July Blog Candy

Leanna West is the winner of July's blog candy!  Please email your mailing address to rejoice@myctmh.com!

My New Friend

Today I met someone new.  I have seen him from afar many times and a few times we have even brushed shoulders, but never exchanged names.  I set out to meet this mysterious character about two weeks ago.  It was more difficult to coordinate our schedules than I expected.  Not wanting to show my desperation, I hoped for a chance encounter.  I knew he was in the same town, I just had to be in the right place at the right time.  When shopping at Wal*Mart and Target, I would linger in the aisles hoping to see him.  I knew his crowd and skirted around their edges, but he eluded me.  I am actually very close to several of his type, but I wanted to meet him for myself, on my terms.  When I got up this morning, I had a feeling today would be the day.  The girls and I set out on our adventure, but I didn't tell them exactly what we were doing.  I heard a rumor he would be at Michael's today so that was stop number one on my trip.  We entered the store discreetly like any other customer.  We cruised the aisles, casually looking at the scrapbooking supplies but constantly on the lookout for him.  I knew to look carefully because sometimes he seems almost transparent.  Not seeing him, I sauntered to the wedding aisle.  Just like at Wal*Mart, I saw his kind but he was not there.  Without revealing my urgency, I asked a store employee if she had seen him recently.  She said she had and instantly took me to where he had been.  We were several yards away and she stopped.  She could see that he was no longer there.  Sensing my disappointment, she took me over to the spot, telling me all about his good looks.  I didn't need her to tell me, I knew already.  About to give up, I glanced one more time and saw him!  We both had to do a double-take, but we both knew it was him!  I instantly grabbed him, threw some money at the cashier for my items and rushed home.  It wasn't until I was safe in my room that I actually looked him in the eyes.  He is currently resting on my bed.  I don't have the heart to tell my dear package of vellum paper the plans I have for him tomorrow.  I know that we won't be together long for I must share him, but we will always have our memories.

Back to School Day 3

By day 3 we have found some things that work and some that don't.  Having the neighbor kids who are still on summer break ring the doorbell every half hour to see if my kids can play doesn't work.  Telling them that if they ring the doorbell again my kids will not be outside today does work.  Hanging a sign in the window to answer the dreaded question before the doorbell is rung the first time works even better.  Here are some more things that don't work:

• Forgetting it's a school night and letting the kids stay up until 10 pm to watch a really good movie.
• Looking at the clock at 6:30 pm and realizing that I haven't even thought about dinner.
• Leaving the girls unsupervised in the bathroom to put on their own powder.

And some things that do work:

• Letting each girl teach her younger sister's spelling/sight word lesson. (The older sister gets more benefit I think from relearning skills and gaining leadership ability).
• Having each girl bring her blankie to the carpet when I am reading aloud.  Each has her own space and stays put.
• Giving my easily-distracted kindergartner a sticker each time she accomplishes a task.
• Letting my phone calls go to voice mail and returning the messages during independent study.
• Praying constantly!