Manic Monday: Update

Well...I got another job.  Truthfully, people think I'm crazy.  But the honest truth is I've created a work schedule that allows me a lot of flexibility and that is currently what is the most important to me.  I've had opportunities that would have given me this much income from ONE position but it would have ripped away the flexibility and it would have caused me to give up some things that I LOVE. 

Currently, I get to take my boys to school one morning a week (better than none,) and I get to pick them up EVERYDAY.  I get to spend the nights that they are home with me, with them and I work when they are gone. 

Four. I'm on the payroll of four different companies.  I work around 45 hours a week (and I'm barely making it financially, factually) but I get time with my kids.  They will be grown up soon enough and won't care about my time and THEN I will change the way things are...but for now this CRAZY schedule I work allows me exactly what we all need. 

Someday I may write about the romantic part of my life...I'll just say:  It's complicated and crazy, but I'm currently in a good place. 

Housework is manageable thanks to a return to flylady.  I personally have developed a schedule that works for me by focusing on one room a day.  I'll share more about this on Wednesday.  As long as my kids are gone during the day, I can keep up.  When they are home (and they were home all last week because of the hurrican aftermath in our area) it's a different story. 

Manic Monday

Well, Helloooooooo friends! 

I skimmed over the last few posts that I made to this blog and laughed at myself.  It's been 2 years and 3 months since I posted anything here, and man oh man have things changed.  I updated the "About Us" page, but I'm going to post here as an update to what I hope will be a resumption of regular posts again. 

For starters, I no longer homeschool.  All the sad faces.  It was something I loved, really and truly loved but I made some choices that left us all on a different path.  The boys are both in school now, just finishing 5th and 3rd grades.  The transition has been hard for Three, but this year has been MUCH MUCH better than last.  In August he starts middle school.  I'm not ready.  Not even a little ready.  Ugh.  Four has had a much better transition and is thriving by all accounts.  He is in the gifted program at school and gets to attend a special camp over the summer. 

Secondly, I'm no longer married.  *gasp*  Yeah, I managed to mess up another marriage.  I take all the blame.  He was a very good man, and he loved me with all of himself.  There is no fault with him.  It just didn't work for me.  I also no longer live in my "waterfront" home.

Thirdly, I work three jobs currently.  The last time I posted I had two.  I currently still work both those jobs, but I added in a writing gig.  This blog was my "prior work" and they actually liked me anyway.  *smirk*  That job is the reason I'm back to blog my own stuff...it has brought to my attention that I really enjoy writing and want the creative outlet.  So, you're welcome! 

Fourth, another major life change for us is that we are MOSTLY vegetarian now.  I say mostly because the boys and I still eat meat when we are out or they are with their father.  But we never eat meat here at home.  One and Two are both totally vegetarian.  Two is MOSTLY vegan.  She sometimes eats cheese, but that's about the extent of her non-vegan consumption and even that is pretty rare these days.  Pizza is her vice. 

Lastly, without homeschooling what will be the purpose of this blog?  Yeah, I've sorta thought that myself.  I've decided I'm just going to write and see what comes of it.  I have lots of recipes to share (vegetarian, or easily adaptable) with you all so look forward to those Skinny/Lazy Housewife posts.  I still have kids so it will be more of a general parenting snark than homeschool oriented snark, you feel me?  I'm also on a personal journey that has created a lot of growth over the last couple years. You'll get details of that and get to come along for the rest of the ride, lucky you??!!  I've been reading a lot (part of the journey I'm on) and so there will be discussions from that and recommendations.  Basically, I've still got a lot to say. 

Much LOVE.
Shauna

Manic Monday

The start of our final week of "school."  What that really means is that our regular school year activities are winding down (mostly co-op,) and I couldn't be happier. I love co-op. I really do. But it makes for such a long day that I'm looking forward to the break.  Lego Club and TKD will continue through summer. Lego Club is one day a month though so it's no biggie and TKD will have a break each month for camp (the boys will be attending a week there.)  doable. 

Today:  I teach. Back to back classes. Then get home for lunch and take the boys to TKD.  My shoulder (which I injured 6 months ago and finally just made an appt to have checked) is killing me this morning. That should make classes extra FUN!  I took ibuprofen. I just need it to do its thing now. 

