several more things...

Just a few more things I've been thinking about recently:

• I've been talking to myself a lot lately. I must have a lot on my mind?


• Anna and her BFF, Kiley, are so stinkin' cute. They run to hug and kiss each other when Anna gets to day care in the morning and when she leaves. They really love each other. Anna calls her baby "Ki-Ki" after Kiley (or "baby").


• I don't know if I do all the right things when raising Anna, but I think I do a good job - despite comments that I'm too nice and I let her get away with too much. To the people that think I'm not doing things the right way, I would like to say: "See how you manage a 2 year old that is short on patience and has more will than she knows what to do with on a daily basis. Then let me know how you would change things." I try to let her be herself while also not getting hurt. I try to encourage her to make good choices and follow the directions with "if this, then that" statements. She responds better with more information than just a straight "no," which she doesn't really respond to at all. Bryan said he thinks we make too many concessions for her so we can get through stores with as little trouble as possible - maybe we'll just try taking her out of the store if she can't sit in the cart or stroller. I don't know if it will work, but I'm willing to try.


• I don't like grainy or mushy watermelon.


• Anna will only watch The Wiggles on TV. I just now noticed that the yellow Wiggle is sometimes Greg (original) and sometimes Sam (replacement). Google said Greg had a disease that made touring and performing difficult.
• I thought I was mad at Bryan this weekend because he watched an entire TV program while I couldn't even take a shower without several Anna interruptions. I realized later that I was actually annoyed with Anna bc I can't do anything without her interrupting. I have to be right with her at all times except in public when she has to do everything by herself. Go figure. I know when she's 13 I'll wish she wanted me to be with her.

A few things that I've noticed...

1. I really enjoy my time with Anna now that I'm back to work. She is SO cute. Now when I read a book five times in a row it's so much more refreshing than 30 times in a row. I'm feeling tired after work, but I know that will get better. Work and family balance is key for me.

2. I mentioned how we are working on super-praise and happy faces for Anna's good choices. It's still in full swing, and it's forcing me to be a whoo-hoo girl. I will be a whoo-hoo girl if it helps my girl.

3. We went to the Woodland Art Fair yesterday. It was hot; I was sweating. All the art I like is ridiculously expensive. $1300 for some art to hang somewhere in my house? I just can't do that. I don't have it in me. I had $30 in my wallet. I think all I could afford was a funnel cake.

4. The attention span of 6 year olds after the summer is very low. I am struggling to keep the kids focused. I know this gets better, but it's so easy to forget.

Today I am thankful for:

• a grocery store outing by myself = very uneventful and low stress
• Bryan and I teamed together to clean up Anna's playroom. It's so much better when we work together.
• Hearing Anna say, "two dogs!" when she sees two dogs. Seriously cute.

2 days in

So here are a 10 things that have happened in the first two days of school this year:

1. I have 21 students and want it to stay that way.
2. Lots of hugs from new and old students - it's good to be loved.
3. I forgot to remind the students to take their lunch boxes home today. I have approximately 8 lunch boxes on the shelf in my room. How many parent notes will I get?
4. The hyper-o-meter is way lower this year, and I am so thankful. Hyper's not my thing, but is it anyones?
5. I was told, "no, but thanks." I'm ok with it.
6. I've toughened up a bit, but still trying to make school a happy place for the little ones.
7. We've survived walks around the track and recess in this ridiculous heat.
8. I got an email telling me to expect a call or an email about a friend from last year that went to a new school.
9. A super shy student talked to me all the way around the track.
10. I got myself mostly ready for next week - a good start anyway.

Today I am thankful for:

• a calm classroom
• a good night sleep
• para-educators

A New School Year and a Few Recipes

After working all last week and a very long day today, I am finally ready for the school year to begin. My classroom is set up - a new arrangement that I'm liking very much, we had meet the parents/kids/teacher tonight - a great first meeting with almost everyone in attendance, and plans are ready and copies are made for days 1, 2, and 3.

I love the beginning of the school year. I like the clean room and new school supplies (Mine stayed nice ALL year. Bryan had a few crayon nubs after the first month). I like the anticipation of learning new things and meeting new friends. I like a fresh start to do better and be better than the year before. I can't wait to get to know the personalities to go along with those sweet faces - oh, how they change in a year.

Now for the recipes...
I had been boycotting Annie's Eats because her over-achieverness was irritating. I mean, did you see the birthday party she had for her son? I think all Anna got in terms of decorations were some balloons, Mylar, but still. I decided to forgive Little Miss Perfect for being able to do many things presumably well on very little to no sleep (I'm guessing) and check out some recipes again. I've tried several of her recipes and enjoyed all of them, so I'm back on the bandwagon. Just don't expect a themed birthday party from me unless I can buy all the stuff at Target - already made.

These are the recipes we tried and enjoyed:

• Chicken Parmesan
• Chicken nuggets - I just do the same prep for the chicken Parmesan without the sauce and cheese.
• Pizza Dough
• Cherry Tomato Salad
• Chicken Enchiladas

Maybe you'll like them too.

Today I am thankful for:

• team lunch at Saul Good
• changes at school that I'm looking forward to
• past students that came to say 'hi'
• new students with smiles on their faces
• copy moms
• air conditioning
• talking to Anna on the phone - seriously cute
• I don't have to make my lunch for tomorrow

Girl Bed

So last Friday Anna didn't want to take a nap. I went in to check on her after she had been screaming for me for a while. She then proceeded to climb on the top rail and flip completely over and onto the floor - landing on her back. It looked like it hurt. She cried for a few minutes, we cuddled, called daddy, and then she finally took a nap. I called my mom (nurse), and she told me to watch if she was walking funny or complaining of hurting. She did neither, so I assumed she was fine. But we decided to change her bed to a "big girl bed" aka "my girl bed."

Bryan took the front rail off and figured a way to attach the small rail to her crib. Gosh he's smart. I wasn't sure how this would go, but it's been a major success. The first couple times she did get out and open the door, but with the promise of a treat when she woke up, she finally stayed in bed. She's been doing great in her bed - I'm so proud of her.

I've also been working on my parenting. I needed a refresher. I wasn't happy with myself, so I got a bunch of books from the library and started reading The Kazdin Method for Parenting the Defiant Child: With No Pills, No Therapy, No Contest of Wills. That last part, No Contest of Wills, is what drew me to the book. It isn't anything new - hype up the positives and leave the screaming and spanking behind because they don't work. Bryan and I are making sure to jump up and down, clap, and sing Anna's praises every time she does something the first time we ask her to and when she gets her diaper and clothes changed without messing around and fighting us. I got a chart at the Dollar Store with the days of the week, and we give her a happy face when she makes us so proud. She beams. She glows. She is proud of herself and is repeating the good behavior over and over again. I'm feeling good about my parenting skills again. I feel much better about the way we are helping Anna make good choices.

Today I am thankful for:

• getting into a routine
• Anna staying in her girl bed
• a dinner from my childhood: bbq chicken and corn on the cob