit.  Especially when she is tired/sleeping.

That is enough for now.  I'm starving for lunch.  This cold front is making me want to eat all of the time to fatten up for winter!

Trying a Little Happiness

After my poor mood took over last week I was reminded how I am not the only one who deals with these issues and that I have really good friends who always check in on me.  My friend, Annie, also posted this study on her blog which reminded me that I need to keep focusing on the positive.  

I've known this for years.  Oprah suggested years ago that one should keep a happiness journal where you list at least 3 things every day that made you smile.  When the going gets tough you then have wonderful memories to look back on.  I tried it but I was not good at doing it every day and quit altogether.  Now that I have an electronic version of a journal that I share with friends and family, I think I will try to post about those things that make me happy on a more regular basis.

 So, here is me giving it a try to share some happiness.  I will still post my frustrations because that is how I work through things plus I get great feedback from my friends and family.  That helps keep us close and aware of what we are all dealing with in life.

One thing that helped me get through last week was crying a lot over this story that I found on Da Momma blog.  It is such a touching story and reminds me how we can overcome anything when we surround ourselves with wonderful people.  Challenges come to all of us in many different forms.  While it is ok to take a moment and feel sorry for yourself during these times, there is a time when you need to pick yourself up with the help of family and friends and move on.  Thanks for the reminder, Nie Nie and godspeed.  By the way, the crock pot cake recipe came from her sister, Courtney's blog.  Also very inspiring.  Just the distraction as well as the lesson that I needed last week.

I'm going to start a new post for photos because I've gotten this far and haven't uploaded them yet.  Even though people tell me I can move the photos around once they are on my compose post I still cannot do it.  Maybe it is a Mac thing?  One thing's for sure, my computer is so much smarter than me.  So, I'll just start over.

December Birthdays

Saturday night we celebrated December Birthdays.  We had smoked pork chops, home fries, corn and a yummy french baguette.  For dessert, I tried a new recipe for crock pot cake.  Chocolate cake and we put Redi Whip on top.  I also made sure I showed the kids how to shoot Redi Whip into their mouths.  I cannot have my sister show me up!  The cake was different and I'm not sure I like it.  Maybe I cooked it too long?  I may try it again but it really didn't taste as good as it looked and smelled.  Sorry to all of you December Birthday people for making such a lame cake! 

We had fun remembering:

cousin Ella S.

Chris B.

Laine B.

Kendra S.

cousin Sherry

cousin Karen

Grandpa Maynard (12/25/1909(?) - 7/31/91)

cousin Riley S.  (little sis to Ella above!) 

Happy Birthday!

Mother Nature is MEAN

So yesterday (Tuesday 12/9) was steamy.  It was one of those overcast days that always confuse me.  Up north, when the sky gets overcast the temp usually drops.  Not so here in Houston so I get confused.  I think it will be cool outside even though the temperature says otherwise.  Such was the case yesterday.

It was overcast and breezy with a high of around 80 degrees.  It was 70 degrees at 6 am Tuesday morning when I stepped out to walk Brody.  I was wearing a t-shirt and sweat pants.  Both of us were sweating by the time we returned home.  It was steamy like when you go into the bathroom about 20 minutes after someone has showered.  By the time I was headed to school (around 4:30 pm) my car says it was 82 when I left my house.  When I arrived at school (35 miles north and west) my car says it was 66.  It was incredibly windy--like, knock you over if you aren't careful windy.  By the time I got out of class at 10 pm it was 50 degrees.  

This morning at 6 am it was 34, rainy and very windy.  In my just-woke-up-daze I thought, how does that happen?  How can it be 70 degrees one morning and 34 the next??  Needless to say I went right back to bed.  The dog was ok with that once I let him out into the back yard to potty.  He didn't want to be outside either!  We curled up together for another hour of snoozing.

Mother Nature is just plain mean.

Fair Warning

Everyone should just steer clear of me this week.  

I am not a happy camper.  

I am PMSing like crazy plus I had to say goodbye to yet ANOTHER good friend who is moving away from Houston.  I mean, so many of my really close friends have moved from the area in the past few years.  These friends are like family to me, my support system.  How dare they leave me!!  Here is how I'm dealing with it all:  gorging on Halloween candy at all times of the day and night, sipping rum and coke at all times of the day and night just to cope (just so you know, NOT the best coping strategy), screaming and yelling at my kids, crying at stupid stuff...  It isn't pretty.  So, run and save yourself.  Don't make eye contact.  Sometimes I think it would be nice to be able to request a chemically induced coma when other's lives are in danger when coming into contact with me.  However, with all of my luck this week I'd probably die which would really piss me off.

See?  I just can't be happy this week.  Not a positive bone in my body.  Sorry if you happen to get caught in the deluge.   

Something to do

My parents and I visited the National Museum of Funeral History located here in Houston when we first moved here years ago.  It was fascinating.  We humans have such interesting ways of dealing with our dead.  Anyway, they are opening a new exhibit:  Celebrating the Lives and Deaths of the Popes 

Another visit might be in order...

After I see the latest Body Worlds Exhibit of course.  

What a morbid post.  

Renaissance Festival

We spent Friday doing one of my favorite yearly things:  attending the Texas Renaissance Festival which is always a good time.  The kids are getting older and enjoying it as well.  Instead of just riding around in the stroller or wagon all day they actually participated in many fun things.

They each had some face/body paint done.  O had a dragon on his arm and M had a butterfly on her face.

M dressed the part in her Belle dress.  She loved comparing her dress to the others we saw.  What a girly-girl!  She certainly doesn't get it from me!

  

They enjoyed some of the rides.

And they tired themselves out walking all over the place so it was a quiet ride home!

I always love seeing all of the costumes and look forward to the day where we can all go, the kids can take off by themselves and do what they enjoy doing and mom & dad can take in some of the shows and shop in peace!  It was a great day--warm but overcast.  The sweatshirts didn't have to come out until the sun went down and we waited for the fireworks to begin.  

We even ran into ZCM, CM and friends.  A very nice day indeed.

Thanksgiving Pictures

I always forget that the last picture chosen to upload is the first one on the post.  How do you move them around??

Anyway, here are pics of the gang putting up the tree and making then eating Thanksgiving dinner.  The turkey breast took longer to cook than it said it would so we ended up eating about 2 hours later than I had planned.  Other than that it was a pretty low key day.

After we chose to set the tree up here on the landing (so we can enjoy it from the family room couch, downstairs and see it through the front window) C decided that we needed a bigger tree.  I'll post pictures of that later.  This 6 foot tree was moved downstairs to the back window and a new 7.5 foot tree is now on the landing.

Hope you all had a great Turkey day.  We are so very thankful for our family and friends!

Party Pics

Space decorations were throughout the venue:

The gals at the end of the night:  LW, JJ, me and TR

TR and PC looking cute:

C and I looking cute:

JJ fire dancing for our entertainment:

It was a great evening.  It kicked my butt.  I'm sick again but at least it is a quiet week.  I think I'm going to make it.  An evening with friends makes it all worth while.