This weekend was a whirlwind!  It was a ton of fun though. I spent ALL day Saturday with some of my favorite folks. Exploring Artsplosure in downtown Raleigh and eating and drinking. It was a good time. Yesterday, MADD put on those annual Kids obstacle course run and the boys both ran it twice. I volunteered and ran the slip-n-slide which was a joy for me.  

Manic Monday

Argh!  This weekend just got away with me. I was sick ALL day Saturday, like...couldn't get out of bed sick. So yesterday we had a "mock" Valentine's Day dinner. Remember the great dinner plans I mentioned?  And that cake I was going to bake?  Those things happened. Just belated. Luckily, my kids were really understanding about the whole thing. Two had a virus on Thursday/Friday and judging by symptomology she passed that a long to me. Nausea, intense headache, dizzy, weak, chills and sweating. It was a party up in here. The upside(s)?  No puking and it was a quick mover..about 24 hrs. 

I did manage to pull together our V-Day celebrations together but it took all my strength. Hoping a good nights sleep is going to give me what I need to get through my classes this morning. 

Here are our pics from last week (since I crashed hard last night and didn't get up our Sunday Snapshots.)

Ninjas dancing "gangnam style"

Making out Valentines for their co-op friends

Making a species card in one of the amazing lab facilities that our science museum has to offer. 

Trying to get a pic of them before we went to the theater last week. 

Outside the theater (this was Four's shot set-up)

Man down, man down!  (I don't make a habit of snapping pics of my kids sick..but The Bestie's middlest daughter's birthday party was roughly 24 hours of the time of this pic, and I used it to tell The Bestie why we would be unable to come.). She slept off and on, on the couch where her brothers were being loud, for 6 hours. It was a rough virus, this one. 

I got this great hand made hat from a Canadian friend this week. Can't wait to wear it this morning.

Valentine's candy heart experiments. (Four leaned back right as I snapped the shot, and I never have claimed to be a good photog...so there you have it.) 

A lego creation from the mind of Three:

Manic Monday

Manic Monday's are back. Oh Joy!

I teach two classes from 9:30-12. It takes us 35 minutes to drive home. Putting us home around 12:45 (because I rarely get out of the building before 12:10.) Leaving us 30 minutes to eat lunch and change for Taekwondo. Did I smoke some crack before I ok'd this move??  Maybe I did. 

It's ok. I just need to get more prepared. Today I was scrambling to try to figure out what to feed Three and Four and myself before we headed out the door again. This choice also means that I don't get my very well deserved shower after class. That's what I'm missing the most so far. 

Tomorrow is our first Lego Club meeting and I'm super excited. I mean, the boys, the boys are super excited.  It's immediately following my class, so again, I need to prepare!  Pack snacks and lunch, etc. 

Wednesday we get back to co-op (we've only been once since our holiday break) and I'm ready to see my friends...oh and let the boys learn stuff, whatever. 

Thursday:  a whole lot of nothing. 

Friday I teach again, and I'm HOPING we can make it to park day with our homeschool group. But we may sit it out because I'm a wuss about the cold. 

Enjoy your week!

Manic Monday...

Just another manic Monday!

Our Elf on the Shelf brought doughnuts, the boys have been so pleased with the Elf this year, and I feel like it's one of the few years we have left of Santa-belief...so I'm trying to make it one of the best years ever.  So far, our Elf has:  pooped candy, had a war with the Clone Troopers, hidden Candy Canes for a scavenger hunt, and brought Christmas lego sets (a xmas tree and santa!)

If you're looking for some Elf ideas (because, truly, I am not that creative when it comes to this stuff...but I don't mind a little help from my "friends") here is my pinterest board.  I'm thinking our Elf will be attacked by the dinosaurs tonight (we have a ton of dinos.)

I'm off to make Three practice his reading (he's really struggling...while being lapped by his younger brother,) start some laundry then head to teach my Zumba class.  Send some positive thoughts up about this since I will be teaching without my knee brace.  I need to remember to take it easy on myself.  Then of course, we have TKD this afternoon.

Enjoy your day, may it be less manic than mine.

Manic Monday!

PHEW!  We are bouncing back from a week of family visiting.  While it's always fun to have Aunt Ancy around, getting back to our normal flow is my happy place (I think we all knew that...I'm such a creature of habit.)  Also, in unrelated news:  I loathe the time change.

I crashed last night around 7:30 due to an incredible migraine.  I buried my head in the pillows and my body shut down on me.  Luckily, The Punk finished up all the parenting (baths, dinner, and bedtime) and let me sleep it off.

