Drowning

I had a very vivid dream the other night.

I was drowning in a pool, gasping for air.

Next thing I knew, BP was shaking me awake, asking if I was ok.

Apparently my gasps were quite audible.

Coincidence of the whirlwind in which I currently live?

I think not.

A plethora (don’t you love that word?) of thoughts are swimming in my mind lately.

The highlights are the lifesaver I shall grab as I struggle to keep my head above water:

1.  Without BP and his support, I would be at the bottom of my make-believe pool.

2. Frick loves first grade and his teacher.  And so do we.

3.  Frack loves kindergarten and his teachers.  And so do we.

4.  Frog is so funny as he tries to string words together to make sentences that make absolutely no sense.  The older boys say he’s speaking chinese.

5.  Clemson won.

6.  The weather was so beautiful yesterday and it felt so good to be a kid with my kids outside.

” For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord.  Plans to prosper you and not harm you.  Plans to give you hope and a future.”  Jeremiah 29:11

Back to School

Image from onecharmingparty.com

As I prepare my own children for their first days of school, I prepare myself for the new year as well.

Will I like my class?

How will I get to know each student?

Will I be able to challenge each one?

Will they like me?

But the most important question for myself is this:

Will I be able to instill a love of learning in my students?

You see, preschool is a springboard into the major grades.  If I can’t foster a love of learning, then I haven’t done my job.  Are the ABCs and 123s important?  Of course.  But these little ones are like the seeds planted in the ground.  They must be cultivated and bathed in sunshine.  My sunshine.

That’s why I high five them, tell them they are fabulous, and encourage them to do more.

That’s why I really get into reading aloud to my students.  They need to know how fun reading can be.  Even though these little ones are barely reading themselves, I want them to be excited to hear the stories I read.

Teaching is a challenge, but I was meant to do it.

My prayer is that my love for learning and children shows to my students and their parents.

Related articles

• Matt Damon’s Speech to Teachers’ Rally (oldschoolteach.wordpress.com)
• Man Damon Takes Part In The “Save Our Schools” March (socialitelife.com)
• Damon protests with teachers in Washington (hollywood.com)

Someone Is Always Watching….

I am a list maker.

Grocery lists and to-do lists are constantly on my kitchen counter and desk.

While cleaning this morning, I wandered into the playroom.

There, taped up on the closet door, was this:

Frick reminded himself of a task he wants to complete.

He reminded me that these boys of mine

are watching every move and action I make.

The challenge is remembering this before I say or do something

that will be replayed by three tiny actors

or wind up on the closet of the playroom door.

My New Favorites

-1-

My iPhone has several apps I have downloaded and most of them were free.

I found one that has captivated me beyond others.

The BigOven app has recipes and a place to make a shopping list.

But by far, the best feature is called

“Get Ideas to Use Up Leftovers”.

I spent 45 minutes in my pantry the other day just typing in things I had on hand.

I clicked search and poof!  A list of recipes appeared at my fingertips.

Ahhhhhh

-2-

Pinterest.

According to the about page, Pinterest allows you to catalog all the things you love and browse other people’s favorites.  A virtual pinboard, if you will.  I have already found a lot of ideas for teacher gifts (school is just around the corner), decorating, recipes, and so much more.

I’m still learning about pinning something, but don’t be surprised if my pins wind up here.

-3-

I love how technology adds verbs to our language.  Words like Facebook, Google, pin, text, and email have invaded our language.

Just a random thought.

-4-

Frog fell asleep in my lap today.  We were watching the big boys play and he simply fell asleep.

Precious.

-5-

I heart The King’s Speech and Colin Firth.

Mr. Firth is certainly not a new favorite of mine (Love, Actually is where my crush began), but I certainly like him even more now.

Have a great weekend!

Related articles

• Uh Oh. I Found Pinterest. (fisilis.wordpress.com)
• Tinkering With Pinterest (tinkeringbelle.wordpress.com)

Land Line vs Cell Phone

We haven’t had a land line since June 28.

And not by choice.

Lightning struck our block that day and wiped out water lines, phone lines, and internet routers/modems.

It’s been an expensive two weeks.

We are thinking of nixing the land line all together.

I posted my thoughts on Facebook last night and got some interesting info:

*some keep a dial tone for emergency use (911) or alarm systems

*most everyone who posted did away with their land line several years ago

*you can still dial 911 without service (this one currently does not apply to us because our line is FRIED and that would require the $200+ service fee we have been trying to avoid)

*alarm systems can be updated to wireless so your cell number can be used

* you can register your cell phone number on smart911 for emergency use

________

But, for me, what it boils down to is this:

That phone number has been our identity since we became engaged.

It was the first thing we shared.

It’s as if my best friend is moving away from me.

It’s hard to just “cut it off”.

sniff sniff

4K Graduation

Frack graduated from 4K on Thursday, May 19.

It’s really unfortunate that the lighting on the stage was not better.  Most of my pictures were very dark, especially the one of Frack receiving his diploma.

Of course, this could totally be because we have a crap camera.

Very frustrating.

The only picture that really turned out well was this one of Frack and his teachers…

…who are and always will be saints in my book.

____

Frack is so excited to be a rising kindergartner.

He’s been doing “homework” ever since the last day of school.

Here’s hoping he doesn’t burn out before August.

Event Coordinator Extraordinaire

As you already know, Frick has become quite the writer, demonstrating his skills in class.

He continues to wow us all by writing letters to his friends.

