Time, where are you?

I am great at managing time...I thrive on lists, organization and am slightly anal with my paperwork....I should have bought stock in 3-M with the invention of post-its as I thoroughly enjoy them and all them offer me in quick notes about what I shouldn't forget to do. I am able to multi task and, as most of my friends can tell you, am pretty dependable in doing the things I say I will do. With all of this super efficiency, and borderline type A behavior, you'd think I would have done all the things that I should have done.....but,somehow, I never have enough hours in the day and end up with more lists... So, then...what benefit do I get from creating all of the lists, being organized and efficient??? I suppose that it is partly what keeps me sane....I, as sadistic as it sounds, get great pleasure of working up to the last minute, crossing off items on a list that I have accomplished (and yes, I have gone back to add items to a list that I already did, just to be able to cross it off :) and basically creating this lack of time that I seem to have just working!
I am learning, however, that I truly LOVE my job..I love working....and I could spend many more hours than what I do just getting ready for the next days lesson plan and activity...but I need to prioritize my time so that I am spending it where I will get the greatest returns...with my children. Sometimes I feel like I might be shortchanging them......that somehow, I end up worrying about time spent on the wrong things..... But everyday it is the time I have with them when we have our chats about our day (brags and bummers) and the fabulous hugs and kisses I get that I realize that lists and time management or not, the time I have with them is time always well spent, regardless of all the other stuff I have to do...so, give me a few more hours in my day, or not, somehow I will manage to use them to get my list checked off and read a few extra books with my kiddos....maybe instead of extra hours, I just need extra arms!!??

Investing in memories...

Due to crazy conflicts with first days of school, back to school meetings, Madeline's Montessori school being closed for annual cleaning, she got to spend a week with my parents. As always, after carefully packing, giving kisses and talking about not bossing Ee-ma and Popsy around (this is what she calls my mom and dad), she happily left with my dad to spend a week away without blinking an eye or shedding a tear...something that at the core makes me feel so fortunate about. Although I lived across the country from one set of grandparents, and 30 minutes away from the other..the memories that I have still fresh in my mind are ones I will treasure like most adult grandchildren. The smells of my grandparents house...the cereal they would always remember to buy me when they knew we would be coming (which for my PA grandparents was not so often, but somehow, my Nanny Jean always had Quaker Granola for me - no nuts, no matter what), or the undivided attention we would always get when we were with them (lots of Old Maid games, shopping, and swimming). I know now that it is my children's turn to create and experience the same memories....and my parents have done a knockout job so far....all the way from the sweet cereals that we won't buy at home and they NEVER bought for us growing up, to tea parties and painting...they get it all when they are with my parents. My mom emailed me about Maddie waking her up at 2:30 at night just to say to her "I just wanted to give you a hug and a kiss Ee-Ma"....that was enough for me to know that my parents have become legends in the minds of my children....and just how lucky they are to have them...and how lucky I am to have them as parents. From the summer lemonade stands that my mom organized, to the tea parties using her childhood tea set, to my dad playing music for them while they dance, and chasing them around the house while they are in a fit of giggles....lots of treasure hunt walks with ziplock bags in hand that come back with mostly garbage AKA "treasures" they get it all...attention, love, laughter, a few tears and lots of memories....how lucky they are...

Change is good...or is it?

Let me sum up my first week at my new school:
Day 1: No parking place....park in student parking...phew..didn't get a ticket....
Students seem nice, very quiet but listened intently as I went over the basic first day "stuff"...
Getting sick...nose ran incessantly during all classes...head throbbing by the end of the day...
I sold my only free hour to teach a second level internship course...crap..no time today!! Get home and realize I forgot to attend Madeline's school orientation meeting..where did the time go?
Day 2: No parking place...park in student parking lot.... Find cockroaches (again) in kitchen labs..gross. Sick as a dog...horrible head cold..
Can't take school credit card overnight due to school/district policy...I have no prep to get the, card must be back by 3:15....school is out at 2:30...I have 45 minutes to race to the store and buy $200 worth of groceries for my foods class...WHAT?!
Get into confrontation with very SASSY girls....argh... have no time....Feel horrible..have meltdown in front of department chair..must sit down with head between legs as I am SO worked up from sick..stress..and sassy girls..oh, and changing schools...my old school is looking pretty good right about now..
Go to leave, find ORANGE sticker/ticket on car...CRAP.
Order takeout as I am TOO tired to cook...go to pick up...they don't have my order??!!...I ordered from the wrong restaurant...CRAP, again.
Day 3: No Parking place..again. Can it get worse? Still no time, SASSY girls drop my class (yay!)....discover mold in my classroom..still can't get custodian in my room...still feel horrible..is it Friday yet...?Again, No time.
Day 4: It is Friday, need I say more?

First Day Hooray!