I'm up today and can still feel the remnants of the headache behind my left eye.  I have class to teach, house to tend, and kids to educate today...so you just go about your merry way Mr. Migraine.  K?

In more unrelated news, I loathe iTunes.  I LOVE my iPhone.  I've totally drunk up the Apple kool-aid, but I can't believe they can't give us something more user friendly than iTunes.  C'mon geniuses....

Manic Monday

Let me tell you.  Training for a half-marathon was no joke.  I'm a mom.  Of four.  A wife.  A friend.  An employee.  Devoting HOURS a week to running is a commitment.  I told the ladies in my class that I would NEVER run this far again, because it is just SO LONG.  See my last Skinny Housewife post for further proof that that was my thinking.  But, uh, guys?  Since I completed my first half?  I'm absolutely certain I will do this again.  It was LONG.  And it was torturous.  And that last mile?  Oh, it totally made me it's bitch.  It was the LONGEST most grueling mile of my entire life.  Fo'Sho.  But, crossing that finish line....and the sense of euphoria upon doing something that at one time I thought was ludicrous and impossible for ME....I'm gonna need that again.  Just so ya know.

I'm super, insanely, ridiculously sore today.  BUT...I did teach my Zumba class this morning and rocked it...because I'm just THAT bad ass.  ;)

Manic Monday

This "new" year is shaping up pretty well. Wednesday is the new Monday though with both boys co-ops meeting that day (this is completely amazing as they will be in the same location, back to back...which REALLY works for me!) Two will have guitar, the boys will be starting Tae Kwon Do and that will be on Monday and Wednesday, and One will have dance as well. That puts us leaving the house at 8:15 am, returning around 3:30. Leaving again at 7, and finally home for the night at 9. However, the big difference is that Tae Kwon Do is something that the boys WANT to do, so unlike bowling league it should be a much more pleasant day. 

It means I need my crock pot replaced as well.  Or we will relegate Wednesday night to SIMPLE meals. 

Two will also be starting basketball back and that wi involve two practices a week. Dates undetermined. 

I also will start teaching on Tuesdays in September. Putting me at working three mornings a week. Woohoo!!

Manic Monday

Manic Mondays are no more!  Bowling is over, and no one wants to continue next season.  I can't say I'm heartbroken over it.  Now, our Mondays will only consist of me working.  That puts us home by noon which still allows plenty of time for other things.

Today, I set out to finalize a list of things we need to cover to "wrap" up this school year for Three and Four.  I completed my list and began pulling out books.  It never ceases to amaze me how quickly Three becomes TOTALLY engrossed in playing when he realizes it's 'time for school.'  Then and only then is he 100% invested in playing with his brother and their toys.  Causing me to decide if the 'need' for school outweighs the joy of them playing happily together.  I'll be honest...95% of the time it does not.   And, as I type this, you can see today is part of the 95%.

My plan is for our new school year to begin September 1.  We will school year round again, with breaks when the weather is especially nice and/or we just need it.  Last year, we really fell off the wagon due to family circumstances.  This year should be better.  And, I'm expecting leaps and bounds by everyone here.

Manic Monday!

I will be teaching TWO Zumba classes on the Monday following Easter (read:  a sugar filled coma inducing holiday.)  It's one sure way to burn off all the crap I've consumed over the holiday weekend.

I wasn't THAT bad truthfully, since I only bought the kids candy without food dye in it, I've only eaten:  One Buckeye, about a half dozen jelly beans, a small slice of cake, and three butterfly gummies.  I went out on Good Friday with my sister though, and I drank quite a bit.  I also, however, danced for at least 2 hours of the time we were there and feel like that balances out the sugar/alcohol consumption.  Let me live in my fantasy people.

And just in case you are having a less than stellar Monday, following a LONG holiday weekend filled with sugar and dye and heavy foods:

Manic Monday

So, my day is shaping up to be pretty mundane.  And, not at all manic.  With one exception.  I have to take the smalls (Three and Four) with me to do a grocery trip.  If you've read anything here about me before now, you know I LOATHE this.  But, it's life.  ;)  The Punk returned to the workforce today, and truly I am grateful he has a job again, but also that he is out of the house.  I love him, and I like having him here...the problem is that I have almost zero motivation if he's here too.  I want to sit around with him.  It sounds silly, I suppose, but it's the truth.  However, if he weren't at work, I could leave the smalls here and go to the store without them.  My bigs (One and Two) are with Bio-Dad until Wednesday so I can't even bring them home and leave them with Sisters to do the trip alone.