This past Monday, he passed out a little ditty to a few of his friends about a bike show being held here at our house on Saturday (TOMORROW) at 1:00.

He explained there would be snacks and games as well.

Sounds like fun, yes?

Fast forward to this morning.

As I was greeting my students this morning, a parent walked into my classroom asking if I was ready for tomorrow.

“Ready for what?”  I replied.

“The bike show at your house.”

“What bike show?”

“The one Frick sent a note home inviting us to.”

“What?!”

LOL

My little event coordinator forgot to notify the one person who needed to know.

And that person would be

ME.

I pulled him out of his classroom and explained that the idea of a bike show was a fabulous one. But permission must be obtained from the parental units BEFORE invitations are sent out.

“But I did ask,” said Frick.

“What was my response?”

“You said ‘Not now.’”

Well then.

I further explained that “not now” means just that–not now–and he was to write a letter explaining to his friends that we would have to do this bike show another time.

Sheesh.

So funny.  So sweet and innocent.  So exasperating!

______

A little foreshadowing, thanks to a colleague listening to the story at recess:

He will be the one to throw a party when BP and I are out of town.

Note to self:

Don’t leave the boys home alone.

Ever.

Homemade Laundry Detergent: An Update

Making my own laundry detergent was something I was going to try.

If it worked, great.

If not, oh well.

Remember, I am not a Susie Homemaker.  Although I secretly wish I was.

This crazy idea of homemade laundry detergent has not only worked, it’s been awesome.

Why?

1.  Frick and Frog’s eczema has disappeared.

Vanished.  Gone.  Adios.

In the recipe I referred to, Ivory was the soap of choice.  We have since found that Frick is allergic to Ivory  and it really aggravates his eczema.  I didn’t think anyone was allergic to Ivory. Sheesh.

2.  I am still using some of the original materials purchased and it’s been 6 weeks.

I have a little less than half of the Borax and soda wash remaining.  I have bought 2 additional bars of Fels Naptha at .99 a piece.  But that soap smells so deliciously clean, I’d pay $5 a bar if I necessary.

3.  It smells sooooo good.  And clean.

which leads me to number four….

4.  Our clothes are clean and smell fresh.

_______

Here’s the recipe I am using:

1/2 bar of Fels Naptha soap, shaved

1 C of Borax

1 C of Arm and Hammer Soda Wash (not to be confused with baking soda)

It’s stored in a baby wipe container and I use around a tablespoon to 3 tablespoons, depending on load size and how soiled the clothes are.

I’m serious, y’all.  If I can do it, anyone can.

Pete and Sally, my washer and dryer, love it, too.

As front loading HE machines, they prefer low suds.  And this recipe is very low suds.

__________

I haven’t used the clothesline lately because the pollen has been out of control.

Yellow everywhere.

It is beginning to subside, but I plan on waiting until May or June for more clothesline capers.

Poor BP would have a sneezing attack on the spot if he rested his head on a line dried pillowcase in the spring.

And since I prefer to sleep without interruption, lined dried sheets will have to wait.

So.  I’m curious….

Did you try making your own laundry detergent?

Among the Living

We have been dealing with strep throat  in our house for three weeks now.  First Frack, then Frick, then Frog had a fever but tested negative for strep, then Frack again,

and then me.

Because I am the Mom, the comforter, the one who loved on her crying, whimpering babies while they battled the fever,  I was rewarded with strep as well.

The boys seemed to take the illness in stride…well…Frack continued to be his energetic self (I swear one day I will bottle that energy and make millions).  Frick was a little more pathetic, but once his antibiotic kicked in, he was fine.

Me, on the other hand…  notsomuch.

I felt like I was hit by a train.  Over and over again.

Each time I got up because I felt like I could handle it and couldn’t stand laying there anymore, my body quickly reminded me that I need to be in bed.

The Zpack has been great, I feel so much better.

_____

Strep throat?

You create a vacuum.

Who Is She and What Has She Done with Mandy?

I can’t believe I did it.

I am sooooo not a Susie Homemaker.

But I did it any way.

I made my own laundry detergent for Pete and Sally.

I used the information from DIY Natural, which calls for:

1 bar of Fels Naptha soap, shaved

1 C of Borax

1 C of Arm and Hammer Soda Wash (not to be confused with baking soda)

 

**Note: I used half the bar of soap.  The recipe from the DIY Natural website used Ivory and that particular bar is considerably smaller than the Fels Naptha. Then I found this post and it seems my thinking was correct.

_______

Each one of these ingredients were found on the laundry aisle of my local Publix.

It took five minutes to make.

Ok, maybe a little longer because my arms got tired while shaving soap.

I stored it in an empty baby wipe container.

It cost me $7.27 to make this, which is roughly the price of brand name HE detergent.  I imagine it will last much longer than the brand name stuff.   My HE machines, Pete and Sally, don’t like suds.  This recipe does not create a lot of suds.  Pete and Sally are happy machines.

____

And since I have decided to make my own detergent, I thought to myself,

“Why not go for the gold?”

I asked BP to hang a clothesline for me outside.

I have actually used it three times already and I am about to hang towels as soon as I finish this post.

I think I’ve lost my mind.

 

Related Articles

• Top Post of 2010: #1 DIY Laundry Detergent (suddenlyfrugal.com)
• Mama’s Laundry Talk (My go-to site for any and all laundry issues, tips, and inspiration.  A girl like me needs a site like this!!)