First day of school...what can I say. Fortunately I knew ahead of time that he would not be teary eyed, clinging to my leg for dear life. Instead, Steve said he happily got in line and waved goodbye... Being a working mom, my kiddos have always been in the best hands of other trustworthy adults during the day. Prior to PS, he was at a Montessori school which prepared him for this moment... Since my school starts at 7:30 and his starts at 8:50, Steve had to drop off...and I had the luxury of picking him up... as I waited outside of the building where his classroom is with all of the other moms and dads of the kindergarteners, I realized that he truly was growing up! When the bell rang...he came out smiling from ear to ear and said.."Mommy, I made new friends today!" giving me a huge hug...that was my hallmark moment...he is such a superstar..witty, funny, smart and intuitive...I am excited to take the journey with him as he navigates becoming independent (which is SO scary) and finding out who he is and his strengths. Our after school routine is sharing our daily "brags and bummers" focusing on the positives and what to do about the bummers....my only hope is that I can somehow help him to hold on to the enthusiasm and yearning to learn more as he gets bigger and help him feel good about himself regardless of whether or not he succeeds. Wow....we have an exciting journey ahead!

Summer slips away...

To think my last blog took place a few months earlier when summer just began scares me! Where did the time go? I will sum up our summer overall....
1. Trip to Taos with great friends...lots of kids and plenty of blackmail material, but a great kick off to summer!
2. Our 9th wedding anniversary....I will blog about this later...
3. Trips to Las Cruces to stay with my parents here and there...
4. Weekly playdates with my great friends and their children...fun for them, therapy for us...sweating to death...swimming..playing...laughing like crazy...a few tears...priceless.
5. My beautiful sister visiting ABQ! We love Auntie Nebin!!! (oh..and Uncle Dave too!)
6. Pheonix trip - we visited Steve's Aunt Cindy, Uncle Dan and family...SO much fun...visited the Grossology Exhibit, Diamondbacks game....swimming.....shopping....IKEA...visiting their boat during fireworks....amazing...we miss them already!
7. South Carolina trip....I (for work) visited Rock Hill SC for a training in a FANTASTIC HS program called Teacher Cadet...went with fabulous ladies and we had a ball and actually learned alot...
8. Slept in..need I say more?
9. Housesat our friends one-eyed weiner dog "Irene"...she ran away about 5 times and the 5th and final time we ran around our neighborhood withour pajamas on at 6:30 am screaming"Irene!!! expletive, expletive!!!"...BTW, we did find her, thank god!
10. I cleaned my new classroom while the kiddos played and did arts and crafts - AKA..undid all that I did!
11. Attended Mason's T-Ball games, and Madeline's ballet class....
12. Went to see The Honorary Title in concert at the Launchpad...Steve's cousin's Sunni is dating the guitar player....my friend and I were easily the most senior people there and were scared we would see students! It was fun and they are fantastic!
13. Spent too much time on my Facebook page...

Funny Maddie

While watching the Alltel commercial:
Maddie: Mommy there is santa! (pointing to the Wizard on the cell phone commercial)
Mom: No, sweetie, that is a wizard...not Santa
Maddie: Yes, Santa is a lizard!
Mom: ???

Vacation from a Vacation??

View of Beautiful Taos Ski Valley
Mason Hiking..notice he REFUSED to take off his T-ball uniform
Madeline generally ended up on shoulders...
Lame Idea, seemed good at the time (trying to "grab the mountain")
We ended up driving to downtown Taos to force them both to nap..didn't take long!
At the Gorge...

We went on our first vacation of the year... Pre-children, vacations meant relaxing, sleeping in, little actual "work" and alot of sight seeing...it also meant pictures of Steve and I in front of, back of, next to any major monument or landmark. Vacations sure have evolved......now we plan them to accomodate 2 little ones and have the pleasure of seeing it from their eyes, they now contain few pictures of at least one of us (usually me, since I am the crazy mother with the camera always in hand), and generally require a vacation upon their commencement. It made me realize however, that family vacations are about giving your children the experiences of the world around them....and are A LOT of work for adults, but worth every bit of stress they may cause. We went to Taos, New Mexico to the Ski Valley...it was amazing to see that NM actually was green in the northern part of the state, and gave me deja vu while driving up there. It actually reminded me of Idaho, and made me miss my home state.

The trip took 3 + hours, and contained several potty breaks along the way. We met several families up there, many of whom also taught with me. The weather stayed in the 70's and allowed us to really enjoy being outside. Packing for 2 children with all of the accoutraments is never an easy task, especially when you add on your own things...of course, in true Miskee style, I forgot the video camera (no biggie) and managed to pack A shirt...as in 1, shirt, which also happened to be a tank top..I think I may have really thought I was headed to California. This was a departure from my usual forgotten toothbrush, pajamas, underwear..all of the important items, so actually I didn't do so bad this time.

The kids had a great time, and with 10ish other little ones to run with, I also realized it wouldn't matter where we went, they would have fun running with each other regardless. Less the lack of sleep, over "adult "beveraging it, and occasional "out of our routine" tantrum, we had a blast...I did karaoke for the first time (something I can't imagine how I didn't get suckered into before :) and laughed more than I have in a long time.

Madeline entertained by shedding her clothing virtually the entire time. I could easily find her by the trail of socks, shorts, shirt and occasional panties....we are so proud. The kids hiked, ran, played, ran, played, ran played...and did a little more hiking.

By the last day, we were worn and the kids were in need of a routine again...or maybe it was me who needed a routine again..or another vacation :).