Ok, I'm done whining about this.

I get to teach my class (that will be a blast, always is.  Sometimes I need to pinch myself that they pay me to do this!) Hit the store.  Then come home and do housework and school with the little ones.

Provided we all survive the grocery shopping trip.  ;)  I am going to try to let them help me, and my list is pretty short.  Keep your fingers crossed for us all.

**UPDATE**

As I left to teach my class, I realized that my purse was in The Punk's truck.  I couldn't make the trip to the store today, darn.  I will still have to go tomorrow.  I called The Bestie on the way to my class this morning, and mentioned this, and added that it wasn't horrific since I only really needed a head of cauliflower for tonight's dinner.  She told me that had an organic head of cauliflower that came in their weekly produce box, that they would not be using and her Husband could drop it off while I was in class.  He was going out to get doughnuts for the kids.  He left me a doughnut, too.  I have amazing friends.

Instead of the trip to the store, I completed a toy swap.  I had told the boys I would do it over the weekend, but I didn't get around to it.  They are happily playing with the "new" toys, and playing outside, and no school is getting done.  I'm ok with this.  If they start to fight, I'll do some lessons, if they continue to play nicely...there is always another day!  Most likely one filled with clouds and rain and cooler temps (current temp:  71, and sunny.)

Manic Monday

First, we have to check the leprechaun trap.  ;)    Here's HOPING we caught him this time around and he'll lead us to his gold.

Second, I have my class to teach and we have a lot of new faces this time and it's making it super fun for me.  Hoorah!

Lastly, The Punk and a friend are putting in new floors!  I'm so excited to be rid of our dirty disgusting carpet.  We will still have carpet in our bedroom, and in the girls bedroom BUT the living areas as well as the boys bedroom will be bamboo.  I'm going to try to keep the kids out of the house after my class tomorrow so they can continue working without the littles wanting to watch.

Manic Monday

Today isn't a loaded Monday (meaning we only have ONE activity to get to) but I'm fully expecting it to be manic. I have to get myself and FOUR kids under the age of 7, plus one teenager out the door by 9am so that I'm not late for work. 

Pray for me, y'all. 

It's 8am.  No one is dressed. No one has eaten. I should probably get moving huh! Except the youngest of the small folks here (2yr old) is still sleeping, as is The Punk. The teenagers aren't home yet, but they typically don't get home until 8:45-9am on Mondays since they spend every Sunday night with their Bio Dad. 

Ok. Breakfast. Must go prepare breakfast. Since I can't get in the boys room to get clothes...I'll start with food for those that are up. 

Manic Monday

I have danced so much today!  I did a half hour practice first thing this morning.  I did a 10 minute practice in my space before class, my hour class, and then they requested a few favorites so we danced for nearly 15 minutes OVER.  Almost 2 hours worth of dancing before 11 am!  Holy smokes.   I also made cupcakes (the very vanilla ones I've shared before, you can find them on the recipe link) this morning to go in a container I was giving back to a friend.  She brought the container when she made me paleo-doughnuts.  I kid you not.  Ahhhhmazing.  

We came home, I showered and we headed back out to meet some friends at the park.  We met and chatted while the kids all played...ahem, the big kids HUNG OUT.  They have informed me that they do not "play."  *eye roll*

I outlined a plan for One's school work.  They went on a week vacation with their bio-dad and now she's behind.  However, she is already trying to cram a full school year into six months so her work load is higher AND she only has 8 weeks left to finish so she can't just stretch it out.  Now, I just printed some of the freebies from TpT I shared yesterday, so that I can get to school with Three and Four.

I'm exhausted, and truth be told, I just want to lie down for an hour or so.

Manic Monday

Such a productive day.  Got up, practiced my Zumba routines for the new upcoming session of my class, did school work with Three, went to the grocery store ALONE (did you hear the angels singing?  I sure did!) came home and fed the boys lunch, did a little more school with Three and Four, then went to bowling league, stopped at the store for 1 thing I forgot (that I NEED for halloween costume finishing, so it was imperative,) came home and put the dinner in the oven, filled out 2 job applications, practiced some new Zumba routines, now I'm putting up a blog post and waiting to scarf down dinner--I'm STARVED--and head to Four's soccer game, followed by a movie watching party with a friend!  PHEW!  It's been a glorious day.  

