Beautiful

I love the fall leaves. We don't have tons in our area because it stays green so much of the year. I think it's probably a good thing because I am so distracted by the beautiful leaves that it's sometimes hard to concentrate while I am driving.

Today was a fun day, breakfast with two wonderful friends, looking at potential kitties--twoK is going to get one soon, and then feeding the goats with oNe and 4H. We'll keep this post all light and airy and talk about my stress later in the week.

This is why I get myself in trouble...

Today, I am at work. I don't have any meetings. Today is the first time in a LONG time that I don't have any meetings. Also, I don't have any imminently looming deadlines. (This is really unheard of where I work!) I have two things I should be working on, and a third thing that I want to work on, but, today, right now, I want to breathe.

Usually, I'm so busy I don't have time to stop and think. Right now, it's not too bad, so here I am trying to get motivated, but really all I want to do is kick-back. That's why I get in trouble. I should just keep working steady and make some progress, but I don't wanna.

I am sitting on the couch in my office and trying to work on those two things, but look, now I'm blogging--oops. I've caught up on all my email and I've managed to work about 1/2 hour in the hour I've been here at work. My bestest colleague isn't here today so I can't go get lunch with her. I should go find some lunch soon. Hopefully, I'll be able to get a side of motivation at the cafeteria, too.

Yup

A colleague sent me an email and said, "Busy, isn't it? Personally, I had no idea it would keep getting busier progressively year after year but that is what it feels like, and now the holidays approach!"

Ohmygoodness, HOWISITJUSTGETTINGBUSIER each year? Is it the kids, or has everyone just gone INSANE and that's why we're always so booked?

I feel like this poor guy, all the time. (Note, this is my all time fav commercial.)

The last two days the girls have had off from school. I took vacation to manage, and I feel so far behind. Tomorrow is a sort of calm day; we only have 2 commitments. On Sunday, we have 3 commitments at roughly the same time, and I'm not sure how we'll manage. Ai-yi-yi!

I'm tired just thinking about it.

Tonight, MWH and I are stealing away for a little date. We're going to work out and maybe grab a bite to eat. Woo!

Adapting and tricks

Life without n3nny is different. Better in some ways, and busier in all ways. Here are some of the changes in the way things work around here for us.

1. I must run all errands and do grocery store trips with children along. The exception is if it's MWH or me doing a grocery store or Target run on the way home from work when the other one of us is at home with the girls. We used to do big trip during the weekend and N3nny would do one grocery store trip a week, and sometimes Target when needed. MWH used to do a trip to another grocery store after work... Not that much has changed with the shopping, but one more trip to the grocery store a week, with the girls, is SIGNIFICANT.

2. Dinner with friends can happen once a month if the girls can come and watch a video while I chat with my friends. I didn't go out to dinner very often when N3nny had the girls, and I've only gone out with the girls to meet friends one time. It worked well. The girls had a table right across from the grown up and the girls had the iPhone. The girls were happy to watch videos on the iPhone and my friends and I had a lovely dinner.

3. The girls have to put away their laundry. They can do it, and I can help and make it go quickly. N3nny used to do it with the girls, but I think I'm just as fast as she was.

4. I have to say no to more things at work. I need to say no to all things I don't love. I need to not stress about not working ALL THE TIME. I love my work, and I feel it makes me a better parent and person to work, but I need to make sure I have time to be a parent. If I end up needing to reduce my hours, I must do that and not stress about not working 1/2 time. There are always trade-offs in life; I can't be with the girls a lot and work a lot, too. I haven't cloned myself yet.

5. Having someone help clean our house is super... We were almost overrun by dust bunnies. Yay for R_____'s housecleaning!

6. I must remember I can only check blogs/facebook when the girls are in class (and I'm waiting for them) or when I am riding the exercise bike or late at night when I'm brain dead.


Sent from my iPad

Just the facts

1. This weekend was a good sleep catch-up weekend.... MWH and I slept 20/48 hours. I am imagining that we will have trouble falling asleep tonight, but I feel SO good right now! Woo!

2. oNe and Three-a did their first 4H meeting with the goats. oNe was in heaven. You can see photos at the other blog (soon).

3. Three-a has a tendency to toe-in--especially on her left foot. We FINALLY went to the doctor about this. He said it was very slight and she'll most likely out grow it. He said the ONLY thing he'd do was to encourage her to wear shoes that slightly turn the toe out to help with the left foot. On her left side she turns in slightly at the hip, the knee, and the toe. He thought she had slight, if any, hip involvement on the right, slight toe involvement, but not really knee involvement (I think I got that correct).

4. We went and bought "good" aka EXPENSIVE shoes for Three-a today. They are super cute. I'll try to get a picture of them, soon, before she wears them too much and trashes them. twoK went shoe shopping, too--remember, she LOVES shoes; we couldn't find any shoes she liked and that were comfortable. twoK is slightly picky and sensitive about her clothes and shoes. We went to Payless after the expensive shoe store and twoK got a pair of gold slip-slip on ballet shoes for the Holidays. She can't wear them to school 'cause she walks right out of them, but I figure they will look cute in Holiday pictures, and she was so good while we were shopping for Three-a that I felt like it was worth it to reward her with the gold shoes.

4b. I came home and ordered shoes for twoK and Three-a from Zappos. I had a store credit there. Hopefully they will fit.

5. I found a couple of cute sweaters at the Mall today, too. (It was a successful shopping day.)

6. I can't believe it's November.

7. I thought about doing NaNoBloPoMo, but didn't sign up nor have I had time or motivation. I really hope I can get over this hump and blog more. I have lots of things I'd like to write about when I'm driving, but by the time I get home, they've slipped away. Perhaps this is the first sign of dementia.

8. Usually, on the day we switch the clocks, either forward or backward, I find it to be a very long day. Today, was lovely. Visiting the goats helped make the day go really quickly.

9. The best part of today was when all 3 of the girls were snuggled in bed with me this morning. <3 it!

Slippery slope

Yesterday, I drank a little coffee with soy milk. I was SOOO tired. Today, I started my day with a little coffee with soy milk... My excuse? Last night was a late night; I got to bed around 1:30 am. In addition to regular work, and then doing all the kid stuff, last night, I finished a review of an article (thank goodness it was a VERY short article 'cause it still took me ~5 hours to get it done). Also, I have a long day today. I don't really want to start drinking coffee again (I've been coffee free for a year plus, but I needed my coffee today (and yesterday).)

I am also working on writing a grant for the school. The school committee person would like me to get the grant writing committee together and plan for the next grant, but geez, I don't have time. Yes, it's important to keep moving forward, but this is so much work... It's what I do at work and doing it on a committee as a volunteer is really hard.

Yea, I'm whining...

MWH also has something going on keeping him up at nights and I'm worried... (i hate to be mysterious and all, but I should probably clear it with him before I blog about it.)