Here's what the kids have been doing while I was filling out apps, dancing and now blogging...

Let's hope no one needs to use the potty any time soon.  *wink*

Manic Monday!

It's that time again...for a crazy Monday.  I got lunch and snacks for the kids for today all packed up yesterday, though, so that should make it much easier to get out the door (I realize I possibly just jinxed myself!)  I just have to pack stuff for myself!  The Punk took out a chicken last night, he will be on dinner duty as I will only be home a couple hours this afternoon before heading back out.  It's nice to not have to think about that!  Especially on a day when I leave the house at 9AM, return around 4PM, and head out again around 6PM.

I shared a link to a small printable pack on my Facebook page yesterday, and here is another great link for you all to use to celebrate Earth Day today!  We will do Earth Day stuff for the remainder of our week, with the exception of Friday (kindergarten co-op day, and we are studying animal classification.)  We won't get any "school" done today-Manic Monday is our "extra curricular activity" day.


Off to pack solid fuel for my day--including a post workout snack!  I far too often forget to pack something for AFTER my Zumba class and then I'm ravenous, blowing through my lunch at 11 AM and still having teh entire afternoon to get through, leaving me making poor snack choices.  Today I vow to be better.  We all should have a balanced breakfast (the link is for breakfast ideas for people whom are diabetic BUT I think the ideas are great, so I share anyway.)  Start your day off on the right foot.

Have a glorious Monday, y'all!

Manic Monday!

I wanted to take a minute to share some fun I had with the boys last night. Before bed, we spent a little more than a half hour doing "acrobatics" and yoga. They had such fun; I did too.

For acrobatics we did backbends, somersaults, and handstands. For yoga, I have these great cards I made years ago for the girls.

How I made them: Someone I know through a group I am in had taken all these pics of her daughter doing different yoga poses. I printed them, attached them to a poster board, wrote the name of the position underneath then laminated them.

How you could do it: buy a set. Kids yoga cards are pretty easy to find online. Also, there are some good printables (free and otherwise) that you could use. Lastly, and definitely my favorite option: look up yoga poses for kids, have someone take a picture of you/your kids doing them, and then proceed as I did.

Have fun! It was a blast to watch them look at position on the card and say "that looks really hard!" and go on to successfully tackle the pose.

Manic Monday is about to start: Zumba, pottery class for the girls, bowling league, then The Bestie's boy is coming home with me. I have no idea what I'm going to feed them all for dinner. Got to tackle that!

Manic Monday

Oh, here you are again.

Manic Monday...business as usual. Art Class for the big kids, Zumba for me, childcare center for the boys (my BFF's boy is also in there, so it's a highlight for them too.) Bowling league for Two. Three also bowls (and I took BFF's son too,) but with his arm in the heavy cast, and the fact that he still uses both hands to throw the ball down the lane....I'm going to let him skip it for awhile. Maybe until he's uncasted (yeah, spellcheck says that's not a real word, it can kiss my ass.) Then, I may be willing to pay for his trophy. Yep, I said it. He's been really looking forward to earning his trophy, and while I'm not a big fan of "everyone must have a trophy," he might miss too many times to ACTUALLY earn it, and since that is no fault of his own (see my story about how I broke the boy) I may pony up the $2.50 and just buy the damn thing. *shrug* We skipped last week's bowling altogether because in the eloquent words of my Friend...Sometimes we just can't get our shit together, and that's OK too! Last Monday was quite possibly the worst day of my life so far, and I don't regret skipping bowling. So there.

One has her dance class tonight, and it's imperative that she not miss ANY of them because they go to competition in a month. I love going to the competition. Not only because I get to watch One and her company compete, but some of the other performances are SUPERCALIFRAGALISTICEXPIALIDOCIOUS.

Let me take a moment to gush about watching my kids do their thing. I love watching my kids do what they love, and for One that is dancing. Two loves sports (soccer especially, but she also rocks at basketball and softball) and I love watching her play anything and everything. I'm waiting for Three and Four to really find their "thing" and then I'll be just as into watching them too!

Off to accomplish somethings before I leave the house. Have a great Monday, I hope yours is less than manic.

Manic Monday

Can kiss my ass.

Due to some family drama, I've been up since 12:30 am...putting me on about 2 hours of sleep as I head into Manic Monday. At least One's dance class has been moved to another night this week. *phew*